President Joe Biden will re-impose a COVID-19 travel ban on non-US citizens who have been in Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe confirmed a White House official. Restrictions will also be extended to travellers who have recently been to South Africa.
The new president last week tightened mask-wearing rules and ordered quarantine for people flying into the United States, as he seeks to tackle the country’s worsening coronavirus crisis.
Biden said on his first full day in office on Thursday his strategy would be “based on science, not politics” as he signed a slate of coronavirus-related executive actions, including ramping up vaccination supplies and requiring international travellers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travelling to the US.
“With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” said Jen Psaki, White House press secretary.
With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel.
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) January 19, 2021
