WASHINGTON:Â President Joe Biden on Monday is likely to restore coronavirus travel restrictions in a bid to contain the spread of a new variant of COVID-19 & the fight against the deadly infection,
The restrictions, which had been in place for most of 2020, apply to non-U.S. residents who’ve been in Brazil, Ireland, the UK, and much from Europe. Then-President Donald Trump rescinded the restrictions days before the end of his tenure.
“With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants of deadly coronavirus rising around the world, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on overseas travel,” the now-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Twitter last Monday.
“On the recommendation of our medical group, the Administration doesn’t intend to lift these restrictions on 26th January. In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around overseas travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Psaki added.
Also Sunday, Reuters reported that Biden will impose a travel ban on South Africa, where a new potent strain of the virus has been found.
“We’re including South Africa to the restricted listing due to the regarding variant present that has already spread past South Africa,” Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s principal deputy director, is quoted by Reuters.
The South Africa variant has not been found in the US, however one other variant – originating in the UK – has been detected in a number of states.
Last week, Biden issued an executive order directing federal agencies to require overseas air travelers to quarantine upon U.S. arrival. The order additionally requires that all U.S.-bound travelers ages 2 and above get negative COVID-19 test results inside three days before traveling.
