The White House on Monday mentioned President Biden will enable vaccinated Europeans to enter the US in early November — ending a virtually two-year travel ban.
The coverage will enable vaccinated vacationers to enter the US from the 26-country Schengen Zone and from different international locations that had been early COVID-19 hotspots, together with Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, South Africa and the UK.
The ban on European vacationers was a specific diplomatic sore level as a result of an infection charges in Europe are far decrease than in the US. And most European international locations already reopened to US guests.
“We have developed a new international air travel system that both enhances the safety of Americans here at home and enhances the safety of international air travel,” mentioned White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients.
The ban, initially put into place by President Donald Trump, was enacted to cease the unfold of COVID-19 to the US from hotspots in Europe.Joe Giddens/PA Images through Getty Images
“Most importantly, foreign nationals flying to the U.S. will be required to be fully vaccinated.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned there’s no hyperlink between the timing and Biden’s Monday night journey to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. She mentioned it was a coincidence that an “interagency” assessment concluded on the identical time.
Biden’s UN go to comes amid outrage from America’s oldest ally, France, over Biden’s resolution to exclude France from a brand new safety pact with the UK and Australia — and shortly after final month’s chaotic pullout from Afghanistan, which left US allies scrambling to evacuate their residents.
Psaki mentioned it’s not but clear which vaccines would qualify a international citizen for entry. The US has solely three accredited vaccines and doesn’t use the AstraZeneca vaccine that’s additionally widespread in Europe, or vaccines produced by China and Russia.
The resolution to end the ban comes following the European Union eradicating the US from its “safe list” of locations with low COVID-19 charges.PAUL ELLIS/AFP through Getty Images
US residents — in addition to foreigners — will nonetheless have to current a unfavourable COVID-19 check earlier than boarding a flight. And all passengers will now have to give contact-tracing data to airways.
The relaxed US entry requirements come after the European Union final month took the US off its “safe list” of nations because the Delta variant of COVID-19 fueled a US case surge — ensuing in a tightening of travel restrictions on Americans.
The EU and UK had beforehand moved to enable vaccinated US vacationers into their territories with out quarantines, in an effort to increase enterprise and tourism travel.
Zients mentioned there can be no rapid adjustments to the US land border insurance policies, which proceed to limit a lot cross-border travel with Mexico and Canada.
Britain welcomed the US announcement that it’s lifting quarantine necessities for vaccinated worldwide vacationers.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he was “delighted” by the information. He mentioned: “It’s a fantastic boost for business and trade, and great that family and friends on both sides of the pond can be reunited once again.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that the transfer was “excellent news for travelers from the UK to the US. Important for our economic recovery, families and trade.”
Britain scrapped quarantines for absolutely vaccinated vacationers from the US and the European Union in early August, and has been pushing for Washington to ease its guidelines. But Johnson mentioned Sunday he didn’t count on the change to come this week.
Airlines hailed the US resolution as a lifeline for the struggling business. Tim Alderslade, chief govt of business physique Airlines U.Okay., mentioned it was “a major breakthrough.”
Shai Weiss, chief govt of Virgin Atlantic, mentioned it was “a major milestone to the reopening of travel at scale, allowing consumers and businesses to book travel to the U.S. with confidence.”
“The U.K. will now be able to strengthen ties with our most important economic partner, the U.S., boosting trade and tourism as well as reuniting friends, families and business colleagues,” Weiss mentioned.
The new air travel coverage will take impact in “early November,” Zients mentioned, to enable airways and travel companions time to put together to implement the brand new protocols.
With Associated Press
