In his first week in workplace, President Joe Biden has reimposed a bunch of COVID-19 journey restrictions, whereas additionally repealing Donald Trump’s discriminatory Muslim ban.
The actions imply the US will now begin permitting guests from predominantly Muslim and African international locations who had been beforehand restricted from getting into the US beneath Trump. At the identical time, Biden is extending coronavirus-related journey restrictions for many vacationers from Europe, the UK, Ireland, and Brazil, whereas additionally including South Africa to the listing.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated the restrictions are a part of the brand new administration’s escalating efforts to include the unfold of COVID-19 as extra contagious variants of the virus emerge internationally.
Starting on Jan. 30, Biden’s presidential proclamation bans entry for many non-US residents who’ve not too long ago been to South Africa, the place a brand new COVID-19 variant has been recognized.
Biden additionally maintained the journey restrictions that had been beforehand in place for many of Europe and Brazil final 12 months, however that Trump had tried to rescind two days earlier than leaving workplace.
Trump had signed a proclamation that might raise the coronavirus-related journey restrictions from these international locations beginning Tuesday, deeming them pointless as soon as all passengers had been required to current a destructive COVID-19 check earlier than flying.
At the time, Psaki criticized Trump’s determination in a tweet, saying, “With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel.”
On Monday, Biden reversed Trump’s order and prolonged the ban that may proceed to limit entry for many non-US residents who’ve been in Brazil, the UK, Ireland, and the European international locations that kind the Schengen Area for the final 14 days.
Those exempt from the COVID-19 journey ban embody lawful everlasting residents of the US, noncitizen nationals of the US, and noncitizens who’re married to a US citizen or a everlasting resident, amongst others. A full listing of the exceptions might be discovered right here.
Biden additionally directed the heads of the State Department and Homeland Security to make sure these topic to the ban don’t board US-bound flights and that violators be eliminated.
Contagious variants of the coronavirus have been detected within the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. While there isn’t a proof but that they trigger extra extreme sickness or an elevated danger of dying, the CDC stated an increase in circumstances will pressure well being sources within the US the place greater than 400,000 individuals have died of COVID-19.
While the South African variant has not but been detected within the US, the primary confirmed US case of the Brazil variant was detected in a Minnesota resident who had not too long ago traveled to the South American nation, the state’s well being division introduced Monday.
The pressure that was initially found within the UK in December has now unfold to a number of international locations. In the US, the CDC has recognized practically 300 circumstances of the UK variant in additional than 20 states.
The CDC introduced all vacationers to the US — together with US residents — should current a destructive COVID-19 check consequence. However, these topic to Biden’s COVID-19 journey ban can’t enter the US even when they current a destructive check consequence, the CDC famous.
