Story at a glance
- Reuters reports that a White House source said travel restrictions will hold steady until COVID-19 transmission is reduced.
- Spread of the delta variant in the U.S. and abroad will likely augment any travel reopening plans.
- More groups are putting pressure on President Biden to consider reopening some travel.
U.S. government officials announced that President Biden has no immediate plans to lift or augment any current travel restrictions despite internal pressure and steady COVID-19 infection rates.
Reuters reports that a White House official confirmed that while private discussions are being held to work out new travel restrictions and limitations as COVID-19 vaccines continue to become available, many international travel limits will remain in place.
“While these groups have met a number of times, there are further discussions to be had before we can announce any next steps on travel reopening with any country,” the administration official told reporters.
These groups are working between the White House and officials from countries in the European Union, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom to begin to map out travel plans that will reopen trips but still keep COVID-19 transmission under control.
THE DELTA VARIANT IS SPIKING IN THESE FOUR US STATES
TOP HEALTH EXPERT SAYS VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE SPREADING DELTA VARIANT
RESEARCHERS PINPOINT POSSIBLE SIGN YOU HAVE COVID-19 AFTER BEING VACCINATED
WHO SAYS VACCINATED PEOPLE STILL NEED MASKS BECAUSE OF HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT
“We have made tremendous progress domestically in our vaccination efforts, as have many of these other countries, but we want to ensure that we move deliberately and are in a position to sustainably reopen international travel when it is safe to do so,” the source continued.
With the more contagious delta variant making its rounds across the world, multiple European countries have experienced significant setbacks in their reopening plans.
The U.K. and France reinstated lockdown restrictions as both nations saw high instances of delta variant infection and transmission, and Portugal became the latest country to impose a curfew as it sees more COVID-19 cases linked to the delta variant.
The U.S. has previously committed to send millions of vaccine doses to its northern and southern neighbors, both of whom exhibit relatively low virus transmission and increases in vaccination rates.
Given this data, President Biden has endured mounting pressure from various groups to reopen travel. One group of mayors along the U.S.-Mexico border formally requested Biden reopen border activity to preserve nearby local economies.
The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently discourage travel unless an individual is fully vaccinated and require all inbound passengers to present a negative COVID-19 test within three days of arrival.
The State Department also uses a color-coded map to help American travelers select safe locations to visit. Both Canada and most areas in Mexico are labeled as areas to “Reconsider Travel,” along with the bulk of Western Europe.
FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER EXPLAINS WHY US WILL ALWAYS HAVE NEW COVID-19 CASES FROM NOW ON
EXPERT SAYS NEW COVID-19 OUTBREAKS WILL BE ‘VERY DENSE’ IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
DELTA VARIANT INCREASES RISK IN HOSPITALIZATIONS: STUDY
RETURN OF SMELL CAN TAKE UP TO ONE YEAR AFTER COVID-19 INFECTION: REPORT
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