White House task force recommends lifting ban on travelers from Europe, Brazil: report

Some members of the White House coronavirus task force recommended lifting a ban on travel from Brazil, the United Kingdom and European Union countries, two officials involved in discussions told CNBC.

If the proposal, which was not unanimous, was approved, it would be announced before President Trump leaves office, the news outlet reports.

The report comes as the U.S. experiences a surge in coronavirus cases as the colder weather forces more people indoors.

The proposal would reverse bans on inbound travel for the countries that were implemented at the start of the pandemic, according to CNBC. However, it would not guarantee that U.S. travelers could enter into those countries.

The officials told CNBC that travel bans from China and Iran would stay in place.

The task force agreed that local authorities would handle testing and quarantine guidelines for international travelers, according to CNBC. However, sources told the news outlet that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opposed lifting the restrictions, given its warnings around domestic travel for the holidays.

In addition, there’s still disagreement between nations over what protocols are necessary to limit spread of the virus, and disagreements between the Trump administration and incoming Biden administration could complicate negotiations.

The European travel ban was imposed in March as the pandemic spread, and the ban on travelers from Brazil followed in May. The restrictions on Iran and China were imposed earlier.

Reuters reported in late November that the Trump administration was considering an end to the travel ban.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

There have been more than 15.4 million coronavirus cases in the U.S. since the pandemic began, according to a count from Johns Hopkins University, and more than 289,000 Americans have died.

Globally, there have been more than 69 million cases, and more than 1.5 million deaths.