Covid-19: Biden travel restrictions to restore restrictions lifted by Trump

Covid-19: Biden travel restrictions to restore restrictions lifted by Trump

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Biden will also extend restrictions to travelers who have recently been to South Africa, the official said.

The move, which was first reported by Reuters, comes just a week after President Donald Trump signed an executive decree in his last days in office, lifting restrictions on travelers from these countries from January 26.

“I agree with the secretary that this action is the best way to continue protecting Americans from COVID-19 while allowing travel to resume safely,” wrote Trump in the dispatch, referring to then Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar .

Biden’s transition team, however, promised that same night that the new government would not lift restrictions. “With the worsening of the pandemic and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to lift restrictions on international travel,” said the then press secretary of the White House. Jen Psaki said on Twitter.

“Following the advice of our medical team, the government does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26. In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures in relation to international travel, in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “

The decision to reinstate travel restrictions – and expand restrictions in the case of South Africa – marks the last effort by the Biden government to break with Trump’s discursive approach to the pandemic, as cases continue to rise across the country.

Biden said on his first full day in office on Thursday that his strategy would be “based on science, not politics”, as he signed a list of executive actions related to the coronavirus, including increasing vaccination supplies and demanding that international travelers provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 Test before traveling to the USA.

Many of the countries that would have been affected by the Trump order have their own recent requirements for American travelers who wish to enter their borders.

US travelers must have a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours before traveling to the UK or Ireland, and in conjunction with proof of a completed Traveler Health Declaration to enter Brazil. American travelers are generally unable to enter countries such as Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Sweden without meeting specific requirements.

This story has been updated to include additional information.

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