In his first week in workplace, President Joe Biden has reimposed a number 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 nations who have been beforehand restricted from getting into the US beneath Trump. On the identical time, Biden is extending coronavirus-related journey restrictions for many vacationers from Europe, the UK, Eire, and Brazil, whereas additionally including South Africa to the checklist.
White Home press secretary Jen Psaki mentioned 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.
Beginning on Jan. 30, Biden’s presidential proclamation bans entry for many non-US residents who’ve just lately been to South Africa, the place a brand new COVID-19 variant has been recognized.
Biden additionally maintained the journey restrictions that have been previously 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 may carry the coronavirus-related journey restrictions from these nations beginning Tuesday, deeming them pointless as soon as all passengers have been required to current a unfavourable COVID-19 take a look at earlier than flying.
On the time, Psaki criticized Trump’s determination in a tweet, saying, “With the pandemic worsening, and extra contagious variants rising all over the world, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on worldwide journey.”
On Monday, Biden reversed Trump’s order and prolonged the ban that can proceed to limit entry for many non-US residents who’ve been in Brazil, the UK, Eire, and the European countries that form the Schengen Area for the final 14 days.
These exempt from the COVID-19 journey ban embrace 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 checklist of the exceptions may be found here.
Biden additionally directed the heads of the State Division and Homeland Safety 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. Whereas there isn’t a proof but that they trigger extra extreme sickness or an elevated danger of loss of life, the CDC mentioned an increase in instances will pressure well being sources within the US the place greater than 400,000 folks have died of COVID-19.
Whereas 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 just lately traveled to the South American nation, the state’s well being division announced Monday.
The pressure that was initially found within the UK in December has now unfold to a number of nations. Within the US, the CDC has recognized nearly 300 cases of the UK variant in additional than 20 states.
The CDC announced all vacationers to the US — together with US residents — should current a unfavourable COVID-19 take a look at end result. Nonetheless, these topic to Biden’s COVID-19 journey ban can not enter the US even when they current a unfavourable take a look at end result, the CDC famous.
