President Biden will reportedly introduce a ban on non-U.S. citizens attempting to enter the United States from South America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, and several European countries.
“We are adding South Africa to the restricted list because of the concerning variant present that has already spread beyond South Africa,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deputy director Anne Schuchat told Reuters, adding that the agency was “putting in place this suite of measures to protect Americans and also to reduce the risk of these variants spreading and worsening the current pandemic.”
NBC confirmed the restrictions Sunday afternoon.
Colleague @KellyO confirms that President Biden tomorrow plans re-instate travel restrictions on non-US citizens traveling from South Africa, the UK, Ireland, Brazil, and a number of European countries.
— Jacob Gardenswartz (@gardenswartzj) January 24, 2021
Travel bans imposed by former President Donald Trump on countries such as Brazil were set to expire on Tuesday. Last week, Biden’s team previously indicated that he wouldn’t keep Trump’s directive rescinding many of the imposed travel restrictions.
Current White House press secretary Jen Psaki criticized Trump’s decision shortly after the Trump administration released a statement about lifting the restrictions.
“With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” she wrote on Twitter.
With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel.
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) January 19, 2021
While the South African variant of the coronavirus has not been detected in the U.S., several states have reported cases of the U.K. variant.
Also going into effect on Tuesday, new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines will require a negative COVID-19 test or proof of previous diagnosis for passengers to enter the U.S.
According to Reuters, CDC Head Rochelle Walensky will sign an additional order requiring face masks on airplanes, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride share vehicles such as Uber.
The CDC’s mask mandate mirrors the executive order Biden signed last week, mandating face masks on federal property.
