On Monday, the media reported, citing a White House official, that the United States would not lift the travel ban on citizens of the European Union and other restricted areas any time soon. This means that the United States is unlikely to open the border this summer.
According to Reuters, as well as the Associated Press and the BBC, US administration representatives did not say when it would be possible to ease the restrictions. The decision was due to be made at the White House Covid team meeting on Friday and is prompted by concerns about the spread of the delta-variable coronavirus and the rising numbers of infections in the United States. According to the White House, these numbers are likely to continue rising in the coming weeks.
Just a week ago, during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Washington, President Joe Biden said his administration was considering lifting the ban on travel to the United States from the European Union, Great Britain and most of the world, which was established in March 2020. .
Uncompromising position of the United States
In June, the European Union allowed vaccinated Americans to travel. Soon, representatives of the European Union and the United States began working group talks to open the borders of the United States. Facing another wave of infections, Washington has halted plans to liberalize travel rules, despite weeks of pressure from the tourism and aviation sectors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the epidemic is getting worse in almost all US states. Currently, there are approximately 52,000 new infections per day, nearly tripling in the last 14 days.
JAH / PAP
