According to Reuters report, the United States will not be lifting any existing travel restrictions “at this point”; this is due to concerns over the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant and the rising number of US coronavirus cases, a White House official told Reuters.
Asked on July 15th at a joint appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about when the United States would lift European travel restrictions, Biden said he would “be able to answer that question to you within the next several days — what is likely to happen”.
“Given where we are today with the Delta variant, the United States will maintain existing travel restrictions at this point...Driven by the Delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated and appear likely continue to increase in the weeks ahead.”
A white house official told Reuters, citing the spread of the Delta variant in the United States and abroad.
The United States currently bars most non-US citizens who within the last 14 days have been in the 26 Schengen nations in Europe, UK, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil.
Last week, the US Homeland Security Department said US land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least 21 August; even as Canada has said it would begin allowing in fully vaccinated American tourists starting 9th August.
My Viewpoint - Loopholes
This is disappointing news, while many Europeans have anticipated the re-opening of US borders. I have friends currently staying in Cancun or Istanbul for 14 days, in order to fly to the US, due to the entry restrictions. By visiting Mexico or Turkey, or another 3rd country, that is not on the ban doesn't really reduce the exposure to the pandemic. I strongly believe restricting border access isn't going to be a long term viable solution and will do more harm than good. We will be waiting the next decision points from the US government.
Source: Reuters