The United States has no plans to lift travel restrictions at this point given the rise of the delta variant, according to a White House official.
The decision means the country’s current travel restrictions – which deny entry for people from the European Schengen area, United Kingdom and other countries – will remain in place
The delta variant now accounts for about 83% of cases nationwide and has led to a spike in U.S. COVID-19 cases. In the last two weeks, cases have increased 171% nationally, and the death rate is up 19% over the week before.
The decision comes just one week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should avoid travel to the United Kingdom because of a spike in coronavirus cases.
Which countries are included in the travel ban?
The U.S. first imposed travel restrictions in March 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19, and were reinstated by President Joe Biden in January after then-President Donald Trump rescinded the restrictions days before the end of his term. The country still prohibits entry for most travelers from:
- China
- Iran
- European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City)
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Republic of Ireland
