WASHINGTON – The United States announced today it will lift Covid travel bans on all air passengers in November if they are fully vaccinated and undergo testing and contact tracing.
Jeffrey Zients, coronavirus response coordinator for President Joe Biden, told reporters the new “consistent approach” would take effect “early November”.
The easing of travel restrictions, imposed 18 months ago by Donald Trump as the Covid-19 pandemic first erupted, marks a significant shift by Biden and answers a major demand from European allies at a time of strained diplomatic relations.
Numerous safeguards will remain in place to suppress the spread of the virus, which has already killed more than 670,000 Americans and is resurgent after what many had hoped was a lasting dip earlier this year.
“Most importantly, foreign nationals flying to the US will be required to be fully vaccinated,” Zients said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the new rule only applied to US-approved vaccines or if other brands, such as those produced in China or Russia would also qualify. Zients said that would be determined by the US Centres for Disease Control.
Restrictions on vehicle movement from Canada and Mexico will remain in place.
“We do not have any updates on the land border policies,” Zients said.
Zients said passengers will need to show they are fully vaccinated before boarding planes to the US, as well as provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within three days.
Americans not fully vaccinated will still be able to enter but only on testing negative within a day of travel.
Masks will be obligatory on US-bound flights and airlines will provide the US health authorities with contact-tracing information.
“This new international travel system follows the science to keep Americans’ international air travel safe,” Zients said.
Science or politics?
The announcement was quickly welcomed by the trade group Airlines For Europe, which said “this decision will give a much-needed boost to trans-Atlantic traffic & tourism and will reunite families and friends”.
Britain hailed the decision, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, currently in the US on a visit, tweeting he is “delighted”, adding it is “a fantastic boost for business and trade, and great that family and friends on both sides of the pond (Atlantic) can be reunited”.
German vice-chancellor Olaf Scholz also welcomed the announcement as positive for business and US-European ties.
“Great news – for German and European investments, our exports and transatlantic relations,” tweeted Scholz, who is also finance minister and the front-runner in the race to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel after Sunday’s general election.
But while it had been widely expected that Biden will reopen borders to the European Union and Britain, the announcement covers the globe.
“This applies to all international travel,” Zients said.
Currently only US citizens, residents and foreigners with special visas are allowed to enter the US from most European countries.
The restriction has deeply irked EU and British authorities. Today, the EU recommended that member states reimpose restrictions on American travellers who had earlier been free to enter if vaccinated.
Biden’s move comes on the eve of his speech to the annual UN General Assembly in New York, where the pandemic is due to be the headline issue.
It also comes as Washington and Paris spar bitterly over Australia’s sudden announcement that it will acquire US-built nuclear submarines as part of a new defense alliance, ditching a previous French contract for conventionally powered submarines.
France has recalled its ambassador from Washington and accused the Biden administration of stabbing it in the back.
However, US officials denied that the White House’s travel decision was an attempt to smooth ruffled French feathers.
“This is really driven by the science,” a State Department official said. – AFP, September 20, 2021
