US President-elect Joe Biden has said the country will maintain travel bans on the UK, much of European Union and Brazil – contradicting an order from President Donald Trump to lift them.
The White House decreed on Monday that the entry ban would end on 26 January – six days after Biden takes office on Wednesday.
According to issued statement, President Trump signed an order lifting the entry ban on the UK, Ireland, Schengen area of Europe that allows travel across open borders, and Brazil from January 27. Travel bans for China and Iran would remain in place, the order said.
However, Biden’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, on Twitter said now is not the time to be easing travel measures.
US imposed the restrictions on Europe last March and the Brazilian entry ban was put in place in May.
Ms Psaki, immediately after President Trump’s decree was issued, tweeted;
With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel.
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
She added;
On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26. In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) January 19, 2021
Following an order last week by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most air travellers arriving in US from January 26 will have to provide a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery from the disease to enter.
