The United States, which closed its borders to many foreign nationals during the Covid-19 pandemic, plans to re-admit fully vaccinated foreigners, a White House official said on Wednesday.
Recognizing the importance of international travel, US President Joe Biden’s administration wants to reopen borders to foreign visitors in a “safe and sustainable way,” the official said.
The U.S. is developing a “step-by-step approach, which over time will mean, with limited exceptions, that foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. – from all countries – need to be fully vaccinated,” the official added, without mentioning deadlines.
This plan is a cautious but significant development in the US approach to pandemic containment. On July 26, the United States announced that it would maintain bans on foreign entry, despite European pressure.
The task force is developing a “consistent and secure” new system for international entry at a time when “we can reopen travel,” the official said.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the US banned entry from the European Union, Britain, China and Iran for more than a year, later adding other countries, including Brazil and India.
The European Union allowed entry into the United States in June, requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test. This was done under pressure from tourism-dependent countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain.
The new coronavirus delta variant has contributed to an increase in Covid-19 cases in the United States, mostly among unvaccinated people.
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