Daily US Times: The United States will require almost all foreign travellers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, a White House official has said.
The unnamed official said that the Biden administration had tasked inter-agency groups with creating a phased reopening for international visitors, but the official gave no timeline for the decision.
The US has seen a rise in coronavirus infections, particularly among those who are not vaccinated, amid the spread of the Delta variant.
Current coronavirus restrictions in the US prevent most international travellers from entering the country.
In January 2020, the first round of travel restrictions were imposed by the US on China.
The US travel resrictions have since expanded to include non-US citizens who had recently visited the 26-nation Schengen bloc in Europe, United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Brazil, Iran and South Africa.
Those who are able to enter the US must show proof of a negative Covid test taken within three days of travel.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said last week that the United States would “maintain existing travel restrictions at this point” due to rising infections of Covid-19, despite opposition from the tourism industry and airline comoanies.
The unnamed White House official told several news agency on Wednesday that the administration was looking to reopen in a “safe and sustainable manner”, adding that “with limited exceptions… foreign nationals travelling to the country – from all countries – need to be fully vaccinated”.
More than 70% of Americans have received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine.
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