The White House is considering lifting the travel ban on non-US citizens arriving from Brazil, Britain, Ireland and 26 other European countries, according to Reuters.
The travel ban was imposed in mid-March on visitors from Europe, and in May for those from Brazil, as a means to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
At the moment, non-US residents who have been in Europe or Brazil in the previous 14 days cannot enter the country – there are, however, exemptions for some travellers, such as academics, journalists and students.
Reuters cited US and airline officials in reporting that the lifting of restrictions was forthcoming, stating that administration officials see it as a boost to struggling US airlines which have seen international travel fall by 70 per cent due to the pandemic.
The news organisation said that President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision but that the plan has received support from the White House’s coronavirus task-force members, public health and other federal agencies. There are no details as of yet on the timing of the announcement.
Entry bans on arrivals from China and Iran will not be lifted, noted Reuters.
Most European countries, however, have imposed a ban on the entry of American travellers due to high Covid-19 infection rates in the US. Britain and Ireland permit entry, but require a 14 day quarantine upon arrival.
