Covid-19: Donald Trump proclaims the end of the ban on transatlantic flights, Biden opposed
The future spokeswoman for the Democrat, who will be sworn in on Wednesday, has, in contrast, said "to plan to strengthen measures concerning international travel. "
Donald Trump has decided, in a proclamation issued Monday, January 18 by the White House, to lift the ban on entering the United States for travelers who have stayed for less than fourteen days in the European Union, the United Kingdom and in Brazil. This measure, which was imposed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic - but which did not apply to American nationals, holders of a permanent residence permit (green card) and students - had led to a almost complete drying up of transatlantic air traffic.
The lifting of this ban is expected to take effect on January 26. "This action is the best way to continue to protect Americans from Covid-19 while allowing safe travel to resume," Donald Trump defended in his proclamation.
However, President-elect Joe Biden's team, which is officially due to take office on Wednesday and has made tackling the coronavirus epidemic its priority, immediately signaled its opposition to the measure.
"With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variants emerging around the world, now is not the time to lift restrictions on international travel," Jen Psaki, designated spokesperson for the House, wrote on Twitter. Blanche under Joe Biden. On the advice of our medical team, the administration has no plans to lift these restrictions on January 26. In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures regarding international travel to further mitigate the spread of Covid-19. "
With Trump having issued his proclamation, the question is whether the new president will have to begin his term by reinstating a travel ban on Europeans, when his political priority is also to reconcile with his allies.
China, Iran excluded from Trump decision
For several weeks now, US authorities have been working on setting up a system of mandatory testing for all passengers in the seventy-two hours before boarding for the United States. This measure, imposed on the United Kingdom at the end of 2020 when the more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 appeared, was to be generalized to travelers from all over the planet on January 26.
An exemption system had also been put in place from the summer, allowing journalists and holders of certain visas, such as investors, to return to American territory after having made the request to their consulate, but it concerned only minimum numbers.
You have 24.04% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
