Order to Lift Travel Ban for Europe and Brazil Will Be Reversed

President Trump signed an order Monday lifting some travel restrictions imposed early last year in response to the pandemic. This decision, the White House said, came after winning support from coronavirus task force members and public health officials.

The order rescinded entry bans imposed because of the coronavirus on most non-US citizens arriving from Brazil and much of Europe effective January 26. Taht’s the same date that the new requirements from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) kick in. The restrictions being rescinded have barred nearly all non-US citizens who within the last 14 days have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the 26 countries of the Schengen area in Europe.

But the order is expected to be reversed soon. Right after Trump’s order was made public, Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a tweet that “on the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26.” She added that “with the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel.”

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