Despite requests from the European Union, the United States will maintain travel restrictions

The United States will maintain existing restrictions on international travel, despite requests for reciprocity from the European Union.

“We will maintain the existing restrictions,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday, justifying the decision, mainly, by the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

In early July, President Joe Biden said his administration was “in the process” of considering how long the country could lift the ban European trips to the United States, after German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue during her visit to the White House.

According to an official consulted by the AP agency who was not authorized to comment publicly, although the administration understands the importance of international travel, cases are increasing in the United States, especially in those who are not vaccinated, and will likely continue to increase in the coming weeks.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised Americans not to travel to the UK last Monday, due to the increase in cases in this country.

Most countries in mainland Europe have relaxed restrictions on fully vaccinated Americans, although the UK continues to require quarantines for most visitors from the US.

Airlines say, however, that the lack of round-trip travel limits the number of flights they can offer and the seats they can sell.

But the increase and prevalence of COVID-19 variants in Europe, especially the Delta mutation which is also spreading in the United States, has pushed the Biden administration to move with it. caution in increasing transatlantic travel.

With information from AP and AFP agencies