Biden administration is developing plan to require nearly all foreign visitors to be vaccinated

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But officials from several federal government agencies are constantly evaluating current travel restrictions and making a plan to lift them when the time comes. According to the White House official, this includes requiring that all foreign nationals traveling to the United States from all countries be fully immunized, with a few exceptions, although a final plan has not been determined. .

Several officials said the administration was set to lift some travel restrictions in the United States earlier this year, but turned the tide after the Delta variant took a strong foothold in the United States.

The Delta variant now accounts for more than 90% of coronaviruses circulating in the United States, according to data released by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tourism from overseas has essentially stopped under US Covid-19 travel rules. The restrictions also prohibit migrants from seeking asylum and prevent foreigners from visiting families in the United States.
The Biden administration recently extended non-essential travel restrictions for the northern and southern borders of the United States until August 21, although Canada has said fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents currently residing in the United States. United will be allowed to enter Canada starting August 9. The United States has restricted non-essential travel along both borders since the start of the pandemic and is extending those restrictions on a monthly basis.
More of Europe has opened up to American travelers. And about three weeks ago, Biden said answers on easing restrictions on Europe would come “in the next few days.” But the ban remains in place, with officials suspending any changes due to the spread of the Delta variant.
Travel restrictions were put in place in March 2020, when many countries closed their borders to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The restrictions included the UK and the “Schengen” group of 26 mainly European Union countries located in an area stretching from Iceland to Greece.

The administration has launched interagency working groups with the EU, Britain, Canada and Mexico to consider how and when travel restrictions will be lifted.

The groups are overseen by the White House Covid-19 Response Team and the National Security Council, and include representatives from the CDC as well as officials from the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Transport.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Kate Sullivan, Priscilla Alvarez and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.

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