Trump decides to lift coronavirus travel restrictions in Europe and Brazil

President TrumpDonald Trump Iran condemns US businessman for espionage: DC report, state capitals see few problems, heavy security amid protest concerns Pardon seekers paid tens of thousands of Trump allies to do so pressure on the president: NYT PLUS Monday decided to lift restrictions on travelers to the United States from much of Europe and Brazil that were implemented last year to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, although the action should be stopped by the new Biden administration.

Trump issued an executive order ending travel restrictions on the UK, Ireland, Brazil and the European countries that make up the Schengen area as of January 26. The order came two days before Trump left. President elect Joe bidenJoe BidenFear of insider attack prompts FBI to carry out additional check on National Guard troops: PA Iran sentences US businessman for spying: DC report, state capitals see little problem , heavy security amid concerns over protests MOREThe crew immediately signaled that they would move to reverse the order.

“With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variants emerging around the world, now is not the time to lift restrictions on international travel,” tweeted the new White House press secretary. Jen psakiJen PsakiBiden Takes Over at Perilous Time in Overnight Healthcare: Biden Unveils Vaccination Plan Focused on Mass Vaccinations | Coronavirus deaths worldwide exceed 2 million | CDC: New Variation Could Be Dominant US Strain By March Biden Chooses Ex-Obama Assistant Anita Dunn As Senior Advisor.

“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 to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19, ”Psaki continued.

The order says Trump’s action came on the recommendation of outgoing Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. The memo cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new order that requires passengers traveling by air to the United States to receive a negative COVID-19 test within three days before their flight departs, saying it will help to prevent travelers from spreading. the virus.

The Trump administration’s travel restrictions on China and Iran will remain in place, however, as, according to the order, countries “have repeatedly failed to cooperate with public health authorities in the United States and to share timely and accurate information about the spread of the virus. And therefore can not be reliable to implement the CDC command.

“Accordingly, the Secretary advised me to remove the restrictions applicable to the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and the Federative Republic of Brazil, while leaving in place the restrictions applicable to the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran, ”Trump’s order states. “I agree with the Secretary that this action is the best way to continue to protect Americans from COVID-19 while allowing travel to resume safely.”

Although Trump signed the order on Monday, the action does not take effect until six days after he leaves office and Biden is inaugurated.

The order comes as coronavirus cases and deaths continue to reach worrying and record levels on a daily basis. Almost 400,000 people in the United States and more than 2 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19. While two vaccines have been approved for emergency use in the United States, the Trump administration is far from meeting initial vaccine distribution and administration targets.

The order will be one of Trump’s latest actions in the face of the pandemic, after being widely criticized for regularly downplaying the threat posed by the virus.

Trump announced in mid-March last year that he would impose travel restrictions on people entering the United States from the 26 countries that make up the Schengen area, weeks after the first case was reported in the U.S. The decision initially attracted close scrutiny because it failed to do so. include the UK or Ireland, and the Trump administration subsequently decided to restrict travel from those countries as well.

Trump then imposed travel restrictions on Brazil at the end of May.

The executive order lifting travel restrictions was one of many released by the White House on Monday at the end of the last hours of Trump’s presidency. Trump is also expected to grant a final round of pardons before stepping down on Wednesday.

– Updated at 19:45