In an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 variants that are appearing around the globe, the Biden administration will impose a travel ban on many European countries, the UK, Brazil, South Africa, China, and Iran. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the ban should reduce the spread of coronavirus through travel, “especially as we see faster-spreading variants emerging across the world.”
Former President Trump rescinded the travel ban on Brazil and Europe days before leaving office, Biden’s move to re-impose the travel restrictions will overturn Trump’s executive order.
Furthermore, all passengers entering the United States must be administered a COVID-19 test at least 72 hours before departing from their country of origin.
The new UK variant of the virus, named B.1.1.7, is said to be 30% more deadly than the original coronavirus. The UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson stated that “We’ve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first discovered in London and the southeast, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.”
This new variant of the virus has already been discovered within the United States.
