WASHINGTON: The United States said Monday will maintain restrictions on international travel to the country, beyond European pressure, because cases rise from the Delta Covid-19 variant.
“We will maintain the restrictions on the existing trips at this time,” said White Press Secretary Jen PSaki told reporters.
“Delta variants that are more transmitted to spread both here and abroad,” he said.
He said the trend of rising cases appeared to be continuing “in the next few weeks,” even though he repeated that most affected people who were not vaccinated.
The United States has limited trips from the European Union, England, China and Iran for more than a year due to Covid-19 pandemic, then adding other countries including Brazil and India.
The European Union in June opened for travelers from the United States, usually requires evidence of vaccination or negative tests, under pressure from countries that depend on tourism such as Greece, Spain and Italy which are feared in a problem year.
European Union leaders have asked the United States to show reciprocity and President Joe Biden on July 15 say he will get an answer about the problem “in the next few days” after appealing by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.