EU moves to restrict travel from US over rising Covid cases

August 31, 2021 at 09:28

Council warns that American infection rate is well above the bloc’s safe maximum

EU member states should reinstate restrictions on US travellers because of rising coronavirus infections and hospitalisations, ministers from all 27 member states have said.

The Council of the EU said on Monday that “following a review” it had removed the US from its list of countries for which temporary restrictions on non-essential travel should be lifted.

The US rate of infection has risen to more than 300 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in the past 14 days according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The EU deems a safe rate of infection to be no more than 75.

Some EU politicians are also frustrated that after the bloc relaxed its rules earlier this year, the US did not reciprocate by lowering its own restrictions on international arrivals.

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