President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Jan. 18 lifting the CCP virus travel ban for most of Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Brazil. The proclamation makes clear that travel restrictions will remain in place for China and Iran.
Trump said that Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar “reports high confidence” that Europe’s Schengen Area, the UK, Ireland, and Brazil, will cooperate with the CDC’s order and that tests administered there will provide accurate results.
“This cooperation stands in stark contrast to the behavior of the governments and state-owned enterprises of the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which repeatedly have failed to cooperate with the United States public health authorities and to share timely, accurate information about the spread of the virus,” the president noted.
Trump added that both China’s and Iran’s responses to the CCP virus, their lack of transparency, and lack of cooperation with the United States, “cast doubt on their cooperation in implementing CDC’s January 12, 2021, order.”
Azar advised Trump that travel restrictions can be lifted for the Europe’s Schengen Area, the UK, Ireland, and Brazil, but should remain for China and Iran.
“I agree with the Secretary that this action is the best way to continue protecting Americans from COVID-19 while enabling travel to resume safely,” Trump said in his proclamation.
President-elect Joe Biden’s spokesperson said that Biden will block Trump’s order.
“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 in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” she added.
