Many countries around the world lifted travel bans and restrictions earlier, but the U.S. kept them up due to concerns after the delta variant was spreading. In September of this year, however, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients announced on behalf of the President that travel restrictions will be lifted in November, for foreign travelers.
Zients said, “International travel is critical to connecting families and friends, to fueling small and large businesses, to promoting the open exchange of ideas and culture. That’s why with science and public health as our guide, we have developed a new international air travel system that both enhances the safety of Americans here at home and enhances the safety of international air travel.”
Before the official announcement about travel restrictions from the Biden administration on the day, however, long lines of traffic were already lining up the Mexican border, coming into the U.S. Incoming traffic has been spotted at Tijuana, Mexico, and Niagara Falls, Canada, along with many other international airlines resuming flights.
Virgin Atlantic and British airways both scheduled a simultaneous flight from London to New York as soon as travel restrictions ended. The pandemic has been hard for people throughout the world, but it has been especially difficult for those with foreign jobs and businesses, unable to see their friends and family due to the travel bans.
The U.S. has ended the travel ban for close to 30 countries with vaccine requirements in place. Only fully vaccinated adults will be allowed in the country, with proof of a negative Covid-19 test no older than 3 days before arriving as well as after. Children can be unvaccinated as long as they are traveling with vaccinated adults.
Easing these travel restrictions will be largely helpful to the tourism and hospitality industry as tourists will be coming in, especially for the holiday season. People from around the world have been waiting patiently for this day and therefore traffic on borders around the country is crowded. People are also warned about delays and long lines as it is inevitable to skip when large numbers of tourists and residents from around the world are trying to get in together after 20 months.
