WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden will impose a ban on most non-U.S. Citizens from entering the country who recently visited South Africa from Saturday in a bid to contain the spread of a new variant of COVID-19, a U.S. general public FILE PHOTO: A traveler walks past a Christmas tree as he passes through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, United States December 22, 2020. REUTERS / Kevin Lamarque / File PhotoBiden on Monday is also re-imposing an entry ban on almost all non-US travelers who have stayed in Brazil, the UK, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across borders open. “We are adding South Africa to the shortlist due to the variant of concern present which has already spread beyond South Africa,” said Dr Anne Schuchat, CDC Senior Deputy Director, in an interview on Sunday. She added that the agency was “putting in place this suite of measures to protect Americans and also to address the risk of these variants spreading and the current pandemic worsening.” Then-President Donald Trump ordered on Jan. 18 that these restrictions on Brazil and Europe be lifted effective Tuesday, but Biden’s proclamation will overturn that decision. is taking an aggressive approach to tackling the spread of the virus after Trump rejected warrants requested by U.S. health agencies Some health officials fear the current vaccines will not be effective against the South African variant, raising the also the prospect of reinfection. The South African variant, also known as the 501Y.V2 variant, is 50% more infectious and has been detected in at least 20 countries. CDC officials told Reuters they would be prepared to add additional countries to the list if necessary. The South African variant has yet to be found in the United States, but at least 20 U.S. states have detected a British variant known as B.1.1.7. Current vaccines appear to be effective against British mutations. The South African Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CDC FUTURE ORDERS Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ), Rochelle Walensky, will sign a separate ordinance on Monday requiring masks on all planes, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis and carpool vehicles for all travelers two years and older, said responsible. The new requirements are expected to come into effect in the next few days, they said, and masks can be removed for brief periods while eating or drinking. New CDC rules come into effect on Tuesday, obliging all air travelers internationals aged 2 years and over have a negative coronavirus. test conducted within three calendar days of travel or proof of recovery from COVID-19 to enter the U.S. The CDC, as it said on January 12, will not consider granting temporary exemptions to airlines to exempt some travelers from countries with limited capacity testing. Many U.S. airlines last week requested exemptions from the CDC, airline officials said, but CDC officials said they would consider humanitarian exemptions on a case-by-case basis for certain travelers if necessary. CDC officials noted that 120 countries currently have mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements for international flights. The CDC order says travelers should self-quarantine for seven days upon their return to the United States and consider taking a new COVID-19 test within three to five days of their return to the United States. “With the pandemic worsening and these more contagious the emerging variants, now is not the time to lift restrictions on international travel,” Schuchat said. CDC officials have discussed for weeks the option to add these testing requirements prior to US domestic flights or require testing upon return from international travel, but have made no decision.Restrictions banning most visitors from Europe have been in place since in mid-March when Trump signed proclamations imposing them, wh ile the ban on entry into Brazil was imposed in May. This restriction, along with the new restrictions in South Africa, means that most non-US citizens who have stayed in any of these countries in the last 14 days are not eligible to travel to the U.S. Permanent U.S. residents and family members and certain other non-citizens am Americans are allowed to return to the United States under the order. Under Trump, pressure from the CDC to make masks in transit mandatory has been blocked, and the agency has instead issued strong recommendations for the use of masks and officials initially blocked the imposition of the COVID-19 test on travelers from the UK before relenting on December 24. Trump has opposed congressional efforts to demand masks in transit. Airlines have demanded that passengers wear masks and some local governments are enforcing the use of masks. Report by David Shepardson; Edited by Lisa Shumaker.



image source