US travelers are banned from entering the European Union for at least another two weeks after an increase in coronavirus cases in some reopened states, European officials announced Tuesday.
The EU will reopen its borders on Wednesday to visitors from more than 15 countries, including Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia, but extended a ban to travelers from the US, Brazil and Russia still struggling to fight a wave. of new COVID-19 Cases.
The ban on American travelers, established at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March, will be a severe blow to European companies that rely on American tourism, particularly in the summer months.
As European economies recover from the impact of the coronavirus, southern EU countries like Greece, Italy and Spain are desperate to attract sun-loving visitors and bring their damaged tourism industries to life. American tourists represent a large portion of the EU market and the summer holiday season is a key moment.
Loved ones separated by the virus will also be left in limbo by the travel ban, and European officials will extend the blockade indefinitely.
Britain, which left the EU earlier this year, maintains its own rules and requires that visitors be quarantined for 14 days.
The EU said China is “subject to confirmation of reciprocity”, which means it should lift all restrictions on European citizens entering China before European countries allow the return of Chinese citizens.
The list will be updated every 14 days, and new countries will be added or left depending on whether they keep the pandemic under control.
With Associated Press
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