"US Plans to Enforce COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Foreigners Entering the Country"

Major Foreign Media Reports Citing White House Officials

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The Joe Biden administration in the United States is reportedly planning to effectively mandate COVID-19 vaccination for foreigners seeking to enter the country.

On the 4th (local time), a major foreign media outlet cited a White House official reporting this. The official said, "The Biden administration has been operating an inter-agency task force to establish a new system in preparation for the resumption of travel."

The official explained that the new system includes a limited scope of exceptions but involves a "phased approach" that means all foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. will need to complete vaccination.

Previously, U.S. allies such as the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada allowed entry to Americans or lifted self-quarantine guidelines, but the U.S. has indicated it has no intention of lifting border restrictions for the time being.

Currently, the U.S. bans entry of foreigners who have stayed for more than 14 days in Europe, the United Kingdom, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa. In the case of China, the origin of COVID-19, the entry ban has remained in place since February last year. Allowing entry for vaccinated individuals would effectively mean lifting the entry ban.

However, the official said that due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, the U.S. is not ready to lift travel restrictions immediately.