The United States is trying to create a system for international travel that tracks travelers' contacts
White House Coronavirus Department Coordinator Jeff Zients revealed that the States Unite is working to create a system for international travel that tracks travelers' contacts. Basically, by creating such a system, US authorities will have access to travelers' personal data if they are exposed to COVID-19 during their trip.
According to Reuters, Zients told the US Tourism Advisory Committee that the Biden administration does not intend to ease travel restrictions. However, tracking contacts will be useful when restrictions are lifted in the future and when people around the world are allowed to enter the United States.
No official statement has been made as to when international travelers will be able to enter the United States. However, it has been suggested that EU travelers may be barred from entering the US until the 2022 midterm elections.
The US decision to keep restrictions on travelers who have been fully vaccinated against the virus is seen as an outdated approach.
The United States has kept its borders closed for international travel for more than 17 months, in an attempt to protect public health and the spread of COVID-19 and its strains. The US State Department introduced four proclamations in 2020, which banned entry - for an indefinite period - for all people traveling from Schengen countries, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa.
Ireland's ambassador to the United States, Daniel Mulhall, and the European Union's ambassador to the United States, Stavros Lambrinidis, said he expected the United States to ease restrictions and allow families to reunite. The US faces a lot of criticism for not allowing access to vaccinated travelers, considering that the US has significantly higher infection rates and lower vaccination rates compared to most EU countries.
The United States is facing a loss of about $ 198 million a day due to current restrictions. Unlike in 2019, at the moment, the US has banned entry for more than half of the top 20 (most significant) markets in terms of travel expenses.