Fully vaccinated foreign travelers will be able to visit the United States (US) from 8 November, the White House confirmed on Friday.
This will end the blanket ban on foreign travelers from entering the country introduced by then-president Donald Trump in March 2020 following the coronavirus outbreak.
The new policy was announced last month, but it was not previously known when in November it would be implemented. On Friday, the US government decision was first reported by Reuters.
White House spokesman Kevin Muñoz confirmed the announcement on Twitter and stated that this new policy "is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent."
Entry restrictions to the United States were first imposed on flight passengers from China in January 2020, shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.
In the months that followed, as the coronavirus pandemic worsened, the restrictive measures later spread to dozens of other countries around the world, without a timetable or a schedule on how and when to lift them.
The US’ new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on Nov 8. This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel. This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent. https://t.co/uaDiVrjtqi
— Kevin Munoz (@KMunoz46) October 15, 2021
Millions of people from many European countries, but also from China, Canada, Mexico, India, Brazil and elsewhere had to endure the ban. And many foreign workers were unable to reunite with their families since the start of the pandemic.
The European Union and other governments have since lobbied the US government headed by Joe Biden to lift the restrictions.
Struggling airlines
The lifting of the travel ban is also a major boost for the struggling airlines, airports and travel firms.
British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle said: "Nearly 600 days since the introduction of the US travel ban, this is a pivotal moment for the entire travel industry and finally provides the certainty we have so desperately needed.
"We can't wait to welcome our customers back on board and reconnect friends and families across the Atlantic, rebuild US-UK business relationships and reclaim Britain's position as a leader on the global stage."
Shai Weiss, his counterpart at Virgin Atlantic, said: "The UK will now be able to strengthen ties with our most important economic partner, the US, boosting trade and tourism as well as reuniting friends, families and business colleagues."
