European Union Plans to Bar Most Travelers from the United States

As countries across the European Union begin to open up from coronavirus quarantine, the EU is planning to bar most travelers from the United States. 

As the New York Times reports, travelers from the U.S., Russia, and other countries hit hard by the pandemic are being considered too risky by E.U. officials. Plenty of travelers from other countries, including China, will still be able to fly to countries in the European Union when regular air travel resumes.

Senior diplomats in Brussels have compiled a list of safe countries amid negotiations on reopening procedures. E.U. ambassadors have backed the list, although it does need unanimous support from ambassadors if it’s to go into effect. The United States currently has more confirmed cases and deaths as a result of the virus than any other country, and as a result, officials have made it clear that it’s unlikely U.S. travelers will be able to fly into the region anytime soon.

Canada and Australia both made the safe list, which was compiled using scientific criteria including infection rates, and public health reporting data. The European Union is expected to update the list every two weeks, meaning that any excluded countries can be added later down the line. The official list is scheduled to be revealed next week, with officials speaking about the list at the moment on the condition of anonymity. It has been indicated that the United States has lobbied to be on the safe list, however, despite restrictions on travel from Europe to the U.S. having been in place since March.