U.S. Adds UK and Ireland to Travel Ban for Foreign Nationals
Skift Take
No surprise on the suspension of travel from the UK and Ireland for foreign nationals as it was under consideration over the last few days because of the spike of coronavirus cases in the UK. It's still not clear why they were exempt initially.
As choreographed a day earlier, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that foreign nationals' travel from the UK and Ireland to the U.S. would be suspended beginning Monday at midnight.
That's in addition to the 28 European countries already subject to the suspension.
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Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Chad Wolf said the travel suspension does not apply to American citizens, legal residents, family members less than age 21, and foreign diplomats. These individuals will be screened at U.S. airports and subject to 14-day self-quarantines, he said Saturday in a White House briefing.
These new restrictions do not apply to trade and cargo, Wolf said.
The suspension from the UK and Ireland kicks in at midnight eastern time.
Read Skift Research's Report on the UK Traveler
At the same briefing, Vice President Mike Pence said in the next 30 days the U.S. would establish new rules for cruise lines to make sailings safer in light of the coronavirus outbreak. He provided no specifics but praised cruise lines for suspending service.
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