Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
US Travel Bans To Remain, New Warnings Issued As Delta Flares Around Globe
The New York Times: White House Will Keep Travel Bans In Place
The Biden administration will continue to restrict the entry of Europeans and others into the United States, citing concerns that infected travelers may contribute to further spread of the contagious Delta variant across the country, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said Monday afternoon. Concern about the variant had convinced officials not to lift the current travel restrictions on foreigners, Ms. Psaki said, some of which had been in place since the beginning of the pandemic. Vaccines remain effective against the worst outcomes of Covid-19, including from the Delta variant. (Shear, 7/27)
USA Today: US Intends To Keep Travel Restrictions In Place Against UK, European Countries, Others
The decision means the country’s current travel restrictions – which deny entry for people from the European Schengen area, United Kingdom and other countries – will remain in place. “Given where we are today … with the delta variant, we will maintain existing travel restrictions at this point for a few reasons," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing Monday. "The more transmissible delta variant is spreading both here and around the world. Driven by the delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated and appear likely to continue in the weeks ahead.” (Schulz, 7/26)
The Washington Post: U.S. Warns Against Travel To Israel, Portugal And Spain As Delta Variant Fuels Outbreaks
The United States is now warning against travel to Israel and several European countries as the more contagious delta variant fuels coronavirus outbreaks mostly among the unvaccinated. The State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new travel advisories Monday for Israel, Cyprus, Portugal and Spain, as well as Kyrgyzstan, citing surging case numbers in all five countries. (Cunningham, 7/27)
In related news from the U.K. —
Bloomberg: Falling Covid Cases Are Welcome Surprise For U.K. Scientists
A sustained fall in new coronavirus cases in the U.K. is being cautiously welcomed by scientists, though there’s no consensus on what’s behind it -- or whether the current wave of infections has peaked. The U.K. recorded 24,950 new cases on Monday, down for a sixth day and well below the 39,950 from a week earlier. Scientists pointed to the end of the soccer European Championship, a period of sunny weather and the start of the school holidays as potential factors, alongside the vaccine rollout. (Ashton, 7/26)
