US issues travel advisory for Spain, Portugal over rise in COVID-19 cases

US has issued a travel warning for Spain, Portugal and numerous European nations, citing more contagious delta form as a source of coronavirus epidemics, primarily among unvaccinated. In all five countries, including Israel, Cyprus, Portugal, and Spain, as well as Kyrgyzstan, State Department and CDC issued new travel warnings due to an increasing number of cases.

warnings came as White House announced that it h no intentions to ease wide restrictions on visitors from United Kingdom, Schengen countries, and or countries like Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. Spain and Portugal have alrey reopened ir borders to American tourists —and Cana announced that beginning next month, it will allow vaccinated American citizens to enter country. But, “given where we are today … with delta variant, we will maintain existing travel restrictions at this point,” Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, stated on Monday, July 26.

European officials voice against US' restrictions

European governments and business groups have become increasingly vocal in ir opposition to United States' ongoing limitations on international travel. As vaccinated American tourists go back and forth between Paris and Rome for ir summer vacations, Biden ministration's European allies and partners are finding it increasingly difficult to justify US strategy.

US government, in raising its travel visories for Cyprus, Portugal, and Spain to highest levels, strongly vised US citizens to avoid all travel to those countries, even if fully vaccinated. Last week, similar travel warnings were issued for United Kingdom, as number of new cases increased and London government cancelled practically all public health restrictions Because of coronavirus situation in those countries, “even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreing COVID-19 variants,” CDC stated.

CDC declared a slightly less severe Level 3 visory for Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Strip, “indicating a high level of COVID-19” in country, and asked unvaccinated citizens to “avoid nonessential travel to Israel.”