U.S. lifts travel ban on 33 countries as Europe cases surge

As the United States reopens its international borders Monday to travelers from 33 countries who have proof of vaccination and a recent negative coronavirus test, airlines are bracing for an “onslaught” of passengers as families and binational couples prepare to reunite following months of separation.

For many around the world — and the struggling American travel and tourism industries — this day has been a long time coming. It also follows grim milestones that serve as a reminder that the pandemic is not over: More than 5 million people have died globally, and 250 million coronavirus cases have been reported.

Most of the 33 previously banned countries are in Europe, a region the World Health Organization declared this month as the latest “epicenter” of the pandemic. In Central and Eastern Europe in particular, low vaccination uptake despite ample supply of doses, combined with the spread of the more transmissible delta variant, have created public health crises in many countries.

The change in U.S. travel restrictions comes as the Biden administration revs up its focus on vaccination, recently finalizing a rule that will require companies with more than 100 employees to mandate coronavirus vaccination for their workers or do regular testing by Jan. 4, 2022.

This effort suffered a blow on Saturday, when a federal appeals court temporarily suspended enforcement of the new rule while it considers a lawsuit filed against the mandate by a group of plaintiffs that includes Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (R).