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President Joe Biden will formally reinstate COVID travel restrictions on Monday – 19 to non-US travelers who are in Brazil, Ireland, United Kingdom and others 26 European countries that allow the free movement of passengers across their borders, as reported by Associated Press .
Anonymous officials cited by the agency confirmed Sunday that South Africa would also be added to the list due to concerns of a variant virus that has spread beyond this country.
No cases have yet been discovered in the United States of the South African strain. However, several states have detected the British variant, more contagious and potentially more deadly.
Reuters was the first outlet to report that Biden had added South Africa to the list of restrictions.
Upon arrival at the White House, the president issued an executive order directing federal agencies to require international air travelers to are placed in quarantine upon arrival in the United States . The presidential decree also requires all US-bound passengers age two and older to obtain negative COVID test results – 19 within three days prior to the trip.