British holidaymakers face being banned from visiting America for MONTHS - or even until a vaccine is found - warns Trump's senior virus expert Dr Anthony Fauci
- Travel ban for UK tourists to US will likely be lifted in months rather than weeks
- 'It's going to be really wait and see,' health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said
- All 50 states have begun to reopen after virus threw country into lockdown
- Comes despite early warning signs that cases could again spike
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said British holidaymakers could be banned for visiting America for months to come, or until a vaccine is found.
The current travel ban for UK tourists which has been in place since March 16 will likely be lifted in months rather than weeks, the senior virus expert said.
So far, more than 114,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, according to a Reuters tally. About half a dozen US states are grappling with a rising number of coronavirus patients filling hospital beds.
Top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said British holidaymakers could be banned for visiting America for months, or until a vaccine is found
A TSA agent wearing a facemask at a deserted Los Angeles International Airport amid the coronavirus pandemic. Top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said British holidaymakers could be banned for visiting America for months to come, or until a vaccine is found
A traveler wearing a protective mask exits from the United Airlines Holdings Inc. check-in counter at San Francisco International Airport
'It's going to be really wait and see. I don't think there's going to be an immediate pull back for those kinds of restrictions,' Dr Fauci told The Telegraph.
'My feeling, looking at what's going on with the infection rate, I think it's more likely measured in months rather than weeks.'
While Dr. Fauci said the US had been successful in squashing the outbreak in major cities including New York, Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans, several states trying to reopen are seeing 'early indications [that] infections are higher than previously.'
Passengers arrive at London Heathrow Airport. The current travel ban for UK tourists to the US which has been in place since March 16 will likely be lifted in months rather than weeks,Dr. Fauci said
All 50 states have begun to reopen in some way after the coronavirus threw the country into lockdown starting in March, despite early warning signs that cases could again spike.
More than a dozen states, including Texas and Florida, have recently reported record daily infection rates.
Texas hit highs this week for hospitalizations and new Covid-19 cases, while allowing restaurants to expand eat-in dining Friday to 75% of capacity, up from 50%.
On the topic of mass protests across the country which were sparked at the end of last month over the death of George Floyd, Dr. Fauci said: 'I would say in a perfect world people shouldn't congregate in a crowd and demonstrate.
'But I know, even though you say that, they are going to go do it. So, if you're going to do it, don't take the mask off when you're chanting, and screaming, and yelling, and doing whatever at a demonstration.'
UK citizens have been barred from entering the US since March 16, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
There are some exceptions to the travel ban, including green card holders, those with specified close family members in the US, and certain other limited categories of visas holders such as UN staff and diplomats.
Those who are allowed entry to the US must be prepared to self-isolate for up to 14 days on arrival.
The travel ban has greatly restricted the roughly 3.8 million British nationals that visit the US every year.
The UK foreign office continues to advise British nationals against all but essential international travel, and those who return will have to quarantine for 14 days.
Europe will partially reopen on Monday allowing Britons to holiday abroad. In a move recommended by the European Commission (EC), border controls are to be lifted between Schengen member states from June 15.
Even though the UK doesn't have an EU status, it is included on the lists which allow entry into several nations, the Telegraph reported.
Much of Europe will remain off-limits for US tourists in July due to the country's high infection rate. America's Centre for Disease Control (CDC) continues to advise citizens against all but essential international travel and Americans returning to the US will have to follow the 14-day self-quarantine rule.
Some EU countries have chosen a different approach to opening their borders. For example, Italy opened its borders to EU nations and the UK on June 3.
Meanwhile Spain is imposing a 14-day quarantine on arrivals until July 1.
France is one of the countries set to open its borders to visitors from the EU and UK on Monday.
Spain is imposing a 14-day quarantine on arrivals until July 1. Pictured: Benidorm is preparing to open its beaches from Monday
The country has a voluntary self-isolation but its quarantine is not enforced with fines and is a request made to British visitors.
Benidorm, Spain, is also preparing to open its beach from Monday with a list of strict new guidelines imposed by the Mayor Toni Perez and its town hall.
Beach cordons segregating the over 70s and making one way entrances and exits to the sea are being put in place.
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