On Monday, the United States again included Portugal in the list of countries where it recommends “travel avoidance”, putting it at a “very high” level, due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement noting that Cyprus and Kyrgyzstan also rose to this category.
Recommendation regarding Portugal Dedicated to the epidemic.
Travel Notices were issued on the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which Putting Portugal and Spain in “Level 4”, due to the epidemic.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced that the United States will maintain restrictions on international travel and entry into the country due to an increase in infections through the delta version of COVID-19.
Psaki pointed out that the Delta variant is spreading in the country and the world, noting that in the United States it has caused a new wave of infection cases that mainly affect unvaccinated people and that should continue in the coming weeks.
The US currently restricts entry to nearly all non-US citizens and those who were in the UK, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran, Brazil and the 26 European Schengen countries 14 days ago.
The United States first imposed international travel restrictions in January last year against China in order to control the spread of the coronavirus.
On the other hand, Psaki She considered it normal for the US health authorities to have an “active” discussion about the steps to be taken., including the possibility of mandatory wearing of masks indoors, after the US government’s chief infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, defended the same position.
Psaki stressed that the government will make its decisions through the advice of scientists and health officials based on scientific data and not as a political decision.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in May that the fully vaccinated American population can walk around without a mask, most of the time, even indoors or in large crowds.
On Sunday, Anthony Fauci admitted he was considering recommending a mask for those who have already been vaccinated, in light of the surge in infections, which is leading the United States “in the wrong direction.” In the US, mask use remains mandatory on planes, but until September.
Asked if the government was considering extending the mandatory mask rule due to the delta variable, Jen Psaki declined to give details about the issue, adding that the CDC was working on measures that would serve as a guide for travelers and airlines.
As for Fauci’s remarks, who said the country is going in the wrong direction, the White House spokeswoman attributes it to the fact that there is a segment of the population that has not yet been vaccinated.
Jen Psaki also warned that it was necessary to be “responsible” and that 97% of admissions in recent weeks involved unvaccinated people.
“The data continues to show that if you are vaccinated, you are protected and unlikely to get sick or be hospitalized,” he added.
The White House spokeswoman also said she supports health organizations’ plea that vaccination be mandatory for health professionals, noting that the CDC does not give orders, but rather recommendations.
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