Planning A European Vacation? Not So Fast. US Not On EU Shortlist Of Acceptable Travelers

As European countries start lifting coronavirus restrictions and begin reopening their borders, U.S. travelers reportedly will be barred because of the country’s failure to control the pandemic.

The New York Times reported Tuesday the European Union has put together two lists of acceptable travelers – one with 47 countries and the other with 54 -- that exclude Americans along with Russians and Brazilians. Among the acceptable travelers are the Chinese, Ugandans, Cubans and Vietnamese.

A final decision, based on epidemiological criteria, was expected next week. Borders are scheduled to open July 1.

European countries closed their borders in mid-March as the pandemic raged across the continent, opening them only for nationals and essential travel. Infection rates have dropped to an average 16 per 100,000. By contrast, the U.S. rate is 107; Russia’s, 80, and Brazil’s, 190, the Times said. The EU has put an acceptable rate at 20 per 100,000 population.

A U.S. exclusion could be seen as payback for a decision by President Trump to bar European travelers as the pandemic spread across Europe. Those restrictions remain in effect even though Europe has stemmed its outbreak.

U.S. infection rates are rising again as more states ease restrictions to get their economies going. Trump has said he wants to slow down testing as a means of reducing the U.S. case count – an approach rejected by infectious disease experts.

As of early afternoon Tuesday, more than 2.3 million coronavirus infections had been confirmed in the U.S., along with nearly 121,000 deaths. Worldwide, 9.15 million cases had been confirmed along with 473,650 deaths.

Excluding U.S. travelers would have a major economic impact on Europe’s tourism economy and could weaken business ties.

Trump, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, have been sharply criticized for downplaying the threat posed by the pandemic and failing to act swiftly to halt its spread.

EU members implemented a piecemeal approach in fighting the virus, with some nations completely sealing their borders and others maintaining partial openings, disrupting the alliance’s commitment to open borders.

The EU plans to update its travel list every two weeks, the Times said.