US escalates global travel warning for citizens
NewsColony
The Trump administration has warned US citizens to avoid all international travel as the coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten people’s ability to safely cross borders.
The state department on Thursday raised its global travel advisory to level four, the most severe level of warning, advising those already abroad to either return home immediately or be prepared to be stuck overseas for “an indefinite timeframe”.
While the US has issued level four warnings against specific countries before, including Syria, Iran, Yemen and North Korea, issuing the advisory against all global travel is a significant escalation in America’s bid to protect its citizens.
“In countries where commercial departure options remain available, US citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period,” the advisory notice said. “US citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel.”
Coronavirus has already caused a sharp drop in global travel, with countries including the US already having largely closed their borders to any travellers who are not their own citizens.
Last week, the Trump administration announced it would extend a ban on travel between the US and European countries to include the UK and Ireland as it ramped up efforts to fight coronavirus, although citizens and legal residents are able to return.
On Thursday, the US government warned that quarantines and border restrictions might prevent international travel at short notice, “even in areas where cases have not been reported”.
“Many countries are experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks and implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice,” it said in its notice.
“Airlines have cancelled many international flights and several cruise operators have suspended operations or cancelled trips. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe.”
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Eliot Engel, the Democratic chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, said the advisory was “an unprecedented step underscoring the seriousness of this pandemic”.
“I urge all Americans to heed this advisory: stay home, and if you are abroad and seeking to return to the United States, make immediate arrangements to do so,” Mr Engel said.
“I’m working closely with the department to ensure that every effort is made for the safe return of American citizens looking to come home and I will continue to monitor this situation closely.”
US citizens abroad were also advised to register with the state department to receive up-to-date information.
Last week, the state department authorised the return of any overseas foreign service officials who felt they were particularly vulnerable to suffering poor health as a result of coronavirus.
It has warned that the departure of staff from its embassies and consulates may limit their ability to “provide services to US citizens”.
Source : FT | NewsColony: Business News
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