As of Monday, the European Union removed five territories, including the United States&nbsp;from its list of countries that were earlier exempt from restrictions on non-essential travel during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Visitors from the United States and the five other countries will now likely face tighter controls, such as COVID-19 tests and quarantines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-set-to-propose-travel-restrictions-on-us-visitors-409454">EU set to propose travel restrictions on US visitors</a>

In addition to the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have also been omitted from the list.

This list intends to standardise travel rules across the EU, but it does not bind the individual member states, which can still set their own border policies.

However, so far most EU members have followed Brussels' travel recommendation during the crisis.

Several EU countries, including Germany and Belgium, already categorise the United States as red and require testing and quarantines, while France and the Netherlands deem it safe.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-virus-origins-us-intelligence-community-says-it-was-not-developed-as-biological-weapon-408909">COVID-19 virus&nbsp;origins:&nbsp;US intelligence community says it was 'not developed' as biological weapon</a>

According to data from Our World in Data, average&nbsp;US <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> cases in the week to August 28 numbered more than 450 per million people, up from under 40 when the European Union added the US to its list in mid-June.

According to the data, Israel, Kosovo, and Montenegro have an even higher rate of cases.

Non-EU visitors who have full <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">immunisations</a> are still allowed into the EU bloc, although testing and quarantines may apply, depending on the country of arrival.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-potential-covid-19-variant-of-concern-identified-in-south-africa-409448" hreflang="en">New potential COVID-19 variant of concern identified in South Africa</a>

With Canada, Japan, and New Zealand included on the EU safe list, now the number of safe countries is 17.&nbsp;COVID-19 issues in each country, as well as reciprocity, are heavily weighed in while assembling the list.

However, as Washington does not allow EU citizens to visit freely despite EU appeals, a&nbsp;division exists within the bloc over reciprocity and the growing number of US cases versus those that rely on tourism and would prefer not to restrict US visitor numbers.

According to a statement by the bloc, the list will be reviewed regularly and updated as needed.

(With inputs from agencies)

As of Monday, the European Union removed five territories, including the United States from its list of countries that were earlier exempt from restrictions on non-essential travel during the Coronavirus pandemic.

As of Monday, the European Union removed five territories, including the United States from its list of countries that were earlier exempt from restrictions on non-essential travel during the Coronavirus pandemic. Visitors from the United States and the five other countries will now likely face tighter controls, such as COVID-19 tests and quarantines. Also read | EU set to propose travel restrictions on US visitors In addition to the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have also been omitted from the list. This list intends to standardise travel rules across the EU, but it does not bind the individual member states, which can still set their own border policies. However, so far most EU members have followed Brussels' travel recommendation during the crisis. Several EU countries, including Germany and Belgium, already categorise the United States as red and require testing and quarantines, while France and the Netherlands deem it safe. Also read | COVID-19 virus origins: US intelligence community says it was 'not developed' as biological weapon According to data from Our World in Data, average US COVID-19 cases in the week to August 28 numbered more than 450 per million people, up from under 40 when the European Union added the US to its list in mid-June. According to the data, Israel, Kosovo, and Montenegro have an even higher rate of cases. Non-EU visitors who have full immunisations are still allowed into the EU bloc, although testing and quarantines may apply, depending on the country of arrival. Also read | New potential COVID-19 variant of concern identified in South Africa With Canada, Japan, and New Zealand included on the EU safe list, now the number of safe countries is 17. COVID-19 issues in each country, as well as reciprocity, are heavily weighed in while assembling the list. However, as Washington does not allow EU citizens to visit freely despite EU appeals, a division exists within the bloc over reciprocity and the growing number of US cases versus those that rely on tourism and would prefer not to restrict US visitor numbers. According to a statement by the bloc, the list will be reviewed regularly and updated as needed. (With inputs from agencies)

EU drops US from list of Covid-safe countries for non-essential travel

The European Union is set to advise member states that they should reintroduce travel restrictions for visitors from the United States, three EU officials said Sunday, as coronavirus infections and hospitalisations have surged in the US in recent weeks.

Starting Monday, the officials said, the United States will be removed from a “safe list” of countries whose residents can travel to the 27-nation bloc without additional restrictions, such as quarantine and testing requirements. The suggested restrictions, made by the European Council, will not be mandatory for member countries, and it will remain up to those countries to decide whether to impose them.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-virus-origins-us-intelligence-community-says-it-was-not-developed-as-biological-weapon-408909">COVID-19 virus&nbsp;origins:&nbsp;US intelligence community says it was 'not developed' as biological weapon</a>

Most European countries reopened their borders to Americans in June, more than a year after imposing a travel ban, hoping that Americans would visit this summer and help an ailing tourism industry bounce back.

In essence, the EU gave the United States a summertime pass to encourage tourism, despite the relatively high infection rates in parts of the country.

The threshold for being on the EU “safe travel” list is having fewer than 75 new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> cases daily per 100,000 people over the previous 14 days. The United States has an infection rate well above that threshold, and COVID hospitalisations in the country climbed above 100,000 last week for the first time since January.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-potential-covid-19-variant-of-concern-identified-in-south-africa-409448" hreflang="en">New potential COVID-19 variant of concern identified in South Africa</a>

Yet while American tourists were able to travel to Europe this summer, the United States has remained closed to Europeans, drawing anger from Europeans and their leaders, who have expressed frustration at the lack of reciprocity.

Travellers from countries on the safe list can usually visit EU countries without quarantining by showing proof of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccination</a> or a negative test, while those from countries not on that list are barred from visiting for nonessential reasons and can be subject to further testing and quarantine requirements.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pain-and-suffering-in-future-fauci-warns-us-against-covid-surge-402281">'Pain and suffering in future': Fauci warns US against Covid surge</a>

Most European countries reopened their economies this summer after vaccination campaigns picked up speed in recent months. Countries such as France and Italy, among others, have required proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result for people to dine in restaurants, visit museums or attend concerts, making COVID passes a fixture of daily life.

The decision to urge the reimposition of travel restrictions on US travellers was first reported by Reuters. European officials who outlined the plan did so under condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly before an announcement planned for Monday.

Other countries expected to be removed from the “safe list” include Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-americas-covid-crisis-walled-by-the-western-press-408899/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The EU overtook the United States in vaccinations last month, with 64 per cent of the bloc’s residents having received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, compared with 60 per cent in the United States, according to Our World in Data.

The European Union is set to advise member states that they should reintroduce travel restrictions for visitors from the United States, three EU officials said Sunday, as coronavirus infections and hospitalisations have surged in the US in recent weeks.

The European Union is set to advise member states that they should reintroduce travel restrictions for visitors from the United States, three EU officials said Sunday, as coronavirus infections and hospitalisations have surged in the US in recent weeks. Starting Monday, the officials said, the United States will be removed from a “safe list” of countries whose residents can travel to the 27-nation bloc without additional restrictions, such as quarantine and testing requirements. The suggested restrictions, made by the European Council, will not be mandatory for member countries, and it will remain up to those countries to decide whether to impose them. Also read | COVID-19 virus origins: US intelligence community says it was 'not developed' as biological weapon Most European countries reopened their borders to Americans in June, more than a year after imposing a travel ban, hoping that Americans would visit this summer and help an ailing tourism industry bounce back. In essence, the EU gave the United States a summertime pass to encourage tourism, despite the relatively high infection rates in parts of the country. The threshold for being on the EU “safe travel” list is having fewer than 75 new COVID-19 cases daily per 100,000 people over the previous 14 days. The United States has an infection rate well above that threshold, and COVID hospitalisations in the country climbed above 100,000 last week for the first time since January. Also read | New potential COVID-19 variant of concern identified in South Africa Yet while American tourists were able to travel to Europe this summer, the United States has remained closed to Europeans, drawing anger from Europeans and their leaders, who have expressed frustration at the lack of reciprocity. Travellers from countries on the safe list can usually visit EU countries without quarantining by showing proof of vaccination or a negative test, while those from countries not on that list are barred from visiting for nonessential reasons and can be subject to further testing and quarantine requirements. Also read | 'Pain and suffering in future': Fauci warns US against Covid surge Most European countries reopened their economies this summer after vaccination campaigns picked up speed in recent months. Countries such as France and Italy, among others, have required proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result for people to dine in restaurants, visit museums or attend concerts, making COVID passes a fixture of daily life. The decision to urge the reimposition of travel restrictions on US travellers was first reported by Reuters. European officials who outlined the plan did so under condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly before an announcement planned for Monday. Other countries expected to be removed from the “safe list” include Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The EU overtook the United States in vaccinations last month, with 64 per cent of the bloc’s residents having received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, compared with 60 per cent in the United States, according to Our World in Data.

EU set to propose travel restrictions on US visitors

The European Union decided to add the United States to its safe travel list. Non-essential travel from the US and other places had been banned in the EU in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic to avoid further contagion.

EU set to add United States to safe travel list

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EU drops US from list of Covid-safe countries for non-essential travel

EU set to propose travel restrictions on US visitors

EU set to add United States to safe travel list