U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s decision to reinstate travel restrictions on South Africa and seven other African nations:

“The U.S. Travel Association respectfully urges the Biden administration to revisit the reinstatement of country-specific entry bans in the near term."

“Covid variants are of concern, but closed borders have not prevented their presence in the United States while vaccinations have proven incredibly durable. That is why America’s travel industry is a vocal proponent of everyone getting a vaccine. With a vaccine and testing requirement in place to enter the U.S. we continue to believe that assessing an individual’s risk and health status is the best way to welcome qualified global travelers into the United States.”

Starting Monday, the United States is implementing a ban on travel from South Africa along with seven other neighboring countries "as a precautionary measure until we have more information," President Joe Biden said in a statement. The ban, which does not affect American citizens, comes just weeks after the U.S. lifted restrictions on vaccinated foreign travelers.

In addition to South Africa, travelers coming from Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi will not be permitted to enter the U.S.