Biden says travel bans to remain despite Trump order
US President-elect Joe Biden's spokeswoman says the US will maintain travel bans on the UK, a lot of the EU and Brazil - despite an order from President Donald Trump to lift them.
The White House decreed on Monday that the entry ban would end on 26 January - six days after Mr Biden takes office.
But Mr Biden's spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said on Twitter that now had not been the time to be easing travel measures.
Mr Biden is because of be inaugurated on Wednesday.
The US imposed the restrictions on Europe last March and the Brazilian entry ban was put in place in May.
"On the advice of our medical team, the administration will not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26," tweeted Ms Psaki, immediately after President Trump's decree was issued.
"In fact, we intend to strengthen public health measures around international travel so as to further mitigate the spread of Covid-19."
She said that with "more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not enough time to be lifting restrictions on international travel".
Just minutes earlier, the White House had issued a statement saying that President Trump had signed an order lifting the entry ban on the UK, Ireland, the Schengen area of Europe which allows travel across open borders, and Brazil from 26 January. Travel bans for China and Iran would remain in place, the order explained.
Following an order the other day by the US Centers meant for Disease Control and Avoidance (CDC), most air travellers arriving in the US coming from 26 January will have to give a negative Covid-19 test or perhaps proof recovery from the condition to enter.
