UPDATE: The US will mandate vaccinations as part of its strategy to permit visitor entry again

The Associated Press has verified reports from Reuters news service indicating that the United States plans to require vaccinations for visitors as it looks to reopen borders.

According to Reuters, citing a government source, all international visitors must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to gain entry into the U.S.

Plans are still under development, and the current travel ban on visitors from many countries is unlikely to be lifted in the near future.

The source informed Reuters that the White House remains hesitant to modify visitor regulations due to the ongoing spread of the highly contagious delta COVID-19 variant and increasing global case numbers.

On August 5, the Associated Press cited an anonymous White House source stating, "Eventually, all foreign nationals entering the U.S. will likely need to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with some limited exceptions."

As previously reported, President Biden mentioned in a July 15 news conference alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel that an announcement about easing travel restrictions might be imminent, but that has yet to materialize.

According to Reuters, the Biden administration has set up interagency groups to prepare a new system for reopening travel. An official noted that this includes a phased strategy, eventually requiring foreign nationals entering the United States (from all countries) to be fully vaccinated, with certain exceptions.

Previously, Reuters indicated that the Biden administration was weighing the implementation of a vaccination mandate. They also mentioned discussions with airlines regarding a contact-tracing initiative for travelers.

Last week, Reuters disclosed that the White House was exploring the possibility of requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for international travelers. Sources indicated that no final decisions had been made yet.

For months, the Biden Administration has faced ongoing pressure to lift travel restrictions for Europeans.

Frustration is growing in Europe regarding the persistent ban on European travelers entering the United States, even as American tourists have been welcomed back since June.

The initial travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration in March 2020 prohibited most foreigners who had visited certain restricted countries within the past 14 days from entering the United States.

The Trump Administration prohibited entry to the U.S. for non-citizens who had recently been in the U.K., Ireland, 26 Schengen Area countries, China, Iran, or Brazil. Although there were discussions in November 2020 about possibly lifting the ban on European travel, it was ultimately extended under President Biden.

The U.S. Travel Association issued a statement to TPG, expressing their approval and calling it "an important first step towards welcoming millions of visitors from our key inbound markets back to the U.S."

Tori Emerson Barnes, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy, stated:

"With every week that the travel bans on the UK, EU, and Canada remain, our economy loses $1.5 billion in spending, jeopardizing 10,000 American jobs. We strongly urge the administration to expedite the plan for countries under 212(f) and establish a reopening date as soon as possible, particularly since the U.K., much of the EU, and Canada have recently taken steps to welcome vaccinated travelers and revitalize their economies."

Section 212(f) refers to the presidential proclamation that restricts entry for international visitors to the United States.

The AP also reported that the trade group Airlines for America expressed satisfaction at the prospect of the U.S. opening its borders to more foreign visitors.