In order to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, many states are locked down, travel with Europe is prohibited and visas are suspended. What are the applicable regulations?
[Updated April 24, 2020 4:25 PM] The United States has become one of the main centers of the coronavirus epidemic. This week, by executive order, Donald Trump suspended work visas for sixty days. However, the text includes many exceptions, including for medical personnel and for workers deemed essential. The White House commented, “The President is suspending immigration visas so that American workers benefit first from the reopening of the economy.” A few weeks before the presidential elections, this decision has an eminently political significance. Indeed, for several days the United States has closed its borders, in particular with European countries.
US President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of all foreign travel from Europe to the United States since Friday March 13 to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
In order to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the country as much as possible, President Donald Trump has recommended limiting gatherings to 10 people, closing schools, no longer going out to bars and restaurants, and avoiding non-essential travel. California was the first state to announce a containment of its population. Since then all states — except North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Arkansas — have been locked down. However, Texas, Vermont and Georgia have started deconfinement.
On March 13, 2020, President Trump announced the closure of borders with European Union countries. Initially limited to nationals of the Schengen Area, this measure now applies to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
During a press conference on April 13, 2020, Donald Trump maintained the closure of the borders between the United States and Europe. This travel ban will be effective “until European countries recover”.
The Tourism Code requires tour operators, travel agencies and airlines to reimburse any plane ticket or contract canceled following an “exceptional and unavoidable event” or to offer travelers a postponement free of charge. However, the coronavirus epidemic is not affected by this qualifier. On the insurance side, they very rarely cover epidemics. Situations are therefore to be managed on a case-by-case basis and travelers are requested to contact their airline or travel agency.
