On July 1, 2020, the European Union reopened its borders to non-essential travelers from 15 countries deemed safe based on their COVID-19 situation, but the United States was notably excluded due to its soaring infection rates.
The decision, finalized in Brussels, aimed to revive Europe’s struggling tourism sector, heavily impacted by travel bans since mid-March.
Safe Countries List
The EU’s approved list included Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
China was provisionally included, pending reciprocal access for EU citizens.
Countries like the US, Brazil, and Russia were excluded due to high infection rates and unreliable containment measures. The list was set to be reviewed every two weeks.
US Faces Alarming COVID-19 Surge
In the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading infectious disease expert, warned Congress on June 30, 2020, that daily COVID-19 cases could hit 100,000 if trends didn’t reverse.
With over 2.6 million cases and 127,000 deaths, states like Texas and Florida reported record spikes, with Texas alone logging 6,975 new cases on June 30.
Fauci stressed, “We’re going in the wrong direction,” urging stronger measures to curb the spread.
Biden Halts Rallies, Trump Persists
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden announced on June 30, 2020, that he would forgo campaign rallies, following health experts’ advice to protect public safety.
The 77-year-old criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis, calling it a failure.
Meanwhile, Trump continued holding large gatherings, despite warnings. Senator Lamar Alexander urged Trump to wear a mask to depoliticize the issue, noting, “It would help end this political debate.”
Global and Regional Impacts
Globally, the World Health Organization warned that the pandemic, with 10.4 million cases and over 508,000 deaths, was far from over. In Latin America, the Pan American Health Organization predicted a potential 400,000 deaths by October without stricter measures.
In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro won a legal battle to avoid a public mask mandate, despite rising cases.
Economic and Social Fallout
Europe’s tourism-dependent nations like Greece, Italy, and Spain pushed for border reopening to salvage their economies, with American tourists—spending $67 billion in the EU in 2019—sorely missed.
Meanwhile, Airbus announced 15,000 job cuts, and Britain faced a 2.2% economic contraction, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson promising an “infrastructure revolution” to recover.
In Australia, Melbourne imposed new stay-at-home orders for 300,000 residents due to case spikes.
Other Developments
Germany extended a lockdown in a district hit by a slaughterhouse outbreak, while sporting events like the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the World Rugby Sevens Series were postponed or canceled.
In the US, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut expanded their quarantine list to 16 states, reflecting growing regional concerns.
