By Teaganne Finn and Mike Memoli - NBC News
The United States
will maintain restrictions on foreign travel
due to the government's concern about the increase in new infections from the delta variant of COVID-19, according to a White House official.
Around 83% of the new cases of COVID-19 registered this month in the country are due to the delta variant.
They are concentrated mostly among people who are not vaccinated and
the number of infected
is likely to
increase in the coming weeks,
the official said.
[Follow our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic]
Passengers queue at LAX airport as the coronavirus pandemic continues, in Los Angeles, California, May 27, 2021.Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
[Vaccines protect against the dangerous delta variant of COVID-19. But it takes both doses]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
advised against US citizens traveling to the UK,
given the increase in cases in that country.
In addition, the United States also prohibits entry to most non-citizens who
have been in other European countries
in the last
14 days, in China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil.
