Travelers walk through Terminal A at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
President Joe Biden said on Monday that he doesn't expect the U.S. to impose additional travel restrictions to stem the spread of the omicron Covid-19 variant.
Several countries reported cases of the omicron variant and new travel restrictions were established. Visitors from South Africa, where scientists first reported the variant, will be temporarily barred from the U.S.
Biden said at the news conference that the degree of the variant's spread will determine if more travel restrictions are necessary.
He said he didn't anticipate that at this point. Biden doesn't think that there is a need for lockdowns.
Three weeks ago, the U.S. lifted strict travel rules that prevented entry to foreign visitors from the U.K., Brazil, India, South Africa and nearly 30 other nations. The administration set a date to lift the rules that were put in place early in the Pandemic.
United Airlines and American Airlines were up more than 1% in afternoon trading after Biden spoke. Delta Air Lines was up.
The discount carriers that do not have trans-Atlantic or other long-haul international service rose even more.
