In an effort to contain the spread of the new and more contagious variant of COVID-19, President Joe Biden is set to impose a ban on non-US citizens who have recently been to South Africa from entering the country starting Saturday, US public health officials told Reuters. 

Biden will also be reimposing an entry ban on nearly all non-US travellers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders, said the sources to Reuters.

On January 18, Former President Donald Trump signed an executive to lift those restrictions on Brazil and Europe effective January 26 but Biden’s transition team had vowed at that time to rescind that decision.

Biden, who took office on January 20, is taking an aggressive approach to combating the spread of the virus in travel after Trump rejected mandates sought by U.S. health agencies.

The South African variant, also known as the 501Y.V2 variant, is 50% more infectious and has been detected in at least 20 countries.

CDC officials said they would be open to adding additional countries to the list if needed, Reuters reported.

Recently in a press briefing Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President, said the South African variant has not yet been found in the United States, however, at least 20 US states have detected a UK variant known as B.1.1.7. Current vaccines appear effective against the UK mutations.

Some health officials are concerned that current vaccines may not be effective against the South Africa variant, which also raises the prospect of re-infection. 

“With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Twitter at the time Donald Trump signed the orders.

“On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26. In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”