US eases Covid-19 restrictions on Chinese students

Students with visas from China, Iran, Brazil and South Africa would qualify for exemptions to entry bans

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Tuesday it was easing remaining Covid-19 restrictions on international students, giving the green light to Chinese nationals to start the school year at US universities.

The move comes in response to persistent demands from US universities, which increasingly rely financially on foreign students and count on China for more than one-third of them far more than any country.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said students with valid visas from China, Iran, Brazil and South Africa would qualify for exemptions to entry bans in place over the past year due to concerns of Covid-19 transmission. The decision is “in keeping with the state department’s commitment to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States,” a statement said.

President Joe Biden’s administration in March similarly eased restrictions for students from the EU and Britain.

Under the latest exemption, students will need to have visas to attend universities for classes starting on August 1 or later, and cannot enter the US more than one month beforehand. All travellers will have to present a negative Covid-19 test report.

CDC: Many people can go outside without masks

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has eased its guidelines on masks, saying fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers. And those who are unvaccinated can go outside without masks in some situations, too.

In another development, Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will co-chair a fundraising concert urging more vaccinations that will air May 8, which the Bidens will attend.

Brazil’s Senate launches probe against Bolsonaro

Brazil’s Senate has opened an inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic, a move that could damage President Jair Bolsonaro’s image as he seeks re-election next year.

In Fiji, a Covid outbreak that forced the capital Suva into lockdown was triggered after the Indian variant was detected, with health officials fearing a “tsunami” of infections.