Commerce Secretary Raimondo pushing to lift tough US travel restrictions

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Monday she is pressing for the easing of coronavirus restrictions that bar much of the world from traveling to the United States but that US health officials remain concerned about more outbreaks. Dozen of US business groups, lawmakers and officials from foreign governments are urging President Joe Biden’s administration to relax tough restrictions put in place under former President Donald Trump. “We’re working it,” Raimondo said. “I’m pushing really hard.” She said she met with US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Friday but had no information on when a decision could be made. “The CDC is nervous, and it’s hard to know if people are vaccinated,” she said. “There’s no vaccine passport that’s reliable, and that’s kind of a big hurdle.” The White House says it is continuing discussions with the European Union, Britain, Canada and Mexico on how to eventually lift restrictions, but U.S. officials say they still have no timetable and travel industry officials think the restrictions may not be lifted until August or later. The White House has repeatedly ruled out a national vaccine passport.<br/>