The European Union finalized its ban on American travelers as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage

David Slotnick

June 30, 2020 3:40 PM

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The European Union officially barred Americans from traveling to its member states as US coronavirus cases continue to rise.
The US is among dozens of countries excluded from a list of safe countries whose citizens may travel to Europe once it reopens its borders on July 1.
Countries on the safe list include Australia, Canada, and South Korea.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

European Union officials finalized and published a list of 15 countries whose residents will be allowed to visit when it reopens its borders on Wednesday.

The United States is not included, effectively banning Americans from visiting much of Europe for the foreseeable future.

The US is among dozens of countries deemed too risky because their coronavirus outbreaks are poorly contained.

The full list of safe countries includes Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay. China will also be included, as long as China allows European Union visitors.

Although the list is based on objective epidemiological criteria, according to European officials, the exclusion of the United States nevertheless represents a major blow to America's image on the global stage and undermines the Trump administration's claims that the US outbreak is under control.

The US has recorded more than 2.5 million coronavirus cases and 126,000 deaths, more than any other country.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

NOW WATCH: How waste is dealt with on the world's largest cruise ship