The White House on Sunday announced travel restrictions on Brazil, which has become the nation with the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases. 

"Today, the president has taken decisive action to protect our country by suspending the entry of aliens who have been in Brazil during the 14-day period before seeking admittance to the United States," the White House said in a statement. 

The statement said the action would "help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," noting that this measure would not apply to the flow of commerce between the two countries. 

The order is effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 28, according to the White House.

Earlier in the day, national security adviser Robert O' Brien told CBS' "Face the Nation" there will likely be a decision to suspend entry for travelers arriving from Brazil.

"We hope that'll be temporary, but because of the situation in Brazil, we're going to take every step necessary to protect the American people," O' Brien said.

As of Sunday afternoon, Brazil has recorded 347,398 COVID-19 infections, a figure only shadowed by the U.S., which has registered 1,632,721, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering imposing a ban on travel from Brazil.

"I don't want people coming over here and infecting our people. I don't want people over there sick either. We're helping Brazil with ventilators. ... Brazil is having some trouble, no question about it," Trump told reporters at the White House.

(With input from agencies)