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Trump says US to suspend travel from Europe in coronavirus speech – live Trump says US to suspend travel from Europe in coronavirus speech – live
(32 minutes later)
Restrictions will not apply to UK, president saysRestrictions will not apply to UK, president says
In a rare, televised Oval office address, Donald Trump announced a temporary travel suspension, limiting most travel from the EU to the US.
The president’s vague messaging, which included several misleading statements about the nature of the travel restrictions caused confusion among air travelers.
The administration later clarified that the travel restrictions would not apply to US citizens and permanent residents, and most of their family members.
Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer criticized the president for focusing on travel while failing to address the shortage of test kits. They introduced a bill that would provide paid emergency leave for workers, guarantee free coronavirus testing, prevent price gouging on essential items and expand federal food assistance for low-income families and kids.
Early indications are that Trump’s speech isn’t likely to stop further selloffs on the stock markets tomorrow.
The White House has ordered health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as classified, according to a Reuters report citing anonymous administration officials.
The unusual step has restricted information about the scope of infections, quarantines and travel restrictions from those without security clearance. Reuters reports:
The Guardian’s West Coast reporter Vivian Ho writes:The Guardian’s West Coast reporter Vivian Ho writes:
A quiet confusion hung overhead at San Francisco Airport’s international terminal on Wednesday night, as travelers canceled flights and sought to make sense of Donald Trump’s sudden coronavirus-related travel ban.A quiet confusion hung overhead at San Francisco Airport’s international terminal on Wednesday night, as travelers canceled flights and sought to make sense of Donald Trump’s sudden coronavirus-related travel ban.
Many of the travelers who planned on flying to Europe that evening had no guarantee that they would be able to return back to the United States once their trips had concluded, forcing some to make last-minute calls on dream vacations.Many of the travelers who planned on flying to Europe that evening had no guarantee that they would be able to return back to the United States once their trips had concluded, forcing some to make last-minute calls on dream vacations.
Tulio Mello, 51, was preparing to board his flight to Istanbul when his friend called and told him not to get on the plane. “They had started announcing group one,” he said.Tulio Mello, 51, was preparing to board his flight to Istanbul when his friend called and told him not to get on the plane. “They had started announcing group one,” he said.
Turkey is not one of the countries included in the travel ban, but a mixture of misinformation, panic and precaution dominated the decisions made at San Francisco’s airport. A number of passengers on Mello’s Turkish Airlines flight left with him, waiting by the airline’s counter for their luggage, some on hold with customer service.Turkey is not one of the countries included in the travel ban, but a mixture of misinformation, panic and precaution dominated the decisions made at San Francisco’s airport. A number of passengers on Mello’s Turkish Airlines flight left with him, waiting by the airline’s counter for their luggage, some on hold with customer service.
“There are just so many differentials that can happen,” he said. “I think there is one case (of coronavirus) in Turkey, but imagine in five days they find 400 people and then they say you have to stay 14 days in quarantine. It just wouldn’t be great to go for five days and then end up stuck for 30 days.”“There are just so many differentials that can happen,” he said. “I think there is one case (of coronavirus) in Turkey, but imagine in five days they find 400 people and then they say you have to stay 14 days in quarantine. It just wouldn’t be great to go for five days and then end up stuck for 30 days.”
Reggie Chand, 34, and Esther Goundar, 32, were flying through Istanbul to Athens for a two-week trip to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.Reggie Chand, 34, and Esther Goundar, 32, were flying through Istanbul to Athens for a two-week trip to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.
“We got checked in, we got our boarding tickets from here to Turkey, from Turkey to Athens,” Goundar said. “We’re waiting in the lounge area and then I got a text message from my friend: ‘Hey, are you going to get stuck in Europe?’”“We got checked in, we got our boarding tickets from here to Turkey, from Turkey to Athens,” Goundar said. “We’re waiting in the lounge area and then I got a text message from my friend: ‘Hey, are you going to get stuck in Europe?’”
Chand and Goundar are American citizens. They did not know when they canceled the trip they had been planning since October that the ban did not apply to them, but looking back, they still think they made the right decision. “It’s too much risk,” Goundar said. “Even if the vacation goes well, and we come back, either way you stay two weeks on vacation and then stay isolated for two weeks. It’s too much.”Chand and Goundar are American citizens. They did not know when they canceled the trip they had been planning since October that the ban did not apply to them, but looking back, they still think they made the right decision. “It’s too much risk,” Goundar said. “Even if the vacation goes well, and we come back, either way you stay two weeks on vacation and then stay isolated for two weeks. It’s too much.”
The couple felt a mixture of disappointment and anger over the whole ordeal -- Chand had been on hold with Turkish Airlines for more than an hour, looking to get a refund for their tickets.The couple felt a mixture of disappointment and anger over the whole ordeal -- Chand had been on hold with Turkish Airlines for more than an hour, looking to get a refund for their tickets.
“I am kind of mad,” Chand said. “He could have said, OK you have two days or three days, or I’m going to talk to airlines so you can have something planned so nobody is stuck in Europe. What if we had gone and we were now stuck there?”“I am kind of mad,” Chand said. “He could have said, OK you have two days or three days, or I’m going to talk to airlines so you can have something planned so nobody is stuck in Europe. What if we had gone and we were now stuck there?”
“That would have pissed me off,” Goundar said. “If we were already on the flight and we were told you cannot go home for the next 29 days, we would not have enjoyed our vacation.”“That would have pissed me off,” Goundar said. “If we were already on the flight and we were told you cannot go home for the next 29 days, we would not have enjoyed our vacation.”
The president apparently misstated a number of things during his televised address. He said that goods and cargo would be blocked from Europe (it won’t be), he said it would be all of Europe (it isn’t) and he said all travel — but it seems American citizens and most family members will be excepted.The president apparently misstated a number of things during his televised address. He said that goods and cargo would be blocked from Europe (it won’t be), he said it would be all of Europe (it isn’t) and he said all travel — but it seems American citizens and most family members will be excepted.
Trump also said that insurance companies had agreed to waive copays for testing and treatment, when it seems they had only agreed to the former.Trump also said that insurance companies had agreed to waive copays for testing and treatment, when it seems they had only agreed to the former.
Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi criticized the president for not addressing the lack of testing kits.Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi criticized the president for not addressing the lack of testing kits.
“We have a public health crisis in this country and the best way to help keep the American people safe and ensure their economic security is for the president to focus on fighting the spread of the coronavirus itself,” the Democratic leaders of the Senate and House said in a joint statement. “Alarmingly, the president did not say how the administration will address the lack of coronavirus testing kits throughout the United States.”“We have a public health crisis in this country and the best way to help keep the American people safe and ensure their economic security is for the president to focus on fighting the spread of the coronavirus itself,” the Democratic leaders of the Senate and House said in a joint statement. “Alarmingly, the president did not say how the administration will address the lack of coronavirus testing kits throughout the United States.”
They noted that they will urge Republicans to back a bill that includes provisions for free coronavirus testing, paid emergency leave and food assistance.They noted that they will urge Republicans to back a bill that includes provisions for free coronavirus testing, paid emergency leave and food assistance.
Senator Maria Cantwell’s office says an aide in DC tested positive for coronavirus. The senator has closed her office this week for “deep cleaning”.Senator Maria Cantwell’s office says an aide in DC tested positive for coronavirus. The senator has closed her office this week for “deep cleaning”.
The aide “had no known contact with the senator or other members” according to a statement from the office of the Democratic Washington senator.The aide “had no known contact with the senator or other members” according to a statement from the office of the Democratic Washington senator.
This appears to be the first positive case confirmed on Capitol Hill. Several lawmakers have taken preemptive measures to self-quarantine, and have staff work from home.This appears to be the first positive case confirmed on Capitol Hill. Several lawmakers have taken preemptive measures to self-quarantine, and have staff work from home.
The effectiveness of travel restrictions is limited once a disease has spread widely within a country, public health experts have found.The effectiveness of travel restrictions is limited once a disease has spread widely within a country, public health experts have found.
On January 23, Chinese officials banned travel in and out of Wuhan, where the Covid-19 outbreak began. But by then, the virus had spread to other cities. The travel ban only delayed the progression of the outbreak by three to five days, according to a study published March 6 in Science.On January 23, Chinese officials banned travel in and out of Wuhan, where the Covid-19 outbreak began. But by then, the virus had spread to other cities. The travel ban only delayed the progression of the outbreak by three to five days, according to a study published March 6 in Science.
The study simulated the impact of restricting travel and disease transmission.The study simulated the impact of restricting travel and disease transmission.
The White House has clarified that the travel restriction will not apply to goods and cargo coming from the EU. During his televised address, Trump said that “prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things”.The White House has clarified that the travel restriction will not apply to goods and cargo coming from the EU. During his televised address, Trump said that “prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things”.
It seems he stumbled on his words. The proclamation he signed only applies to human beings.It seems he stumbled on his words. The proclamation he signed only applies to human beings.
Representative Don Beyer, a Democrat from Virginia who quarantined himself after he and his wife interacted with a friend who later tested positive for the coronavirus, is critical of the administration’s focus on a travel ban.Representative Don Beyer, a Democrat from Virginia who quarantined himself after he and his wife interacted with a friend who later tested positive for the coronavirus, is critical of the administration’s focus on a travel ban.
“We don’t need walls and travel bans, we need TESTS,” the representative tweeted.“We don’t need walls and travel bans, we need TESTS,” the representative tweeted.
DHS acting secretary Chad Wolf:DHS acting secretary Chad Wolf:
The acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has said that further guidance on the travel suspension will come within the next two days, outlining more details.The acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has said that further guidance on the travel suspension will come within the next two days, outlining more details.
In a statement, DHS secretary Wolf said that the travel restriction will be similar to the existing ones affecting individuals who’ve been in China and Iran. Americans who’ve been in the Schengen area may have to travel through specific airports with enhanced screening prosedures, he said.In a statement, DHS secretary Wolf said that the travel restriction will be similar to the existing ones affecting individuals who’ve been in China and Iran. Americans who’ve been in the Schengen area may have to travel through specific airports with enhanced screening prosedures, he said.
There are many details we’re still unclear on regarding the temporary travel suspension. Outstanding questions we’re working to answer:There are many details we’re still unclear on regarding the temporary travel suspension. Outstanding questions we’re working to answer:
How will the travel suspension work? Will this be a ban on flights from the continent? Or on European nationals?How will the travel suspension work? Will this be a ban on flights from the continent? Or on European nationals?
If the UK is excluded from the travel suspension, how would the US account for travelers who often hop between the EU and UK?If the UK is excluded from the travel suspension, how would the US account for travelers who often hop between the EU and UK?
Early indications are that Trump’s speech isn’t likely to stop further selloffs on the stock markets tomorrow after today’s rout.Futures contracts for the two most watched US stock indices, the Dow and S&P 500, are both negative - an indication that there may be more selling tomorrow. Today’s market fall marks the end of an 11-year bull run - a period of rising markets - for the Dow.Early indications are that Trump’s speech isn’t likely to stop further selloffs on the stock markets tomorrow after today’s rout.Futures contracts for the two most watched US stock indices, the Dow and S&P 500, are both negative - an indication that there may be more selling tomorrow. Today’s market fall marks the end of an 11-year bull run - a period of rising markets - for the Dow.
While small businesses may be cheered that Trump is looking to help and the president also said he would look at aiding people put out of work by the virus, investors know any such moves will meet resistance in Congress.In the meantime a suspension on European travel, trade and cargo is likely to have major economic consequences that stock markets will be digesting tomorrow morning.We will get an early indication of which way the wind is blowing when Asian and Australian stock markets open in a few hours.While small businesses may be cheered that Trump is looking to help and the president also said he would look at aiding people put out of work by the virus, investors know any such moves will meet resistance in Congress.In the meantime a suspension on European travel, trade and cargo is likely to have major economic consequences that stock markets will be digesting tomorrow morning.We will get an early indication of which way the wind is blowing when Asian and Australian stock markets open in a few hours.
Trump has canceled planned trips to Colorado and Nevada. He was scheduled to attend a fundraiser tomorrow, and address the Republican Jewish Convention on Saturday. The president appears to have abandoned his buisness as usual approach to his campaign amidst the coronavirus outbreak.Trump has canceled planned trips to Colorado and Nevada. He was scheduled to attend a fundraiser tomorrow, and address the Republican Jewish Convention on Saturday. The president appears to have abandoned his buisness as usual approach to his campaign amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
In his brief address, the president continued to signal that the pandemic is mainly a threat outside American borders, without fully acknowledging that the coronavirus is spreading within the US.In his brief address, the president continued to signal that the pandemic is mainly a threat outside American borders, without fully acknowledging that the coronavirus is spreading within the US.
Trump said that the US is doing better than Europe. “The EU failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots,” he said. “As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.”Trump said that the US is doing better than Europe. “The EU failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots,” he said. “As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.”
But whereas European nations have rolled out widespread testing, it’s still unclear how many cases we’ve had in America.But whereas European nations have rolled out widespread testing, it’s still unclear how many cases we’ve had in America.
The president also said he’ll take “emergency action” to provide relief to workers who are affected. He said he’s asking Congress for $50bn for small business loans. He called for “immediate” payroll tax cuts.The president also said he’ll take “emergency action” to provide relief to workers who are affected. He said he’s asking Congress for $50bn for small business loans. He called for “immediate” payroll tax cuts.