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Coronavirus: Trump suspends travel from Europe to US Coronavirus: Trump suspends travel from Europe to US
(about 2 hours later)
US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new travel restrictions on Europe in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus. US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping travel restrictions on 26 European countries in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
But he said the "strong but necessary" restrictions would not apply to the UK, which has 460 cases of the virus. The measures apply to travellers from countries which are members of the Schengen border-free travel area.
A presidential proclamation issued later specified that only travellers from the 26 countries in the Schengen border-free travel area were barred. The UK, Ireland and other non-Schengen countries are unaffected. Exemptions are also being made for US citizens.
This leaves a number of other European countries including Ireland unaffected. In an address to the nation President Trump said the "strong but necessary" actions would help protect Americans.
"To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe," Mr Trump said from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening. The new rules go into effect on Friday at midnight EDT and mark a major escalation from the US president, who has been accused of inaction over coronavirus.
"The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight," he added. The travel order does not apply to US citizens.
There are 1,135 confirmed cases of the virus across the US, with 38 deaths so far.There are 1,135 confirmed cases of the virus across the US, with 38 deaths so far.
Mr Trump said the European Union had "failed to take the same precautions" as the US in fighting the virus. In other developments:
A presidential proclamation, published shortly after Mr Trump's speech, specified that the ban applied to anyone who had been in the EU's Schengen border-free area in the 14 days before their arrival in the US. What else did the US president say?
The Schengen area, as defined in the proclamation, includes 26 European states, but does not include the UK or Ireland, which will not be subject to the ban. "This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," he said.
Mr Trump initally said the travel suspension would also "apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo" coming from Europe into the US. He later tweeted to say that trade would "in no way be affected". Justifying the travel restrictions, he accused the EU of failing to take "the same precautions" as the US in fighting the virus.
He also announced plans to provide billions of dollars in loans to small businesses, and urged Congress to pass major tax relief measures in an attempt to stymie the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy. His speech said all travel from Europe would be suspended but a presidential proclamation later said it would only apply to anyone who had been in the EU's Schengen border-free area in the 14 days before their arrival in the US.
The US president has faced criticism for his response to the virus. Mr Trump also said the suspension would also apply to cargo coming from Europe into the US. He later tweeted to say that trade would "in no way be affected".
The speech included plans to provide billions of dollars in loans to small businesses and the president urged Congress to free up more funds.
President Trump said for most Americans the risk was "very, very low" adding "no nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States".
Reacting to his speech, senior Democrats said it was "alarming" that President Trump did not address a shortage of coronavirus testing kits in the US.Reacting to his speech, senior Democrats said it was "alarming" that President Trump did not address a shortage of coronavirus testing kits in the US.
"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," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a statement. "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," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.
On the travel ban, Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University, tweeted: "most of Europe is as safe as US. This will have no impact on US ... germs don't respect borders".On the travel ban, Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University, tweeted: "most of Europe is as safe as US. This will have no impact on US ... germs don't respect borders".
What's the situation in the US? The EU said it was assessing the situation, with European Council President Charles Michel saying "economic disruption must be avoided".
Officials had said the risk of infection was low for the general US public, but concern deepened after a number of new cases were confirmed earlier this month. How badly has the US been hit?
Concern over the outbreak rose after a number of new cases were confirmed earlier this month.
Containment efforts have begun in earnest. Troops have been deployed to New Rochelle, just north of New York City, where one outbreak is believed to have originated.Containment efforts have begun in earnest. Troops have been deployed to New Rochelle, just north of New York City, where one outbreak is believed to have originated.
The National Guard will deliver food to some individuals who have been told to self-isolate there.The National Guard will deliver food to some individuals who have been told to self-isolate there.
The governor of Washington state has also banned large gatherings in several counties. The north-western state is the focal point of the outbreak in the US, accounting for 24 of at least 38 deaths across the country.The governor of Washington state has also banned large gatherings in several counties. The north-western state is the focal point of the outbreak in the US, accounting for 24 of at least 38 deaths across the country.
And in an unprecedented move, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that it would suspend the season after Wednesday night's games. The decision came after one player for the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus. In an unprecedented move, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that it would suspend the season after Wednesday night's games. The decision came after one player for the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus.
Shortly after the NBA announcement, the Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife had contracted the virus in Australia. Shortly after the NBA announcement, the Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife, the actress and singer Rita Wilson, had contracted the virus in Australia.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Congress that the outbreak is "going to get worse", and that depended on the ability to contain those infected.Dr Anthony Fauci, director the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Congress that the outbreak is "going to get worse", and that depended on the ability to contain those infected.
High medical costs make the virus particularly problematic - many Americans avoid doctor's visits because of unaffordable charges. A lack of paid sick leave is another concern, as are fears about the number of available tests. High medical costs make the virus particularly problematic - many Americans avoid visiting their doctor because of unaffordable charges. A lack of paid sick leave is another concern, as are fears about the number of available tests.
But Vice-President Mike Pence, who is in charge of the task force co-ordinating the response to the crisis, has said that "any American can be tested, no restrictions, subject to doctor's orders", and that insurers had promised to offset the charges.But Vice-President Mike Pence, who is in charge of the task force co-ordinating the response to the crisis, has said that "any American can be tested, no restrictions, subject to doctor's orders", and that insurers had promised to offset the charges.
What about the rest of the world?
Earlier on Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak was a pandemic. This is defined as a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time.
WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold in two weeks. He said he was "deeply concerned" by the "alarming levels of inaction".
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte then announced an escalation in the country's ongoing lockdown.
He said the majority of shops as well as bars, hairdressers, restaurants and cafes that could not guarantee a metre's distance between customers would close until 25 March.
Italy is the worst-affected country outside China, with more than 12,000 confirmed cases and a death toll of 827.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel, warned that up to 70% of the country's population - some 58 million people - could contract the coronavirus. There have been nearly 1,300 cases so far.
Denmark - which has 514 confirmed cases, up 10-fold since Monday - is to close all schools and universities from Friday.
India suspended most visas for foreigners until 15 April and Guatemala banned European citizens from entering from Thursday.
Meanwhile, the UK is expected to switch to tactics aimed at delaying the spread of the virus rather than containing it.
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