President Trump suspends all travel from Europe to US

President Trump suspends all travel from Europe to US
Mr. Trump announced the measures in a TV address on Wednesday. Source: BBC
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Daily US Times, Washington: US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new travel restrictions on all of Europe except the UK, in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Mr Trump announced the measures on Wednesday in a television address, said all travel from Europe would be suspended for the next 30 days.

His measures exclude the UK, where 460 cases of the virus have now been confirmed.

There are 1,135 confirmed cases in the United States with 38 deaths.

President Trump said, “To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States.”

The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.

The president also announced his government’s plans to provide billions of dollars in loans to small businesses, in an attempt to stymie the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on the US economy.

He also urged the Congress to cut major tax relief measures as part of an ‘aggressive and comprehensive’ effort to combat the coronavirus.

“We are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people,” Trump said.

Situation in the US

US officials said the risk of new infections was low for the general public, but concerns deepened after a number of new cases were confirmed earlier this month.

Since then, the country took several efforts to curb the outbreak. 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.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference that the National Guard will be sent to the town to help close public gathering spaces in an effort to slow the spread of the outbreak.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, there have been at least 50 major corporate events get canceled so far. According to data collected by Bloomberg News, an estimated one million people were expected to attend these events.

Washington governor has banned large gatherings in several counties. The state is so far the worst affected in the US as it is accounting for 24 of at least 38 deaths across the country. The north-western state is considered to be the focal point of the outbreak in the US.

”It is going to get worse”, said Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, adding that depended on the ability to contain those infected.

High medical charge causes further problems as 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.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is in charge of fighting the coronavirus in the US, has said that “any American can be tested, no restrictions, subject to doctor’s orders”, and that insurers had promised to offset the charges.