US President Donald Trump has suspended travel from Europe excluding the UK for the next 30 days, in a desperate effort to combat the spread of coronavirus.
“We are responding with great speed and professionalism,” Trump said in a rare address from the Oval Office.
“We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight,” he announced.
Trump blamed the European Union for not curbing travel from China in the early days of the outbreak, and credited his own measures with having limited the number of cases in the U.S.
“There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings. And these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo. But various other things as we get approval, anything coming from Europe to the United States,” he added.
Trump also said he would “soon be taking an emergency action” to provide a financial cushion to small businesses and individuals hit by the coronavirus.
This announcement comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic.
