U.S. to suspend travel from 26 European countries for the next 30 days
Posted March 11, 2020 6:08 pm.
Last Updated March 11, 2020 9:37 pm.
WASHINGTON (NEWS 1130) – The United States is suspending all travel from Europe to the U.S. for the next 30 days, in the wake of the COVID 19 outbreak.
U.S. President Donald Trump made the announcement during a live address to the nation.
Trump began his address by assuring Americans all that could be done was being done to contain the virus in the U.S, while blasting other countries in Europe for not moving towards a travel ban.
“After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well being of all Americans,” he says. “To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.”
BREAKING: the U.S. has suspended all travel from #Europe (except the U.K.) for the next 30 days starting on Friday because of #COVID19. Details on @NEWS1130
— BEN WILSON (@benwilson1130) March 12, 2020
The new travel restrictions will go into effect on Friday at midnight, but Trump says Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings may be allowed to come back earlier.
A statement from the White House now clarifies the ban does not affect U.S. citizens.
Those citizens will be allowed to come back to America and will be directed to limited airports for screenings instead.
Meantime, the ban does apply to foreign nationals who have travelled to 26 European countries in the last two weeks.
Those countries include Ireland, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, and Romania.
President Trump also spoke about travel restrictions to areas like China and South Korea.
“At the same time, we’re monitoring the situation in China in South Korea,” he says. “And as their situation improves, we will reevaluate the restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening.”
He says fees associated with coronavirus testing will also be waived to prevent Americans from taking a financial hit.
” Earlier this week, I met with the leaders of health insurance industry, who have agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments and to prevent surprise medical billing.”
