Donald Trump announces suspension of travel from Europe to the US, US$50 billion in small business loans
- Acknowledging severity of the coronavirus crisis, Trump announces travel suspension from Europe – except Britain – and other economic measures including US$50 billion in loans to small businesses
- President’s speech coincided with announcement by Tom Hanks that actor and his wife have Covid-19, and the NBA’s statement that it will suspend season indefinitely
![Acknowledging severity of the coronavirus pandemic, US President Donald Trump announced travel suspension from Europe – except Britain. Photo: Reuters](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/methode/2020/03/12/7fdd8e48-6408-11ea-8e9f-2d196083a37c_image_hires_165420.jpg?itok=0gt9ziSN&v=1584003266)
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a suspension of all travel from Europe to America as Washington’s latest measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
“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 to keep new cases from entering our shores,” Trump said in a televised address to the nation, and to a worldwide audience.
“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 said, adding that the suspension will not apply to Britain.
In a statement after the speech, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf said the restrictions do not apply to US citizens, legal permanent residents and their immediate families. He said he planned to issue an order within the next 48 hours directing such individuals currently in the European Union’s border-free Schengen area to only return home via “select airports” with enhanced screening measures.
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