US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new travel restrictions on Europe in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus. In a televised address, he said all travel from European countries would be suspended for the next 30 days.
According to the Department of Homeland Security’s acting secretary, Chad Wolf, the Trump administration will suspend entry into the US for “most foreign nationals” traveling from certain European countries 14 days prior to arrival. Trump initially alluded to the ban affecting trade, but walked back that statement in a later tweet writing “trade will in no way be affected.”
There are 1,135 confirmed cases of the virus across the US, with 38 deaths.
“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.
“The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight,” he added.
