Coronavirus: Donald Trump suspends travel to US from Europe

Donald Trump has restricted all travel between the US and Europe in a stunning attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Donald Trump has restricted travel between the US and Europe in a stunning attempt to slow the global spread of coronavirus as fears mounted about how to stop the rampant pandemic.

In a series of actions unprecedented in the modern era, the President unveiled a sweeping $US50bn ($77.6bn) stimulus package to protect Americans, save businesses, compensate sick workers and prevent global panic.

“This is not a financial crisis. This is a just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome as a nation and as a world,” a sombre Mr Trump said in an address from the Oval Office.

He warned that it was a “critical time in the fight against the virus’’, which is spreading rapidly across the globe but he said the US and the world would ultimately prevail.

“From the beginning of time, ­nations and people have faced unforeseen challenges including large-scale and very dangerous health threats,’’ he said.

“It only matters how you respond, and we are responding with great speed and ­professionalism.

“This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.’’

His address came amid another day of steep falls across world markets as the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus a global pandemic and many facets of people’s normal lives came to a grinding halt.

Hours after Mr Trump’s ban was revealed, Ireland, Norway and Denmark announced all schools, colleges and other public facilities would close. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 should be cancelled. He added that where possible to work remotely, people should do so.

India, which attracts more than 95 million foreign visitors a year, suspended all visas for a month, barring a select few categories.

Visa-free travel afforded to overseas citizens of the country has also been suspended, affecting tourism, hotel and aviation industries in a slowing economy.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that up to 70 per cent of her country could end up ­infected, and Iran announced 75 new deaths, taking its total to 429.

A group of 25 Dutch tourists are among dozens of foreigners quarantined in Vietnam as the country tightens measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Hanoi says 39 people, mostly nationals and British visitors, have tested positive to the virus, which has spread panic across a country of 96 million people. There have been no deaths reported so far.

 

In the US, the Dow reached bear-market territory after a 1500-point tumble amid fears the virus would usher in a global ­recession.

The National Basketball Association suspended its ­season after a player tested positive for coronavirus as sporting events, concerts, conferences and large gatherings of people were cancelled en masse.   Mr Trump said as part of “strong but necessary actions’’ to protect Americans, he would restrict travel between the US and Europe, but not Britain, for 30 days.

The move comes in response to soaring infections in Italy that have forced that country’s government to put its entire population into quarantine and order all but essential businesses to close.

Even so, Mr Trump said the risk from the virus for most people was “very, very low’’. “Young and healthy people can expect to ­recover fully and quickly if they should get the virus,’’ the President said. “The highest risk is for the ­elderly population with underlying health conditions. The elderly population must be very, very careful We are all in this together. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship and unify together as one nation and one family.’’

The coronavirus has spread ­rapidly in the US over the past two weeks with more than 1000 cases and more than 30 deaths. In the seven days to Wednesday, the number of cases increased by 968 per cent, faster than the rate of ­increase in Spain, France and Italy.

Mr Trump also instructed the Treasury Department to defer tax payments for people and businesses affected by the virus.

“To ensure that working Americans who are impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of ­financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action, which is unprecedented, to provide financial relief,’’ he said.

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