US restricting all travel from Europe over coronavirus

WASHINGTON, 12 March 2020 [Fik/News Sources]: The U.S. will restrict all travel from Europe with the exception of the U.K. starting later this week in an effort to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening.

Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, Trump said the restrictions, which will go into effect on Friday at midnight, "will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground," and exemptions would be made for U.S. nationals "who have undergone appropriate screenings."

"We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay," he said. 

The countries that will be affected are Schengen area nations including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 

Legal permanent residents and family members of U.S. nationals are not affected by the new restrictions, the department said in a statement. 

The restrictions are similar to those Trump issued on China and Iran in January and February respectively.

The announcement came on the same day the World Health Organization officially termed the spread of COVID-19 a global pandemic and as the U.S. capital declared a state of emergency. 

Shortly after Trump concluded his remarks, the White House announced that the president is cancelling events he had scheduled in Colorado and Nevada "out of an abundance of caution from the coronavirus outbreak."

Meanwhile, the Department of State called on all citizens to reconsider travel abroad amid coronavirus outbreak, issuing a global Level 3 health advisory.

"The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19," the Office of the Spokesperson said in a statement.

"Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions," it said.  "Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice."

It urged Americans to follow the latest information regarding COVID-19, via the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) and consider the updated travel advisories.