President Trump
has ordered for travel to be suspended from the United Kingdom and
Ireland as the United States seeks to stem the spread of the coronavirus
domestically.
The restrictions, which take effect Monday night at midnight, don’t
apply to American travelers returning to the U.S., Vice President Pence said during a White House briefing on Saturday.
Before Pence formally announced the restrictions, Trump, who made
his fourth appearance in the briefing room to discuss the coronavirus,
indicated they were imminent during a back-and-forth with reporters.
“They’ve had a little bit of activity, unfortunately,” Trump told reporters at the briefing, referring to the U.K. and Ireland.
During the briefing, the president announced that he has been tested for the coronavirus and would have the results in a few days, saying he did so because of questions from the media.
Trump earlier this week announced restrictions on travelers from European countries that are part of the Schengen Area, with that ban taking effect Friday night at midnight.
Those restrictions, which Trump unveiled during a rare Oval Office
address Wednesday evening, excluded the U.K. and Ireland. The decision
prompted questions, given that the U.K. has reported more than 1,000
cases of coronavirus, more than other countries included in the
restrictions.
Trump said Saturday his administration is also considering domestic travel restrictions.
“If you don’t have to travel, I wouldn’t do it. We want this thing
to end. We don’t want a lot of people getting infected,” he said.
Pence noted that Americans and legal residents can still return
from countries where travel has been suspended and will be asked to
self-quarantine for 14 days. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf
said that the restrictions, like those announced earlier this week,
would not apply to trade and cargo coming from the U.K. and Ireland.
Saturday’s announcement is one of several the Trump administration
has rolled out in recent days as it seeks to mitigate the spread of the
virus within the United States.
Trump on Friday declared a national emergency over the
coronavirus, a move that opens up billions of dollars in funding for
state officials to respond to the outbreak. He also said his
administration would take steps to speed up testing, including by
opening up “drive-thru” locations.
The House of Representatives overnight Friday passed legislation
backed by Trump aimed at helping American families impacted by the
outbreak of COVID-19. Among its provisions, the legislation ensures all
Americans can receive free testing, offers paid family or sick leave,
and bolsters unemployment benefits.
Several cities and states have banned large gatherings in an effort
to slow the spread of the virus. There’s been a widespread cancellation
of events, and many employers are telling their workers to stay at
home. So-called social distancing measures are key to slowing the spread
of the virus and ensuring hospitals aren’t overwhelmed by sick
patients.
The proclamation issued by the White House on Wednesday prohibits
travel by foreign nationals who have been physically present in European
countries that are part of the Schengen Area during the 14 days before
their attempted entry into the U.S.
Ireland is one of five European Union member countries that are not part of the Schengen Zone.
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