US President Donald Trump this morning announced a month-long suspension of travel from Europe, with the exception of UK, to the United States.
Speaking at a rare Oval Office address to the country, Trump said he was overseeing “the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.”
The travel ban takes effect starting midnight of Friday.
The address followed weeks of criticism for his response to the pandemic.
CNN reported that Trump’s moves could have dire consequences for airlines and the travel companies, and quoted sources as saying Trump was expected to outline some relief efforts for those industries in his address.
Speaking earlier Wednesday about the global impact of the virus and potential changes to US travel restrictions, Trump said: “We’ll be starting some additional solutions.”
“(Europe is) having a tough time right now with the virus. And we’ll be making various decisions,” he said.
CNN also reported that actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Hanks said the two were traveling in Australia when they were tested.
“Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?” Hanks wrote.
