Presidential Address: US Suspends All Travel From Europe to US for 30 Days

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Update:

“After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well being of all Americans.  To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,” said President Donald Trump in his address to the nation this evening focused on COVID-19 control.

The new rules will go into effect on Friday at midnight.  “These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground. There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings, and these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval.  Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing,” said President Trump.

According to the president, the restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom.

“At the same time, we are monitoring the situation in China and South Korea, and as their situation improves, we will re-evaluate restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening,” said President Trump.

Earlier this week, President Trump met with the leaders in the Health industry who he says has “agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing.”

“We are cutting massive amounts of red tape to make anti-viral therapies available in record time.  These treatments will significantly reduce the impact and reach of the virus.  Additionally, last week I signed into law an $8.3 billion funding bill to help CDC and other government agencies fund the virus and support vaccines, treatments and distribution of medical supplies.  Testing and testing capabilities are expanding rapidly, day by day, we are moving very quickly,” said President Trump.

President Trump said the administration is also strongly advising nursing homes for the elderly to suspend all medically unnecessary visits. “In general, older Americans should also avoid non-essential travel and crowded areas,” said President Trump.

“To ensure working Americans impacted by virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action–which is unprecedented–to provide financial relief. This will be targeted for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus.  I will be asking Congress to take legislative action to extend this relief,” said President Trump.

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President Donald Trump will address the nation from the Oval office at 3 p.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time (9 p.m. ET).

The address comes on the heels of a morning announcement from the World Health Organization, declaring the COVID-19 situation is now a pandemic.

In a recent Tweet, President Trump said, “The media should view this as a time of unity and strength. We have a common enemy, actually, an enemy of the world, the coronavirus. We must beat it as quickly and safely as possible. There is nothing more important to me than the life and safety of the United States.”

In a separate Tweet he said he is “fully prepared to use the full power” of the federal government to deal with the current COVID-19 challenge.  “We have the greatest healthcare system, experts, scientists and doctors anywhere in the world. Together, we will PREVAIL,” President Trump Tweeted.

Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump, Friday, October 6, 2017. (Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead)