Trump bans travel from Europe to the US for 30 days [Coronavirus]

US President, Donald Trump has banned all travel from Europe; with the exception of the UK over the coronavirus scourge. Also, he reversed himself by urging sick people to “stay home”.

Meanwhile, Trump avoided declaring a national emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

The president addressed Americans from the Oval Office, seated behind the storied Resolute Desk; for just the second time in three years. Despite his own attacks on Democrats for criticising his uneven response; he called for national unity as he laid out a number of steps he is taking; or asking Congress to take to defeat the novel virus.

Trump laid out a strategy to put in place measures intended to stave off a widespread outbreak; while also providing new guardrails to prevent a complete economic crash. Describing the disease as a “foreign virus”, he took a jab at China; where it originated on a day when his national security adviser accused Beijing of covering up it being unleashed there.

Trump’s strategy is now to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

He essentially described a plan to keep people spread out so infected individuals do not pass it on. Specifically, he pleaded with Americans to avoid large crowds and suggested large events be cancelled.

“If we are vigilant and we can reduce the chance of infection [and] impede the transmission of the virus;” Trump said. “The virus will not have a chance against us.”

One major part of his plan on halting its spread is to cut off, starting 20 March; all travel from Europe into the United States. The one country exempted will be Britain. The executive branch and executive office of the president have vast emergency and national security powers; which he is tapping into as he essentially tries to put a blanket on a growing fire.

“The way it was and the way it will be. It only matters how you respond,” he said; declaring his administration took “early, intense action” and almost boasting the United States has “fewer cases than in Europe.”

“The EU failed to take the same precautions,” he said; lauding his own decision to ban all travel from China.

Most travel bans do not apply to US citizens, legal permanent residents or their immediate family members. The administration is targeting Europeans, given the high number of cases there.