TRUMP CLOSES OFF U.S. TO EUROPE

STOCK MARKETS HAMMERED

THE US has banned travellers from all of Europe except the UK for 30 days in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

President Donald Trump announced the dramatic step in an Oval Office speech as he battles to address shocks from the virus and responds to criticism he has not taken the threat seriously.

Mr Trump also announced several economic steps aimed at cushioning the blow to American businesses.

“This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history,” he said yesterday. “I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus.”

Mr Trump initially said “trade and cargo” from Europe would also be banned but tweeted moments after the speech that “trade will in no way be affected” by the travel restriction.

Mr Trump, whose re-election bid on November 3 could hinge on how well he responds to the crisis, did not declare a national emergency.

He is facing criticism from Democrats for not moving quickly enough to provide testing for Americans to determine whether they have the contagion. Mr Trump pulled no punches in saying Europe was partly to blame for the virus spreading in the US, where it has killed at least 37 people and infected 1281.

“The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travellers from Europe,” he said. Mr Trump signed an order that suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival in the US.

Mr Trump also said he would take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others.

He said he was instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain businesses and individuals affected.