Pandemic rag es, US shuts out EU
Spain’s deputy PM quarantined; Iran seeks help from IMF; Trudeau in self-isolation
WASHINGTON/ LONDON: Travellers scrambled to re-book flights and markets reeled on Thursday after US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping restrictions on travel from Europe, hitting battered airlines and heightening alarm over the coronavirus.
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 126,000 people across the world, the vast majority in China, and killed 4,624.
With cases ballooning in Italy, Iran and Spain, Trump limited travel from Europe - barring the UK - for 30 days. “This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history,” he said. At least 38 have died in the US.
The EU was not impressed. “The EU disapproves of the fact that the US decision was taken unilaterally and without consultation,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and council president Charles Michel said in a statement.
In Spain, the second deputy PM Pablo Iglesias has been put in quarantine after his partner and equality minister Irene Montero was diagnosed with the virus.
Iran has sought immediate financial help from the IMF to help combat the outbreak. Iran reported 75 new deaths, taking the overall toll to 429.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and his wife were self-isolating as she undergoes tests after returning from a speaking engagement with “mild flu-like symptoms”.
On Thursday, Trump said India has been “ahead of the curve” in the battle against the virus, at a news conference with visiting Irish PM Leo Varadkar.
The two leaders did not shake hands when they met and both explained that they greeted each other with ‘namaste’.