In an Oval Office speech to the nation, President Trump announced the USA would suspend all commercial and cargo travel from Europe for 30 days for non-Americans, effective Friday.
The United Kingdom and Ireland, which are not part of the Schengen Area, will be excluded.
A DHS spokesperson clarified Trump’s remarks, stating the ban will not apply to American citizens. Foreign nationals who have been in the Schengen Area over the last 14 days will not be allowed into the USA, though some exceptions will be made for immediate family members of American citizens.
Here is a statement from Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad F. Wolf:
Today President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation, which suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States. These countries, known as the Schengen Area, include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. This does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.
There are so many questions left unanswered:
- What about travel to Mexico and Canada from Europe?
- Will Americans in Europe have to undergo quarantine when returning to the USA?
- Will airlines cancel all flights to/from Continental Europe?
- Has the USA just handed an incredible gift to British Airways and Are Lingus?
- Trump mentioned the ban “adjusted subject to conditions on the ground” – what would that look like?
This is a developing story.
Guess where I am tonight…?
Watch the full speech here:
If I had to guess, are you somewhere in Europe?
I bet somewhere Europe but not UK.
Sensible move given a number of European countries have been unsuccessful in containing the virus and numbers are exponentially rising. All travel from East Asian should have been banned to all countries 3 weeks ago and maybe it wouldn’t have spread. All travel from Italy and Iran should have been banned 10 days ago but wasn’t. It seems to me the people who are so concerned about traveling are the ones willing to put others at risk by spreading the disease instead of altering their plans. This virus is something we haven’t seen in our lifetime. 1 missed cruise or 1 year or no vacation isn’t going to hurt anyone but spreading the virus does. President Trump made the right move and he should be applauded but I would have shut down all travel for 30 days.
Yeah because all people traveling via the UK/Ireland will be virus free. As will all Americans traveling from Europe/the UK/Ireland. Yes, the rate of infection in the UK isn’t as bad as it is in Italy, but it is worse than it is Finland. But you can fly to the US via the UK but not Finland…um, ok, sure.
Now that he has spent all the stimulus on unneeded tax cuts just so he could juice up the economy for his reelection, there is nothing left for the oncoming recession.
He is already running 1 trillion deficit during an expansion. This is like pouring gasoline on a raging fire during daytime and boasting how hot he made it. Now night is coming, it’s getting cold and there is no more gasoline left to keep us warm. The clown used up everything.
Time to go into Republican tents and grab all their gasoline that they are hoarding and which they stole from the main gasoline can ( wealth tax) and use it to keep everyone warm. If Republicans object, which they will because they are despicable people, time to beat them up.
Are you tired of winning? Trump sets everything 9n fire, kills everything he touches but makes money for himself. That in a nutshell is his life.
@Debit: I really hope you have people praying for your soul. You will need that.
I pray for the people who voted Cheeto Mussolini into office.
Hahaha. Good one…
Blah,blah,blah…this is not a political forum, dunce.
Debit u forgot to mention that trump is Satan’s 1st cousin. You guys have TDS big time, get a life. R u gonna blame him that the earth spins?
Debit u forgot to mention that trump is Satan’s 1st cousin. You guys have TDS big time, get a life. R u gonna blame him that the earth spins?
You are a moron and should move to another country and save us all from the idiocy that is plaguing our nation with moronic political statements. I will help you pack.
Good and bad. I support our president. The EU did not take action regarding China travel like the U.S. did. Now, however, we must stop the back doors into the U.S.: Anyone from the EU can hop a plane to Mexico City, Dom. Rep, Havana, Barbados, Nassau, Tokyo, Seoul, Antigua, Cancun, or Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and simply take a connecting flight into the U.S. So it is somewhat a useless exercise. Complete containment is the only way. China’s somewhat draconian measures of quarantine were put into place for good reason. Look at the numbers of cases, deaths in Western Europe. This will undoubtedly add to the economic pressure on even the biggest airlines in the U.S. and EU. But consider the carriers had already cut back or suspended some of the routes. Interesting times we are in. Good luck to all. Be prepared. Self isolate if you possibly can. Do not spread this thing, do not risk contracting it!
While the Chinese efforts may have contributed to their plummeting case load, when considering their unprecedented actions, is the cure worse than the disease?
Only time will tell as the full economic impact becomes clearer over the next several months.
DHS knows far more about your travel history than you think. Anybody who tries to “backdoor” their way in will almost certainly be denied entry.
The problem is that the coronavirus is already here. Banning travel from the Schengen zone is like closing the barn door after the horses have bolted.
Trump is just doing his typical “blame foreigners” schtick to mask how feckless his response has been. While coronavirus probably won’t kill most Americans, my concern has always been the chaos and disruption that would accompany a widespread outbreak. Trump had the chance to take this seriously and flatten the infection curve earlier but, as usual, he was more concerned with his own electoral interests than the interests of the American people. We will get through this, but it’s not going to be pleasant. Trump took a bad situation and made it exponentially worse and this travel ban is nothing more than lipstick on a pig.
I’m a U.S. citizen also currently in Europe. My flight back to the states (LAX) isn’t until 1 April from FRA. It’s Lufthansa First Class too. Should I call Lufthansa now and request a refund? Try to book a flight to the UK then back to LAX? Or just wait and see if things change back before April?
The president misspoke. U.S. citizens are exempt.
So are you saying my neighbor who is planning to go skiing with his family in Switzerland during Spring break will be exempted? That is the completely unnecessary travel that should be banned.
They might be exempt but I imagine there won’t be any airlines flying these routes.
@debit. Wow you wasted no time. So I guess after the speech you raced over to the blog to post gibberish?
Totally support this action. I could not believe the number of people I know that were planning to go to Europe during Spring break even with the virus everywhere there. Really? If people don’t use their brain to make right decisions the Government has to make for them.
Precisely. I don’t like Communist China’s regime. But, they knew the nature of this pathogen would require extraordinary measures, like quarantining entire cities and regions. It’s really about short term ‘pain’ (hint: not the medical kind) for long term health. But many people are child like adults who could care less if they contract and then become super spreaders. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson just announced from Australia that they have COVID19! Too few are understanding the dangers. Typical for human nature. But when they get sick on their cruise of a lifetime they are the first to scream to the U.S. Government to evacuate them, to get them out, off the ship. Sick of this behavior. Close the country!!!
I am a UK citizen who has had flights booked London to USA for Friday to next Wednesday since November
Hadn’t been planning on cancelling as the risk of either quarantine or being stranded was low. But that risk has shot up so I’ve gotta cancel.
Hooo boy those slot waivers need hurrying up.
Mainz, at the HR enjoying their fantastic breakfast
I loved that hotel when I stayed there a few years ago. As for this latest move, I don’t understand why the UK is exempted when it’s had a lot more deaths from coronavirus than Germany (8 vs 3). Germany has had more confirmed cases but that’s probably because of better testing.
You are living the dram, Thomas. No better place to wait out the virus.
Supposedly walked back the no Cargo portion
That would have been silly. Covid-19 viruses on a bottle of French wine or on the door handle of an Audi will be dead already when it arrives in the U.S. Cargo is fine, except human cargo.
Yeah, our president is an idiot who can’t even read correctly from a teleprompter. Or the White House is such a shitshow they put this gibberish in the teleprompter. Read the transcript (as he likes to say!) – so much nonsense, e.g. “these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval” – WTF? Approval from whom? What various other things?
The Republic of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom.
who said otherwise?
Well spotted!
Surprised to see Czech Republic and Slovenia on the list of banned countries. Where is Trump going to source his next wife?
I’m trying to figure out what idiot came up with this. Blocking people from Iceland from visiting the USA is not going to help us. It’s pure security theater to make it look like the government is belated doing something.
Sounds like a solid plan. Everyone knows that Covid-19 is very focused on on China and Schengen Europe and isn’t circulating around the US yet at all. Brits were so lucky that they did Brexit before Corona hit Europe and are now completely safe, and British Airways is certain to keep their airplanes flying to the US clean. Lol.
Does anyone really think this ban will be lifted after just 30 days? No of course not. It’ll be extended for 30 more and then another 30 and so on and so on. It’s all part of the “plan” to take control.
https://youtu.be/mzHom70dhKE
Doubt it if you want, but everything said in that video is coming true.
What if I have connecting flight from Russia to the US through France? I don’t even have Schengen visa and haven’t been anywhere except airport for an hour and a half. Will I be banned to?
An interesting question that remains unanswered by the US.
I have family travelling to USA from the UK, but the connecting flight is from Holland… So it’s Manchester > Amsterdam > USA. another flight is Manchester > Iceland > USA
How will this effect them?
It’s still unclear if connecting traffic will count. My hunch is no, but we will see.
Hello, I am a permanent resident flying back to US with my son who is U.S . Citizen.We are currently in Europe and our flight back isn’t until March 27 with route Albania to Turkey and then NYC . Am I going to have any problems flying back to the US ? My son is only three years old and I don’t want to be stuck in the aeroports with my son .
Thank you !
Currently, the ban does not extend to U.S. residents.
I have a flight from Heathrow to Miami on March 24th returning April 29th with Virgin Atlantic. I still hoping to go, but I’m guessing I’ll get stuck in Miami when they impose a travel ban later on (if they haven’t already done so before I leave).
What happens if I get stuck in the US, will they allow people to leave? Will the UK rescue people? Or maybe I’ll get stuck and over stay by ESTA which is only for 90 days. Wonder what will happen then…
Oh it’s so stressful
Too early to tell, Naomi. Hopefully this is the storm before the calm!
I can understand restrictions in/out of Italy. The other countries? They’re showing a high volume of cases, reflecting more comprehensive testing regimes…not necessarily that the situation is any worse ( or better) than the USA or UK.
Trump’s woeful handling of the early stages of the epidemic is going to come back to bite him, big time. Americans will not judge him kindly.
Do you have a better plan and want to take full responsibility for this crisis
Run for president then!!!
Don’t worry, there is that person in place. Joe Biden. Won’t be much longer for Trump at this rate.
I’m Polish passport holder flying from London on Sunday Am I going to be banned from flying ?
You will be. You need to travel tonight or tomorrow.
Hi! Sorry if this is a duplicate comment. On April 6 we’re scheduled to fly from Seattle to Toulouse, France via London, going, and Dublin on the return mid-May. Is there a chance that we’ll get stuck in Europe (not the worse that could happen!) because our trip is in France and London/Dublin are just layover points? Thanks.
Are you US passport holders?
Yes.
We also have a 23-hour layover in Dublin where we’ve booked a stay at an guest house for the night. Would that still be allowed being that we’re coming from France?
Matthew, do you have any insight into how U.S. citizens will get home with these bans in place? I realize that currently the ban is for foreign nationals. If we decide to continue with our travel plans and the UK and Ireland are put on the restricted list, even though U.S. citizens are not restricted from coming home, how will they get back to the U.S.? Thanks for any insight. We’re just trying to gather more info to make a decision about our travel plans.
but you notice that the two that are not banned have trump properties.