CORONAVIRUS SUSPENSION OF ALL TRAVELS FROM EUROPE TO THE UNITED STATES

"The epicenter of the coronavirus is now in Europe"

Oil prices fell more than 6% Thursday morning in Asia after the speech of the American president, and the stock exchanges of Tokyo and Hong Kong also tumbled heavily, continuing a descent into hell started several days ago. The Australian Stock Exchange had its worst day (-7.4%) since the 2008 crisis.

"I have decided to take strong, but necessary action to protect the health and well-being of all Americans," Trump said in a formal address on Thursday 3/12/2020 from the Oval Office. of the White House.

To prevent new cases from entering our country, I will suspend all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days, "he added, regretting that the European Union has not taken "the same precautions".

This measure, which will take effect Friday at midnight Washington time (4:00 GMT Saturday), will not affect the United Kingdom, said the Republican billionaire.

It will apply to anyone who has stayed in the Schengen area during the 14 days preceding their planned arrival in the United States, with the exception of Americans and permanent residents.

Unprecedented, the State Department immediately urged the Americans to avoid travel abroad. "The epicenter of the coronavirus is now in Europe," said US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday.

"Foreign virus"

During his ten-minute speech, the president of the world's leading power also described the new coronavirus as a “foreign virus”. A few days ago, the American chief of diplomacy Mike Pompeo had caused a controversy, and the anger of Beijing, by speaking to him of "Wuhan virus".

Donald Trump has been accused by many elected officials and scientists of wanting to minimize the crisis and to send inconsistent messages, sometimes contradicting those of the health authorities.

The European Union will "assess" the situation on Thursday, reacted in a tweet the president of the European Council Charles Michel. "Economic disruption must be avoided," he added, a few

More than 20,000 people (22,307) were infected in Europe, and 930 died from it. Globally, 124,101 cases of infection have been recorded in 113 countries and territories, causing the death of 4,566 people. The United States is far from being spared with more than 900 cases identified and at least 28 dead.

Now classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, COVID-19 disrupts the daily life of affected populations every day, from limiting travel to cascading closures of public places.

The 60 million Italians are increasingly cloistered at home. On Wednesday evening, the government decreed the closure of all businesses, except for food and health. Italy now has more than 12,000 cases, including 827 deaths.

Worsening also in Spain, where cases have almost quadrupled since Sunday. Schools in the Madrid area have been closed.

In France, also hard hit, President Emmanuel Macron was to address the nation in the evening.

Confronted with fears of a major economic crisis, the world's major financiers announced often massive aid, Germany for example saying for the first time ready to renounce the sacrosanct rule of zero budget deficit. The European Central Bank (ECB) is due to unveil a package of measures on Thursday. Australia, fearing a recession, has announced a recovery plan of more than 10 billion euros.

For his part, the American actor Tom Hanks announced that he had tested positive for the new coronavirus, as well as his wife Rita Wilson, with whom he is currently in Australia.
New York City has even postponed its traditional St Patrick's Day parade on March 17, a festive event that brings together some two million people each year. Never seen !

Aware of the gravity of the situation, Donald Trump immediately wanted to reassure economic players: trade is not affected by these restrictions.

The President said in a message posted on Twitter that "it is very important for all countries and all businesses to know that trade will not be affected by the restriction in any way". It will therefore concern "people and not goods", he added.