Coronavirus: EU slams Trump’s travel ban, says COVID-19 is a ‘international disaster’

Trump introduced that each one European travel can be lower off, however U.S. officers later clarified that restrictions would apply solely to most international residents who’ve been in Europe’s passport-free travel zone at any level for 14 days previous to their arrival to the United States.

“The European Union disapproves of the truth that the U.S. choice to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and with out session,” EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in a joint assertion.

“The coronavirus is a international disaster, not restricted to any continent and it requires co-operation reasonably than unilateral motion,” the 2 stated.

They rejected Trump’s suggestion that Europe is not doing sufficient to fight COVID-19, saying that the 27-nation bloc “is taking robust motion to restrict the unfold of the virus.”

The so-called Schengen space contains 26 nations together with EU members France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria and Belgium, the place the bloc has its headquarters, but additionally others like Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

The restrictions introduced by Trump do not apply to the United Kingdom, the place the variety of confirmed circumstances has reached 460, or Ireland, which is not a part of Schengen.

British scientists usually are not recommending the federal government introduce a U.S.-style travel ban to cease the unfold of coronavirus, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated Thursday.

The spokesperson stated it was for different nations to determine how to reply to the outbreak, which has now been described as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s newest figures, greater than 17,000 circumstances of COVID-19 have been confirmed throughout Europe, and greater than 700 individuals have died on the continent.

For most individuals, the novel coronavirus causes solely gentle or reasonable signs, corresponding to fever and cough. For some, particularly older adults and other people with current wellbeing and fitness issues, it might probably trigger extra extreme sickness, together with pneumonia. The overwhelming majority of individuals recuperate from the virus.

WATCH: Doctors reply your questions on COVID-19

With the virus now current in all 27 EU nations, the bloc’s prime officers have pledged to face united in preventing the illness and are prone to undertake a frequent strategy of their response to Trump’s announcement.

This week, von der Leyen introduced the launch of a “corona response funding fund” seeded with €7.5 billion ($11.6 billion Cdn) that she stated would reap billions extra. It’s aimed toward propping up health-care buildings, small companies affected by the impression of the virus and labour markets the place jobs is perhaps hit.

Von der Leyen postponed a journey Thursday to Greece to debate the migrant standoff with Turkey with a purpose to concentrate on combating the fast unfold of the virus.

Several EU conferences have been cancelled to gradual the unfold, however the bloc’s inside ministers are nonetheless scheduled to assemble in Brussels on Friday. EU wellbeing and fitness ministers have been holding a video convention later Thursday.

As the virus spreads, extra European nations are adopting drastic measures. After Italy entered a lockdown, Denmark stated all colleges and daycare services within the nation will probably be closed from Monday. All public servants who do not carry out crucial capabilities have been ordered to remain house for the subsequent two weeks.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar stated Thursday that childcare centres, colleges and universities are being closed till March 29.

“Our recommendation is that each one indoor mass gatherings of greater than 100 individuals and outside mass gatherings of greater than 5,000 individuals needs to be cancelled. You have to proceed to go to work should you can, however the place attainable you must do business from home.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. military determined to chop down the variety of troops participating in large conflict video games which were deliberate throughout Europe over the subsequent six months due to the virus.

The Defender-Europe 2020 workouts have been set to contain round 20,000 American personnel, the largest deployment of U.S. troops to Europe within the final 25 years.

But U.S. Army Europe stated “in gentle of the present coronavirus outbreak, we’ll modify the train by lowering the variety of U.S. members.” No particulars on numbers have been supplied.

Most individuals have solely gentle or reasonable signs from the novel coronavirus, corresponding to fever and cough, however signs could be extreme, together with pneumonia, particularly in older adults and other people with current wellbeing and fitness issues. The virus has contaminated 126,000 individuals worldwide and killed over 4,600, most of them in China. Over 68,000 individuals have recovered.

In Italy, the epicentre of Europe’s coronavirus outbreak, roughly 23 per cent of the inhabitants is over 65. Along with neighbouring France, Italy has the biggest variety of individuals over 100. In France, medical models are frequent in assisted dwelling services for these over 60 who want every day nursing care.

Here’s what’s taking place in Canada  

Canada’s chief public wellbeing and fitness officer is urging individuals to take precautions and make efforts to gradual the unfold of coronavirus, which the WHO now describes as a pandemic.

Dr. Theresa Tam urged individuals to take management measures, together with correct hand hygiene, staying house if sick and social distancing.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, which has been assessing the dangers related to the outbreak, says the danger from the novel coronavirus to the overall inhabitants in Canada is low. But it notes the state of affairs might change shortly. PHAC says people who find themselves over 65, have underlying medical points or a compromised immune system face “an elevated threat of extra extreme outcomes.”  

As of late Wednesday, there have been 118 presumptive and confirmed circumstances reported in Canada, with one demise.

That consists of:

• 46 sufferers in B.C., together with one demise and 4 who the province lists as recovered.  
• 42 circumstances in Ontario, together with 5 who the province lists as recovered.  
• 19 circumstances in Alberta.
• 9 circumstances in Quebec.  
• 1 presumptive case in New Brunswick.  
• 1 case among the many Grand Princess passengers underneath quarantine at CFB Trenton in Ontario.  

When requested how many individuals in Canada could turn out to be contaminated, Health Minister Patty Hajdu stated Wednesday that the proof is nonetheless not agency. But she famous that present studies are “someplace within the 30 to 70 per cent” vary.

For most, the coronavirus causes solely gentle or reasonable signs, corresponding to fever and cough. But for seniors and people with underlying wellbeing and fitness points, it might probably trigger extra extreme sickness, together with pneumonia. The overwhelming majority recuperate — individuals with gentle sickness in about two weeks, whereas these with extra extreme sickness could take three to 6 weeks, WHO says.

Tam’s tweets got here after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced a $1-billion fund to assist battle COVID-19, with funding for a vary of initiatives, together with provincial wellbeing and fitness methods, procurement of necessary gear and protecting gear, in addition to analysis into the novel coronavirus.  

Trudeau is scheduled to satisfy with premiers and Indigenous leaders starting Tuesday. Yukon Premier Sandy Silver has stated he won’t travel to Ottawa for the assembly amid concern in regards to the coronavirus. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs stated on Wednesday he was evaluating whether or not to travel for the assembly.

Here’s what’s taking place in enterprise

Trading on Wall Street’s three fundamental indexes was halted moments after the opening bell on Thursday, as the S&P 500 slipped seven per cent, setting off an automated 15-minute cutout for the second time this week. 

At 9:35 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1,696.31 factors, or 7.20 per cent, to 21,856.91.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell greater than 1,000 factors at first of buying and selling. Canada’s fundamental inventory index crossed into bear-market territory Wednesday, down simply over 20 per cent from its report excessive, set in February.

Princess Cruises introduced early Thursday that its 18 cruise ships won’t sail for 2 months, for journeys departing March 12 to May 10. Voyages at the moment underway and initially scheduled to increase previous March 17 will probably be “ended on the most handy location for company, factoring in operational necessities,” the corporate stated.

The European Central Bank, the central financial institution for 19 nations that use the euro, stated it could purchase up 120 billion euros ($186B Cdn) extra in bonds, cash that is newly created and injected into the monetary system. It is additionally offering low cost loans to banks to ensure they’ve the required liquidity.

Here’s what’s taking place on the earth of sports activities

The NBA suspended its season Wednesday evening “till additional discover” after a Utah Jazz participant examined constructive Wednesday for the coronavirus. The NBA stated in a assertion the league would “use this hiatus to find out subsequent steps for transferring ahead in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”

The Utah Jazz hosted the Toronto Raptors on Monday. According to a report on ESPN.com, the Raptors are considered one of 5 groups to lately play the Jazz who’re being instructed to self-quarantine.

The National Hockey League says it is conscious of the NBA’s choice to droop its season and is persevering with to seek the advice of with medical consultants and consider choices. The NHL says it expects to offer one other replace at 1 p.m. ET immediately.

Major League Baseball has but to formally announce contingency plans, whereas a PGA Tour golf occasion in Florida is happening as scheduled on Thursday.

Earlier within the week, the main North American sports activities leagues closed entry to locker rooms and clubhouses to non-essential personnel and media.

Here’s what’s taking place in arts and tradition

As Trump was talking on Wednesday evening, Tom Hanks and his spouse, actress-singer Rita Wilson, revealed they’ve examined constructive for the coronavirus.

Hanks stated the couple are in Australia on a film shoot and will probably be “examined, noticed and remoted for so long as public wellbeing and fitness and security requires.”

The annual film exhibition and commerce present CinemaCon has been cancelled in Las Vegas resulting from coronavirus, scuttling considered one of Hollywood’s premier hype machines.

It’s the most recent virus-related shakeup within the film enterprise, which up to now few weeks has seen the delay of theatrical releases of the brand new James Bond and Peter Rabbit films, in addition to the cancellation of movie festivals like South by Southwest in Texas.