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| Coronavirus: US travel ban on 26 European countries comes into force | Coronavirus: US travel ban on 26 European countries comes into force |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Donald Trump's travel ban on 26 European nations has come into force in the US, as part of a contingency plan to tackle the coronavirus crisis. | President Donald Trump's travel ban on 26 European nations has come into force in the US, as part of a contingency plan to tackle the coronavirus crisis. |
| It affects countries that are members of the Schengen border-free travel area and excludes the UK, the Republic of Ireland and returning US citizens. | It affects countries that are members of the Schengen border-free travel area and excludes the UK, the Republic of Ireland and returning US citizens. |
| Mr Trump also declared a national emergency, freeing up to $50bn (£40bn) in relief funds. | Mr Trump also declared a national emergency, freeing up to $50bn (£40bn) in relief funds. |
| There are nearly 2,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US, and 43 deaths. | There are nearly 2,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US, and 43 deaths. |
| Mr Trump's administration has faced criticism for its failure to provide Americans with widespread coronavirus testing. | Mr Trump's administration has faced criticism for its failure to provide Americans with widespread coronavirus testing. |
| In other developments on Saturday: | In other developments on Saturday: |
| Separately, Washington on Friday summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest against comments by a Chinese diplomat that the US military might have brought the virus to China. | Separately, Washington on Friday summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest against comments by a Chinese diplomat that the US military might have brought the virus to China. |
| The coronavirus originated in China's Hubei province late last year. | The coronavirus originated in China's Hubei province late last year. |
| But the daily rates of new infections have been slowing in China, making Europe the new "epicentre" of the pandemic. | But the daily rates of new infections have been slowing in China, making Europe the new "epicentre" of the pandemic. |
| Italy on Friday recorded its highest daily death toll - 250 over 24 hours taking the total to 1,266, with 17,660 infections overall. | Italy on Friday recorded its highest daily death toll - 250 over 24 hours taking the total to 1,266, with 17,660 infections overall. |
| To better co-ordinate the global response to the pandemic, leaders of the world's richest economies - the G7 group - will hold a crisis summit via videoconference on Monday. | To better co-ordinate the global response to the pandemic, leaders of the world's richest economies - the G7 group - will hold a crisis summit via videoconference on Monday. |
| Which European countries are affected by the US travel ban? | Which European countries are affected by the US travel ban? |
| In all, travel is suspended for 30 days from 26 Schengen countries - 22 European Union members and four non-EU. | In all, travel is suspended for 30 days from 26 Schengen countries - 22 European Union members and four non-EU. |
| They are 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. | They are 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. |
| The US travel ban was met with anger and confusion, with EU leaders accusing President Trump of making the decision "without consultation". | The US travel ban was met with anger and confusion, with EU leaders accusing President Trump of making the decision "without consultation". |
| What else did Mr Trump announce? | What else did Mr Trump announce? |
| Announcing the state of emergency, Mr Trump stressed that the "next eight weeks are critical". | Announcing the state of emergency, Mr Trump stressed that the "next eight weeks are critical". |
| Among the measures envisaged as part of the emergency response are: | Among the measures envisaged as part of the emergency response are: |
| Democrats in Congress - and heavily-affected states - had been urging Mr Trump to issue the emergency order, which will also allow more people to qualify for government health insurance. | Democrats in Congress - and heavily-affected states - had been urging Mr Trump to issue the emergency order, which will also allow more people to qualify for government health insurance. |
| Also on Friday, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she had reached a deal with the White House on a package to assist people affected by the outbreak. | Also on Friday, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she had reached a deal with the White House on a package to assist people affected by the outbreak. |
| It includes two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave, free virus testing for those without insurance and food aid. | It includes two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave, free virus testing for those without insurance and food aid. |
| Late on Friday a relief bill, agreed with bipartisan support, was passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives. | |
| Does Trump need a virus test? | Does Trump need a virus test? |
| Urged again to explain why he hasn't taken a coronavirus test following reports that he has been in the company of people who have tested positive recently, Mr Trump said he had no symptoms and there was no need for a test. | Urged again to explain why he hasn't taken a coronavirus test following reports that he has been in the company of people who have tested positive recently, Mr Trump said he had no symptoms and there was no need for a test. |
| But he added that he was likely to have one "fairly soon", anyway. | But he added that he was likely to have one "fairly soon", anyway. |
| In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began a 14-day self-isolation period on Friday after his wife tested positive. | In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began a 14-day self-isolation period on Friday after his wife tested positive. |
| Brazil's President Jair Bolsanaro has tested negative, despite one of his top aides falling sick recently. Both men had recently met US officials including President Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence. | Brazil's President Jair Bolsanaro has tested negative, despite one of his top aides falling sick recently. Both men had recently met US officials including President Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence. |
| The Brazilian Charge d'Affairs in Washington, Nestor Forster Jr, who was also present at the dinner with Trump, has tested positive, GloboNews TV reported. | The Brazilian Charge d'Affairs in Washington, Nestor Forster Jr, who was also present at the dinner with Trump, has tested positive, GloboNews TV reported. |
| What is a national emergency? | What is a national emergency? |
| The 1988 Stafford Act gives the president alone the ability to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to co-ordinate a national response to "natural catastrophes" within the US. | The 1988 Stafford Act gives the president alone the ability to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to co-ordinate a national response to "natural catastrophes" within the US. |
| Donald Trump said "national emergency" were two very big words, but the declaration sounds more dramatic than it is, says the BBC's Anthony Zurcher. | Donald Trump said "national emergency" were two very big words, but the declaration sounds more dramatic than it is, says the BBC's Anthony Zurcher. |
| There are currently more than 30 national emergencies in effect. Mr Trump has declared several national emergencies in his presidency, including one last year to redirect military funds to build a southern border wall to prevent illegal immigration. | There are currently more than 30 national emergencies in effect. Mr Trump has declared several national emergencies in his presidency, including one last year to redirect military funds to build a southern border wall to prevent illegal immigration. |
| He has also issued the order to deal with wildfires in California and flooding in the Midwest. | He has also issued the order to deal with wildfires in California and flooding in the Midwest. |
| It marks the first use of the order to fight a pandemic since President Barack Obama issued one to fight the swine flu virus. | It marks the first use of the order to fight a pandemic since President Barack Obama issued one to fight the swine flu virus. |
| President Bill Clinton issued a national emergency to pay for efforts to stop the spread of West Nile virus in the US north-east. | President Bill Clinton issued a national emergency to pay for efforts to stop the spread of West Nile virus in the US north-east. |
| Are you in the US? Have you tried to get tested? Or self-isolated? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the US? Have you tried to get tested? Or self-isolated? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |