US travel ban on 26 European countries comes into force

INTERNATIONAL DESK: 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, BBC reports.

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.

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.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.

But the daily rates of new infections have been slowing in China, making Europe the new “epicentre” of the pandemic.