A Stateside Story: America Isolates from the EU due to the “Virus”
Iberia flying to Chicago from Madrid before Trump’s travel ban
———
Sick of stories about the coronavirus? This news item might have
far-reaching implications in the European Union and the US.
by Mary Foran
President Donald Trump announced a 30-day travel suspension from Europe to the US, starting Friday the 13th no less, with the exception being Britain.
He said, “After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well-being of all Americans to keep new cases from entering our shores.” Trump spoke in a 10-minute televised address to the nation and to a world-wide audience.
Restrictions do not apply to U.S. citizens, or to legal and permanent residents and their immediate families. Trump plans to issue an order directing individuals currently in the European Union’s border-free Schengen area to only return home via “select airports” with enhanced screening measures.
Trump is also going to authorize $50 Billion dollars in small business loans. “Using emergency authority, I will be instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments, without interest or penalties, for certain individuals and businesses that are negatively impacted.” Trump added, “This action will provide more than $200 Billion dollars of additional liquidity to the economy.”
The National Basketball Association announced that it was suspending all games indefinitely after a player tested positive for the virus. Managers of large-scale public events have announced similar steps to stop the spread of the virus.
The latest statistics from the South China Morning Post puts deaths from the coronavirus at 4,931 with 129,846 cases in all and 68,307 actually recovered from the illness. If you are generally healthy, recovery time is said to be 2 to 3 weeks. Older people and those with underlying health issues are most susceptible.
Statistics on the spread of the virus change daily, so take these figures with a stiff drink and a grain of salt!
Just joshing!
———
Images
Featured image/Mike Steele, CC BY2.0
Trump/Voice of America, PD
