US President Donald Trump has told Americans it’s “safe to fly” after meeting with senior executives from the nation’s biggest airlines to discuss the coronavirus crisis.
He told a packed press conference on Wednesday, “When people come in from certain areas, we’re doing checks not only at the site of take-off but at the site of landing.”
President Trump also insisted his earlier travel restrictions are working, and revealed a plan to speed up the tracking down of passengers on flights where someone tests positive.
The President was addressing reporters alongside Vice President Mike Pence at the White House.
He said, “Where these people are flying, it’s safe to fly, and large portions of the world it’s very safe to fly.
“So we don’t want to say anything other than that. And we have closed down certain sections of the world, frankly, and they’ve sort of automatically closed them also.
“They’ll understand that and they understand it better, perhaps, than anybody. Yes, it’s safe.”
Later, when Deborah Birx, special representative for global health, outlined the precautions American should take, President Trump joked, “I haven’t touched my face in weeks. I miss it.”
He also announced new restrictions that will see all passengers arriving on direct flights from Italy and South Korea screened for coronavirus. The US has also raised the travel warning to level 4, the most severe, for journeys to those countries.
Meanwhile, the existing travel ban on Iran is being extended to include any foreign national who has visited Iran in the last 14 days.
The current US restrictions advise Americans not to travel to China unless absolutely necessary.
The guidance states, “Travellers should be prepared for the possibility of travel restrictions with little or no advance notice. Those currently in China should attempt to depart by commercial means.
“We strongly urge US citizens remaining in China to stay home as much as possible and limit contact with others, including large gatherings.
“Consider stocking up on food and other supplies to limit movement outside the home.”
Screening is already in place for anyone arriving from China who has been in the country within 14 days.
China, meanwhile, has suspended all air, road and rail transportation in the area around Wuhan, the city where the outbreak started.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that two more people had died in the US, bringing the total there to 11.
All major sporting events in Italy are to be held behind closed doors for a month, the government has ordered.
