US to add Britain, Ireland to European travel ban

The US government is expanding its travel ban on most European countries to include Britain and Ireland as it seeks to contain the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, airline and US officials told Reuters.

US President Donald Trump originally exempted Britain and Ireland from his 30-day ban on travellers.

More than 800 people in Britain have tested positive for the virus and more than 20 have died from COVID-19, the disease it causes.

As of Saturday, the US had already suspended travel for 30 days from 26 Schengen countries - 22 EU 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.

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