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Trump Says Coronavirus Travel Ban May Extend to More Countries

Trump has already blocked entry of non-U.S. citizens traveling from China, Iran, the U.K., Ireland, and 26 European countries

Trump Says Coronavirus Travel Ban May Extend to More Countries
A family wear protective face masks while carrying luggage at the Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. (Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said the U.S. might expand the travel ban affecting Europe and China as well as several other countries to include additional nations as the U.S. extends its effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“They’ll be staying and we may add a few more,” Trump said at a White House press conference Monday. “But the guidelines will be very much as they are, maybe even toughened up a little bit. But they’re having a big impact, they’re having a tremendous impact.”

Trump Says Coronavirus Travel Ban May Extend to More Countries

The White House has already moved to block entry of non-U.S. citizens traveling from China, Iran, the U.K., Ireland, and 26 European countries in the Schengen Area that allow unrestricted movement among them.

The administration also struck agreements with the governments of Canada and Mexico to significantly scale back cross-border travel.

Trump said officials were beginning to see the “impact” of the travel restrictions. On Sunday, he announced that federal social distancing guidelines set to expire this week would be extended until the end of March.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.