The US have extended the European travel ban to include Ireland and the UK.

Donald Trump said in a press conference on Saturday afternoon that he was planning to announce the restrictions would be extended to include both countries. “We’re looking at it very seriously because they have had a little bit of activity unfortunately so we are going to be looking at that, actually we already have looked at it and that is going to be announced,” he said. In the same press conference, Mike Pence later confirmed the restrictions will include Ireland and the UK as of midnight EST on Monday, March 16. Ireland and the UK had originally been exempt from the 30-day ban on travellers from 26 European countries, which came into effect as of midnight on Friday.

Big change in travel restrictions.

President Trump just said he plans to announce that the UK and Ireland will be added to the European travel restrictions. — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) March 14, 2020

Trump also confirmed that he had been tested for coronavirus on Friday night, although he didn't know the results just yet. He told the reporters in the press conference that he had had his temperature taken and that it was normal. He also thanked the people and the organisations who are working towards fighting the pandemic in the United States. "I want to express my appreciation for the hard work done by the people behind me and the people back in the various offices," he said. "We're using the full power of the federal government to defeat the virus and that's what we've been doing. Last week we secured an initial $8.3 billion from Congress for the coronavirus and that was quickly done and efficiently done and I want to thank all members of Congress."