President Donald Trump initiated a blanket travel restriction from all EU member states within the Schengen Zone in a bid to avert an out-of-control contagion as it did in continental Europe.  

The ban applies to all non-US citizens who may have travelled to any of the states within the Schengen Zone in the past two weeks.  

Not affected by the ban are Lawful Permanent Residents who were Europe at the time of the imposition.  These include any Lawful Permanent U.S. Resident;  any alien spouse of a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident; any alien parent or legal guardian of an unmarried child under the age of 21 and finally, any alien sibling, provided both are unmarried and under the age of 21.

Americans scramble to catch planes after President Trump imposed a blanket ban on all travel from Europe on Wednesday, march 11, 2020. Credit: Reuters
Americans wait in line to be screened at a U.S. entry point on Sunday before allowed re-entry, March 15, 2020. Credit: Twitter

To allow the orderly re-entry of U.S. citizens returning from Europe, they will only use be admitted back into the country via selected entry points, namely through 13 airports.  The reason for using minimal entry points is to allow for “enhanced screening and procedures” in order to detect any infections as well as to prepare for proper measures in the event that some returnees have symptoms or are infected.

Trump’s blanket ban on the EU’s entire Schengen Zone will affect travel from all member states to and from the United States.  Below are the countries that will be affected effective Monday.

President Trump imposed a blanket travel ban on all of Europe to curb the spread of COVID-19 on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

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.  Ireland and the United Kingdoms are also included in the overall ban.

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