Coronavirus: Trump suspends all flights between the US and Europe

Speaking on Wednesday evening, the President of the United States, Donald Trump , announced the suspension of all flights between the United States and Europe for 30 days, counting from Friday, 13. The measure is aimed at preventing the transmission of the Sars-CoV-19 coronavirus from both sides of the Atlantic and will not include the United Kingdom.

"These measures are strong, but necessary," said Trump, to then classify them as "unprecedented" and praise his own government for professionalism in dealing with this crisis. He concluded with criticism of Europe for not taking the necessary measures.

The country's epidemic reached 1,232 people, caused six deaths and has caused sharp declines in the capital market until this Wednesday. Trump had previously asked Congress to release nearly $ 9 billion to fight and prevent Covid-19, caused by the coronavirus, of which $ 3 billion would go towards developing a vaccine. This time, he said the health insurance companies agreed to cover treatment for coronavirus contamination and to suspend payments to infected insured, according to The New York Times .

Formerly reluctant to acknowledge the seriousness of the pandemic, the American leader said he would take more emergency action, with the help of Congress, to allow financial aid to sick, quarantined or caregivers.

The White House's additional concern, however, lies in the performance of the American economy. Pressures on the Federal Reserve led this central bank to reduce the basic interest rate, as a means of preventing the slowdown in national production.

On Friday, Trump said he had directed the Small Business Administration to offer lower interest rates to affected companies, asked Congress for an additional $ 50 billion release for these financing programs and an immediate relief in payroll tax. , according to The Washington Post . The Treasury Department, according to the American president, was instructed to postpone tax collection, without interest or fines, for "some people and companies" impacted by the epidemic.

As a good part of his initiatives depend on Congress, therefore on the Democratic majority in the Chamber of Deputies, Trump called for political disputes to be set aside in favor of facing the coronavirus crisis. "We will come out of this crisis more strengthened and united," he said, with unusual calm.