Trump limits travel from Europe for a month

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The White House had to roll back key details made by US President Donald Trump, after he announced a travel ban on Europe to the US in response to the coronavirus on Wednesday (March 12).

In a rare Oval Office speech, Trump said all travel would be banned and all trade and cargo.

After triggering confusion - the president was forced to clarify his statement in a tweet moments later that quote- 'trade will in no way be affected' and that 'the restriction stops people, not goods."

It's also not a complete travel ban.

The sweeping measures do restrict the movement of people from 26 European countries but does not apply to U.S. permanent residents.

In his speech he pulled no punches in pointing the finger, at Europe saying they were partly to blame for the spread of the virus in the U.S.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe."

The travel ban will also not apply to the United Kingdom - which has over 450 cases of the virus as well as Ireland- which has over 40 cases.

The president's re-election this November could hinge on how well he responds to the crisis.

In his Wednesday speech - Trump stopped short of calling it a national emergency.

He also denied the pandemic was a financial crisis, but in the same breath unveiled a list of measures that include providing relief for workers and business affected by COVID-19.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"This is not a financial crisis, just a temporary moment of time we will overcome together and as a world, tonight I am announcing small business administration to exercise capital and liquidity to businesses affected by the coronavirus."

But - U.S. stock futures fell after the speech more than 4% and oil prices immediately tumbled, as already skittish investors were unnerved by news from the White House ordering federal health officials to treat dozens of virus-related meetings as classified.

As virus cases topped 1,000 in the US Wednesday, the World Health Organization has declared the wider global outbreak a pandemic.

After the speech, Trump also cancelled campaign events in Nevada and Colorado this week over virus fears.