US extends travel ban to UK and Ireland over coronavirus

The United States will broaden its European coronavirus travel ban, adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to the list.

The ban will come into play midnight Monday, Vice-President Mike Pence announced.

"The president has made a decision to suspend all travel to the UK and Ireland," he said. "Americans in the UK and Ireland can come home. Legal residents can come home . . . they will be funnelled through specific airports and process."

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, who has tested negative for COVID-19, hinted he was considering domestic travel restrictions "specifically from certain areas".

"If you don’t have to travel, I wouldn’t do it," he told reporters.

In the UK, the total number of deaths has touched 21, with 1,140 infections.