Trump’s Suspension of Travel from Europe Sealed America’s Fate For Major Covid 19 Spread
That suspension meant that Americans in Europe needed to return home, and Trump gave them 48 hours to do so, packing them into airports like sardines for hours.
Trump has praised himself for his decision in January to restrict travel from China in order to contain the coronavirus, claiming that his decision saved millions of lives. His response to travel from Europe however, opened the back door for Covid-19 to enter the U.S. Many Americans did not want to be stuck in Europe and returned to the U.S. on the same weekend, bringing the virus with them. Exposed travelers into the U.S. from Europe sealed the nation’s fate for a major spread.
On March 12, 2020, Trump suspended all travel to the United States from Europe for 30 days. Americans had 48 hour notice to make travel arrangements back to the U.S.
We should never forget that it was Trump’s decision that caused a major spread of Covid-19 across the United States.
On March 13, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security published its outline for Americans returning from Europe.
““Effective for flights taking off at 11:59 PM EDT on Friday, March 13th, Americans returning from all restricted countries will now be required to travel through the following 13 airports:”
Those airports were;
- Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
- Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California
- Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington
- Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia
On March 14, 2020, 40,000 passengers returning from Europe crowded into the 13 airports.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), on March 13, 2020, the United States had 1,896 confirmed Covid-19 virus cases. Two weeks later, on March 27, 2020, the number of confirmed cases had risen to 103,321.
Although Trump said that Americans would be tested before flying out, Pence said otherwise. Media in the U.K. said the suspension only applied to European citizens, and there was chaos.
Instead of preventing the virus from entering the U.S., Donald Trump’s travel suspension infused the virus upon its cities. It is no surprise that the number of coronavirus cases were numerous in major cities where the 13 airports are located.
Jack Siebert was studying in Spain, and he became ill, including having a fever. His parents contacted him about Trump’s travel suspension and arranged for him to return to Chicago. He arrived at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago three days after Trump’s announcement. He encountered crowds of people packed in tight corridors, and stood in lines with other travelers for nearly five hours.
At the coronavirus checkpoint, Siebert’s temperature was taken and he was instructed to self-isolate. Siebert thought that was absurd given the conditions he encountered on the flight and in the airport. Several days later, Siebert tested positive for Covid-19.
According to the Washington Post, “Epidemiologists contend the U.S. outbreak was driven overwhelmingly by viral strains from Europe rather than China.”
When Donald Trump blames China for the virus entering in and spreading across America, I often talk back to the television saying, “It was your travel suspension that brought thousands of Americans back to the U.S. over the same weekend.” Then, I wonder how many people associate those states with the highest number of cases with their airports? It’s no puzzle that needs to be put together because it is obvious. The Trump administration failed to consider the number of people infected with and exposed to Covid-19 on the planes and in the airports. He failed to have safeguards in place once they reached the United States, only telling them to go home and self-quarantine. There was no consideration that getting home possibly meant being driven by others, including taxi and shuttle drivers, and their risk of exposure.
As of July 27, 2020, the United States has over 4 million cases, and over 147,000 deaths. The surge of cases is said to be based on some states reopening too soon. Donald Trump encouraged states to reopen. He encouraged people to exercise their purported right to infect others by not wearing masks in public places, including grocery stores. .For the sake of the economy, human lives have been sacrificed. Still, Trump has made no nationwide proclamation to wear facial coverings in public.
Posted on 07/27/2020, in covid-19, politics and tagged coronavirus, covid-19, Donald Trump, Europe, travel suspension. Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Blunder after blinder after blunder!! … #NeverForget … “On March 12, 2020, Trump suspended all travel to the United States from Europe for 30 days. Americans had 48 hour notice to make travel arrangements back to the U.S.
We should never forget that it was Trump’s decision that caused a major spread of Covid-19 across the United States.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
Horty,
Thanks for the reblog, dear friend. The story continues with more cases, and more deaths, as Trump goes golfing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi there, sweet friend … so good to see you here. Hope all is well. We have to make a date for a phone call. When would it be better for you? I’ve missed you … take care, stay safe!! Love ya … ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
All is well. Thanks for asking. For over a week now, I’ve had problems with Comcast — phone, internet & tv. Twice last week techs were out. Today, my phone and internet service has been hit and miss. So, it might be best that I call you after Comcast decides to get their act together. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
GM!! Please, do … when you can. Let me know ahead so I’m expecting the call … 🙏🏽 stay safe!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very lackadaisical! He lacks the commitment for the job he sought! I’d be surprised if some in his right mind will give him another chance to serve!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oliver,
Trump’s commitment has always been to Trump and that is rooted in his ego and money. He runs this country like he ran his businesses, which is to hire anyone who strokes his ego, delegate work to them without any instructions, and when things go wrong, blame them.
Thanks for your comment.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News and commented:
Sealed the fate of Massachusetts and New York. Their outbreaks came from Europe – fool he was and still is.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ned,
Thanks for the reblog, dear friend. It was a major failure of a decision to crowd the airports with so many travelers from Europe. There was clearly no planning that would protect people from being infected.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Known cases. Not the umpteen millions of untested people walking around making things worse for the rest of us. It was isolating enough with just cancer. This is becoming serially ridiculous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ilene,
Absolutely — “known cases”. Some areas are still only testing essential workers.
Here we thought that washing and sanitizing our hands was no big thing because of the virus. Also, it was customary for me to wear a mask in the event I went to the grocery store during the week after chemo. No big thing, right? Now with having to sanitize groceries, delivered packages and mail, I’m tired out. Price gorging for sanitizer, disinfectant spray and some groceries is becoming outrageous.
Serially ridiculous is right.
Here’s hoping that you are hanging in there and staying strong.
LikeLike
Vote, vote, vote, and vote! He has got to go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lionel,
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. AND DEFINITELY YES! (((((Hugs)))))
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true. One foul up after another, incompetence motivate by blind hubris.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Padre,
So true, and today we hear that the testing plan by Kushner went “poof” because it was decided that Blue states would have the most cases and the governors could be blamed. Hearing that caused me to take another look at the 13 airports.
LikeLike
You are absolutely right. He created a nightmare. There ways of dealing with this situation quite painlessly. Canada did not close its border soon enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Micheline,
Turns out that the selection of the 13 airports might have been part of Trump’s plan. It’s been reported that Jared Kushner introduced a national testing plan but the White House rejected it. It’s rejection was on the basis that the states with the most deaths would be states with Democratic Governors that Trump could blame. When going over the list of airports that Americans returning from Europe were allowed to land in, all but three are “Blue” states. Trump exchanged human lives for a chance at re-election.
LikeLike
This bungling of the COVID situation is mind-numbing. When even countries that America would consider “3rd world” have drastically lower positivity and mortality rates when it comes to the pandemic, you know things are wrong. I did a post a few weeks ago about Senegal and Rwanda doing constructive things to help their people deal with the Rona like affordable testing kits in the former and Corona-bots in the hospitals in the latter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ospreyshire,
It was reported that Kushner had a national plan for testing, and the White House refused it because according to Trump, he could use the virus to blame Democratic Governors for failing citizens. Looking back on things, including what airports were selected for over 40,000 Americans to land-in from Europe, Trump had a malicious plan all along to use Covid-19 as a campaign strategy. He sacrificed human lives and the financial well-being of millions of people. Today, he talked about the stock market although there are people in lines at food banks; people trying to make ends meet on unemployment; and people receiving hospital bills who lost their employer provided health insurance.
He made a mess of things but wants to be re-elected to clean-up the mess he made.
LikeLike
LikeLike