The European Union has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to ban most European travelers from entering the United States for 30 days. From midnight Friday Washington time, all foreign nationals who have entered the EU’s border-free Schengen zone in the previous 14 days will be barred from U.S. entry, in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The move sent panic through financial markets as fears grew over the economic impact of the pandemic, with London's FTSE 100 index closing down more than 10%.

At airports across Europe, long lines formed at check-in and ticketing desks as travel plans were thrown into chaos.

Like many American tourists in Europe, Joel Hare decided to get the next flight back home after hearing of the travel ban on the news.

“We were not sure if we would be able to get back in if something was canceled, so I spent $3,000 for another flight,” Hare said. U.S. authorities, however, have said the travel ban applies only to foreign nationals, not U.S. citizens or their families.

Many stranded travelers voiced anger at the sudden U.S. decision.

“It is a measure that Trump has taken because he is inept and has not been able to take any action there, so he is somehow blaming the external enemy, in this case Europe,” said Spanish national Miguel Paracuellos, who was trying to return to his home in Miami from Madrid.

In trying to justify the ban, Trump said EU states had not "taken the same precautions" as the U.S.

Source : VOA