US bans all travel from Europe: Trump

The United States will ban all travel from Europe in the latest effort to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

The ban was announced by President Donald Trump in an address to the nation just after midday AEDT.

Mr Trump said America was taking "strong but necessary action" to contain the virus.

"We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days," he said.

"There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings."

The travel ban will not apply to the United Kingdom, where 459 people have contracted coronavirus.

The ban suspends the entry of foreign nationals who have been in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,



Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland in the past 14 days.

Legal permanent residents and immediate family members of US citizens are exempt.

Mr Trump downplayed the danger coronavirus poses to ordinary Americans.

"For the vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low," he said.

"The highest risk is for the elderly population with underlying health conditions.

"In general, older Americans should avoid non-essential travel and crowded areas."

Mr Trump reiterated his call for Congress to pass payroll tax relief to boost the US economy.

Mr Trump said he would not hesitate to take further steps to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

"The virus will not have a chance against us," he said.

"We are all in this together.

"We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify.

"Americans always rise to the challenge and overcome adversity."

At the present count, 1281 Americans have coronavirus.

Italy, France, Spain and Germany all have more cases than the US.