The ambassador of European countries in Washington was surprised when Trump announced a ban on travel from 26 continental countries to the US to stop Covid-19.

Some European ambassadors in the US today admitted they were "unaware" of the ban that the Trump administration announced at the White House on March 11, about stopping all trips from Europe to the US for 30 days. next day, except for England. The US president announced the new rules took effect from midnight on March 13.

An ambassador in Washington DC said there was "no warning" that Trump would take strong measures to prevent Covid-19, while a spokesman said German officials were not informed about the incident. .

"We know there will be something to Europe, such as recommending travel restrictions, but we did not expect such drastic measures. Nor do we understand why Britain is excluded," the Belgian ambassador to Washington said. to speak.

Another European ambassador said after Trump's statement on the TV, the US State Department just called them to announce the ban, but did not explain the reason and significance of the measure.

U.S. diplomats are also unclear exactly what Trump plans to deploy. A source familiar with the matter said that at the meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Australian Secretary of State, less than 5 hours before Trump imposed the ban on traveling to Europe, Pompeo acknowledged that the measures Washington applied could be "burdensome". "over the next 6 weeks, or longer.

Covid-19 appeared in 124 countries and territories after the onset in Wuhan, China in December 2019, leaving more than 126,000 people infected, and more than 4,600 people died worldwide. The US recorded 1,329 infections and 38 deaths.