Travel Restricted, NBA Season Suspended as Coronavirus Fear Deepens

Trump Suspends Travel from EU

In a televised address last night, President Trump dramatically announced the suspension of travel from Europe to the United States, a nearly unprecedented move. The decision comes as Europe struggles to contain the outbreak, with the virus taking hold in several countries, starting with Italy.
In the address, Trump framed the travel restriction as a blanket suspension of all travel and cargo trade between the nations as well. The intense terms of the sudden announcement were met with a fearful response, and markets tumbled after hours. He later clarified that goods would continue to flow between the countries, and that US citizens would still be able to enter the US from Europe.
The European Union reacted with predictable anger at the sudden decision, complaining that the bloc was not consulted prior to making it. The policy has created difficult times at European airports, with wide-scale flight cancellations and many stuck with no connecting flight.
The European Union’s fluid borders make it difficult to contain interaction among its 500 million people, and thousands of cases have been reported within the last week in several major EU countries including France, Spain, Germany and of course the regional epicenter: Italy. The United Kingdom, which now has a hard border with the European Union, will be exempt from the travel restriction.
President Trump’s decision, while controversial and largely met with criticism abroad, will certainly reduce the number of infected traveler entering the country. As the virus spreads rapidly across the continent, the situation in Europe now resembles China a few weeks ago. Trump’s decision to suspend travel from China helped to keep the US from being in Europe’s situation today. Even if an eventual widespread outbreak is inevitable in the US, this move will help to control the speed with which cases grow.

In one hour, the following took place:

1. Thunder-Jazz game cancelled.
2. President Trump declares travel ban from Europe.
3. Tom Hanks and wife test positive for Coronavirus.
4. Rudy Gobert tests positive for Coronavirus.
5. NBA Season gets suspended. pic.twitter.com/hjXpsTT1Ox

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 12, 2020

NBA: First Major League to Suspend Season

The NBA has suspended its season in response to the coronavirus’ growing presence in the United States. The league abruptly postponed games last night after a player for the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus, prompting an aggressive decision to indefinitely halt all NBA events. This comes month’s after NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s passing, making 2020 arguably the league’s most difficult year.
The decision to suspend the season is the most dramatic of sports organizations’ response to the virus. NCAA basketball is currently set to have its March Madness tournament in empty stadiums, and may decide to delay or cancel the tournament altogether. The NBA cancelation may lead other professional outfits, such as the MLB and NHL, to greatly alter their schedules or suspend the season altogether.

High Profile Cases, Military Response

The United States is joining countries around the world with high profile case confirmations. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have both confirmed their diagnosis. This marks a new period in the spread, from a few contaminated areas to a more mainstream outbreak.
The New York National Guard has been sent to help implement quarantine and control measures in the suburb of New Rochelle, where a cluster of cases threatens to spread throughout the state if it cannot be contained. This is a clue into the likely military role in containing future outbreaks across the country.