LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The president of the United States has announced sweeping new travel restrictions from several European countries to try and slow the fast-moving coronavirus global pandemic.
President Trump provided an update during a prime time address to the nation Wednesday evening describing the unprecedented actions.
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"To keep cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days," said President Trump.
"The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight," added President Trump.
The new travel restrictions apply to all US legal permanent residents, citizens, and some of their family members, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.
The ban also does not apply to all of Europe but to nations in the Schengen zone. That includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
"This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," said President Trump.
Americans will be allowed to travel between the United States and Europe but will be subject to additional screening and possible quarantine or other restrictions on their movement for 14 days.
"These travelers, we really need to keep coming to the city, to keep the economy moving," said 13 Action News financial analyst Steve Budin.
Budin says Las Vegas will almost certainly feel the effects of the new travel restrictions adding on average, European visitors and visitors from Asia typically spend more money and stay longer than domestic travelers in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill tells 13 Action News the organization is expecting to take a big hit.
A majority of the LVCVA's revenue comes from room tax and operating the Las Vegas Convention Center.
"Those revenue streams are going to be hit pretty significantly. We don't know exactly what that number is going to be, but it's going to be meaningful," explained Hill.
"It's sad to say, but I think we will see some layoffs coming," said Budin.
"As conference after conference has made public, their intention to cancel their visitations to Las Vegas, the banquet workers, and valet workers and the severs that cater to those conferences are unfortunately going to be affected," said Budin.
President Trump also hinted at plans to limit or restrict cargo or other goods coming from Europe to slow the spread of the virus.
More details are expected to be released in the coming days.
