Coronavirus: U.S. Adds U.K., Ireland to European Travel Ban

The United Kingdom and Ireland have been added to the United States' travel ban countries amid the coronavirus spread, according to Vice President Mike Pence.

The U.S. travel ban on 26 European nations, which applies to non-Americans who have been in the Schengen border-free travel area, is expected to expand Monday to include the U.K. and Ireland.

The AP and Reuters news agencies earlier reported Saturday that the White House's latest expansion of the U.S. travel ban will be effective Monday at midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Under these restrictions, American citizens, green card holders and the families of these individuals will still be allowed to return to the U.S. However, all air travel will be condensed through 13 airports and subjected to health screenings and quarantine orders as directed by U.S. government officials. The U.S. and Ireland had previously been left off the travel ban, baffling health officials and political pundits alike.

Pence later confirmed the U.K. and Ireland travel ban addition Saturday afternoon during a press conference at the White House.

"The president has made a decision to suspend all travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland," he said.

Travel from non-U.S. citizens and others will be halted Monday to Ireland the U.K. and Pence's coronavirus task force said an official announcement will be made Sunday at 5 p.m. regarding all progress and updates on efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 illness. The news comes as New York State officials recorded the first death of an elderly woman in Manhattan as a result of the coronavirus Saturday morning.

President Donald Trump told reporters Saturday during the same press conference that he had his temperature taken earlier in the morning and it was "totally normal." He also revealed that he had personally been tested for the COVID-19 illness but test results had not yet been returned.

Updated 3:31 PM ET.