President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office Wednesday evening and announced the United States would suspend travel to and from several European countries for 30 days starting at midnight Friday, March 13, in an effort to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
Watch: President Trump Addresses Nation Over Coronavirus
Trump’s announcement of the temporary travel restrictions to and from Europe comes on the same day the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 viral disease a global pandemic — the first since the H1N1 “swine flu” in 2009.
“After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well being of all Americans,” Trump said in his Oval Office address.
“To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,” Trump said. “The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground.”
As of Thursday, March 12, there are now 127,863 confirmed cases and 4,718 deaths attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, and has continued to spread worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins university coronavirus tracker. The U.S. has confirmed 1,323 cases and 38 deaths so far.
Medical experts said today the coronavirus pandemic could potentially be over by June if countries take the immediate and necessary precautions.
Several companies and individuals who were scheduled to host conferences, concerts, rallies, sports, etc. have already suspended or outright canceled events over fears of further spreading the coronavirus.
As far as travel goes, the oddsmakers at Bovada sportsbook posted a political prop bet today and predict the United Kingdom will be the next country to face travel restrictions.
Which Country Will The U.S. Ban Travel To And From Next?
Political Prop Bets at Bovada
- UK -200
- Japan +250
- Australia +700
- New Zealand +2000
*Listed selections only. Any wagers placed on the same day news becomes public knowledge will be deemed void.
Trump’s Europe travel ban only applies to people, not trade goods, living in the 26 countries that are members of the European Union’s Schengen border-free travel area. Additionally, the ban does not affect U.S. citizens who are currently in the E.U., and the U.K. and Ireland are exempt.
However, oddsmakers favor the U.K. as the next nation to receive a travel ban at -200 odds, meaning a $2 wager would win $1 if Trump temporarily suspends travel to the country. The U.K. currently has 459 total confirmed cases and 8 deaths from the coronavirus.
Japan, which has 639 cases and 18 deaths from the coronavirus, is listed next at +250 odds, and if Trump restricts to and from the Land of the Rising Sun, then a $1 bet pays out $2.50.
Australia, 128 cases and 3 deaths, and New Zealand, 5 cases and no confirmed deaths, are listed as longshots to be the next country to have travel halted, receiving +700 and +2000 odds, respectively.
Will Coronavirus Hurt Trump’s Reelection Chances?
According to the current 2020 U.S. presidential election odds, President Donald Trump is listed at -115, meaning a $1.15 bet wins $1 if the Republican incumbent is elected to a second term.
Trump’s reelection odds indicate he is the betting favorite and has a roughly 52% chance to remain in the White House, based on the implied probability from Bovada’s political odds.
Trump’s chances of winning the general election on November 3 have fallen from the record high -180 odds, 59% implied probability he held a month ago.
While the coronavirus pandemic is no doubt causing uncertainty in the political betting markets, Joe Biden’s 2020 election odds getting shorter—due to his high probability of becoming the Democratic nominee—is more likely to be the cause for Trump’s recent slump.
Whether Trump’s odds rise or fall in the coming weeks and months could reasonably be attributed to how bettors react to his administration’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
For now, it’s way too soon to tell whether the outcome from the coronavirus pandemic will turn out to be positive or negative for Trump’s “Keep America Great” reelection bid.
However, you can bet the nation’s status on Election Day 2020 will greatly affect his chances of winning or losing.
Odds To Win 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Political Futures at Bovada
- Donald Trump -115
- Joe Biden +110
- Bernie Sanders +4000
- Hillary Clinton +5000
- Mike Pence +5000
- Michelle Obama +15000
- Nikki Haley +25000
- Tulsi Gabbard +30000
- William (Bill) Weld +50000