President Donald Trump's order closing the United States' border with Canada is protective, not punitive, and the action was taken "for many of the same reasons" that were used to block travel from China and Europe, presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway said Wednesday.
"We also want to make sure that we are keeping ourselves protected and healthy here," Conway told Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "It's a mutual agreement between Canada and the United States."
The administration reached to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose wife has been diagnosed with COVID-19, said Conway.
"We need Americans to know that we are in this together, and we can all do our part to mitigate the damage as well," she said. "Every cabinet agency has a role to play."
She added that there are new guidelines from the CDC that can mitigate the health crisis for many and save lives.
"These are unprecedented times for this virus," she said. "We also know about the resilience and the strength and the fortitude of the American people. We know that we are a strong, unified nation that will help the elderly who cannot get out for meals, for example. The USDA just approved the delivery of about roughly 1 million meals a week to students."
Further, the bill coming up in the Senate today will include "billions of dollars for nutrition assistance for our vulnerable population, pregnant women, women under the poverty line, seniors, children," said Conway. "It includes billions of dollars for vaccines and paid family leave. We can all do our best to mitigate the health consequences of this virus. Our government is working together and with the private sector to end the economic devastation as well."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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