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US Vice President Mike has announced that the country’s coronavirus travel ban on Europe will be extended to the UK and Ireland at midnight EST on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday).

He said: “In our taskforce meeting today the president has made a decision to suspend all travel to the UK and Ireland, effective midnight Monday night, eastern standard time.”

Pence said there had been a “unanimous recommendation” from health experts to extend the travel ban.

“Americans in the UK or Ireland can come home, legal residents can come home…they will will be funnelled through specific airports and processed.”

It comes immediately after President Donald Trump said an announcement about this would be forthcoming on Saturday.

Trump also confirmed that he had been tested for coronavirus.

Asked about the US travel ban, a British Airways spokesman cited the airline’s “book with confidence” policy.

Customers who are booked to fly with the airline between March 14 and May 31 can cancel their booking and receive a voucher for the same value.

The airline’s website says: “Vouchers are valid for 12 months and can be used to any destination.

“Your voucher can be used as part payment towards a future booking to any destination. It must be redeemed for travel on flights taken within 12 months of your original date of departure.”

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “With countries, including the US, banning travel from the UK and more airlines pulling routes from their schedules, passengers urgently need clear information about their upcoming journeys, the support they will be offered if abroad and plans to ensure they get home safely.

“For anyone whose return flight to the UK is cancelled, it’s rarely a good idea to accept a refund as doing so ends the airline’s duty of care to you.

“Instead insist on the airline meeting its obligations to get you home on the earliest available alternative flight – with another carrier if necessary.”