11 Airports Now Screening People Arriving From China

To protect the American people from exposure to the novel coronavirus known as 2019-NCoV, the Acting Homeland Secretary Chad F. Wolf issued new instructions clarifying where airplanes from China are authorized to land in the USA.

As initially announced on January 31, 2020, all arriving flights from China and all passengers who have traveled to China within the last 14 days are to be routed through certain U.S. airports, effective February 2, 2020.

Acting Secretary Wolf’s announcement identified 3 additional US airports that will be added to the list of airports authorized to receive such flights beginning at various times on Monday, February 3, 2020.

At these 11 airports, the United States Government has established enhanced screening procedures and the capacity to quarantine passengers, if needed.

Additionally, U.S. citizens who have been in Hubei province within 14 days of their return will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine to ensure they are provided proper medical care and health screening. 

U.S. citizens who have been in other areas of mainland China within 14 days of their return will undergo proactive entry health screening and up to 14 days of self-quarantine with health monitoring to ensure they have not contracted the virus and do not pose a public health risk. 

Furthermore, certain foreign nationals, other than the immediate family of U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and flight crew, who have traveled in China within 14 days of their arrival, will be denied entry into the United States.

“While the overall risk to the American public remains low, funneling all flights with passengers who have recently been in China is the most important and prudent step we can take at this time to decrease the strain on public health officials screening incoming travelers,” said Acting Secretary Wolf in a related press release.

“These steps will also expedite the processing of U.S. citizens returning from China, and ensure resources are focused on the health and safety of the American people.”

“We realize this could provide added stress and prolong travel times for some individuals, however public health and security experts agree these measures are necessary to contain the virus and protect the American people.”

“The American public can be assured that DHS and its component agencies are taking decisive action to analyze the threat, minimize risk, and slow the spread of the virus by working closely with CDC health professionals and interagency partners involved in this whole-of-government effort,” he added.

Effective Sunday, February 2nd, flights arriving in the USA from China will be re-routed to the following airports, at no cost to the traveler:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington
• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii
• Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
• Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia

Effective at 6:30 AM EST on Monday, February 3rd, this list of airports is expanded to include:

• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey

Effective at 7:30 AM EST on Monday, February 3rd, this list of airports is expanded to include:

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan

Although the CDC expects more cases of the coronavirus in the U.S., the risk of infection for Americans remains low, and all agencies are working aggressively to monitor this continuously evolving situation and to keep the public educated and informed, concluded this DHS statement.

For the latest information on the outbreak, visit Coronavirus Today.

Travel medication and vaccine news published by Vax-Before-Travel.