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Coronavirus: US airports in disarray over screening | Coronavirus: US airports in disarray over screening |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US airports have been thrown into chaos as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from Europe come into force. | US airports have been thrown into chaos as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from Europe come into force. |
Long queues formed as travellers waited for hours for the screenings before passing through customs. | Long queues formed as travellers waited for hours for the screenings before passing through customs. |
The US is banning the entry of people travelling from the UK and Ireland from midnight on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday). | |
As a result, the UK Foreign Office is now advising against all but essential travel to the whole of the US. | As a result, the UK Foreign Office is now advising against all but essential travel to the whole of the US. |
President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that the US is "doing very precise Medical Screenings at our airports". | President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that the US is "doing very precise Medical Screenings at our airports". |
"Pardon the interruptions and delays, we are moving as quickly as possible, but it is very important that we be vigilant and careful. We must get it right. Safety first!" | "Pardon the interruptions and delays, we are moving as quickly as possible, but it is very important that we be vigilant and careful. We must get it right. Safety first!" |
The US has more than 2,700 confirmed cases, with 54 deaths. | The US has more than 2,700 confirmed cases, with 54 deaths. |
Correspondents say there is a growing sense of unease and confusion in the US, with fears of a run on hospital beds and concern about childcare as tens of millions of children are sent home from school. | Correspondents say there is a growing sense of unease and confusion in the US, with fears of a run on hospital beds and concern about childcare as tens of millions of children are sent home from school. |
During a briefing on Saturday, the White House suggested domestic travel restrictions may be coming. | During a briefing on Saturday, the White House suggested domestic travel restrictions may be coming. |
Mr Trump said: "If you don't have to travel, I wouldn't do it. We want this thing to end. We don't want a lot of people getting infected." | Mr Trump said: "If you don't have to travel, I wouldn't do it. We want this thing to end. We don't want a lot of people getting infected." |
But infectious diseases chief Dr Anthony Fauci told ABC News on Sunday that the notion was "not seriously discussed". | But infectious diseases chief Dr Anthony Fauci told ABC News on Sunday that the notion was "not seriously discussed". |
"I don't see that right now or in the immediate future. But remember, we are very open-minded about whatever it takes to preserve the health of the American public." | "I don't see that right now or in the immediate future. But remember, we are very open-minded about whatever it takes to preserve the health of the American public." |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
What has been happening at the airports? | What has been happening at the airports? |
At Chicago O'Hare and Dallas-Fort Worth airports, passengers reported long queues as travellers returning from Europe waited to be screened as part of measures to combat coronavirus. | At Chicago O'Hare and Dallas-Fort Worth airports, passengers reported long queues as travellers returning from Europe waited to be screened as part of measures to combat coronavirus. |
The US administration has imposed a ban on non-Americans travelling from the 26 European countries in the Schengen free movement zone. The ban will be extended to the UK and Ireland as of Tuesday. | The US administration has imposed a ban on non-Americans travelling from the 26 European countries in the Schengen free movement zone. The ban will be extended to the UK and Ireland as of Tuesday. |
US citizens are allowed to return but face screening. | US citizens are allowed to return but face screening. |
Ruth Procopi, who has lived in the Chicago area for 20 years, returned on Saturday from the UK, where she had been visiting family. | Ruth Procopi, who has lived in the Chicago area for 20 years, returned on Saturday from the UK, where she had been visiting family. |
"I arrived at [O'Hare airport] from Heathrow at about 3:30pm yesterday. It was chaos. Nobody explained anything," she told the BBC. | "I arrived at [O'Hare airport] from Heathrow at about 3:30pm yesterday. It was chaos. Nobody explained anything," she told the BBC. |
"And I was one of the lucky ones - I had no checked bags to try to find and because I had not been to a Schengen country, I did not have to undergo additional screening (still not sure what that was), but I didn't find out until I got to the front of this line. | "And I was one of the lucky ones - I had no checked bags to try to find and because I had not been to a Schengen country, I did not have to undergo additional screening (still not sure what that was), but I didn't find out until I got to the front of this line. |
"We were told there was additional screening while on the plane, but no details. We were not told anything at any stage. It took me two hours to get through." | "We were told there was additional screening while on the plane, but no details. We were not told anything at any stage. It took me two hours to get through." |
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said the long lines at O'Hare were "unacceptable". | Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said the long lines at O'Hare were "unacceptable". |
People have been tweeting pictures and videos of passengers waiting to be processed, forming large crowds in airport terminals: | People have been tweeting pictures and videos of passengers waiting to be processed, forming large crowds in airport terminals: |
Passengers are being questioned about their medical histories and checked for symptoms. | Passengers are being questioned about their medical histories and checked for symptoms. |
Another O'Hare traveller, Tim Clancy, told the BBC the airport was "really hectic". | Another O'Hare traveller, Tim Clancy, told the BBC the airport was "really hectic". |
"I felt there wasn't a lot of access to hand sanitiser or restrooms because you'd likely lose your place in the queue. I didn't see too many people coughing though." | "I felt there wasn't a lot of access to hand sanitiser or restrooms because you'd likely lose your place in the queue. I didn't see too many people coughing though." |
Mr Clancy, 20, was returning home after studying in Athens, Greece. He ended up queuing for a total of five hours. A nurse took his temperature before he was allowed to leave the airport. | Mr Clancy, 20, was returning home after studying in Athens, Greece. He ended up queuing for a total of five hours. A nurse took his temperature before he was allowed to leave the airport. |
"After being on a plane where everyone was tightly packed in it felt like they were encouraging the disease to spread rather than doing anything to curb it," he said. | "After being on a plane where everyone was tightly packed in it felt like they were encouraging the disease to spread rather than doing anything to curb it," he said. |
Paige Hardy, a US graduate student returning from London, told the New York Times there was alarm on her flight to Dallas after a series of confusing announcements. | Paige Hardy, a US graduate student returning from London, told the New York Times there was alarm on her flight to Dallas after a series of confusing announcements. |
"It truly felt like an apocalyptic scenario," she said. | "It truly felt like an apocalyptic scenario," she said. |
In New York, there were reports of a flight from Paris being boarded by customs agents wearing masks. | In New York, there were reports of a flight from Paris being boarded by customs agents wearing masks. |
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said his office was working with airlines to improve screening times. | Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said his office was working with airlines to improve screening times. |
Some public health experts have noted that waiting in crowded terminals could potentially lead to more people becoming infected with the virus. | Some public health experts have noted that waiting in crowded terminals could potentially lead to more people becoming infected with the virus. |
On Friday, President Trump declared a national state of emergency to release $50bn (£40bn) to fight the spread of the virus. | On Friday, President Trump declared a national state of emergency to release $50bn (£40bn) to fight the spread of the virus. |
How have your travel plans and holidays been affected by the coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How have your travel plans and holidays been affected by the coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |