The United States announced on Friday several exceptional measures to close the borders or impose a quarantine on travelers returning from China and in particular from Hubei province, epicenter of the epidemic of the new coronavirus, according to whether they are American or not.
Beginning at 10 p.m. GMT on Sunday, authorities will ban non-Americans who have been to China in the past 14 days from entering the country, Health Minister Alex Azar said in a press conference at the White House.
For American nationals, a quarantine of up to 14 days will be imposed on those who have visited Hubei Province in the last 14 days, in dedicated buildings.
As for the Americans who would come from a Chinese province other than that of Hubei, a “self-imposed quarantine” will be asked of them, with surveillance.
Members of their immediate families, as well as permanent residents in the United States (green cards), will be subject to the same regime as American citizens.
“These are preventative measures, the risk is low in the United States,” said Alex Azar.
All flights from China will be directed to seven US airports: New York JFK, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Honolulu and Los Angeles.
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