US airports have been thrown into chaos as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from Europe are brought into force.
Long queues formed as travellers waited for hours for the screenings before passing through customs.
Earlier, Vice-President Mike Pence said a ban imposed on travel from European nations would be extended to the UK and Ireland on Tuesday.
The US has more than 2,700 confirmed cases, with 54 deaths.
Illinois governor JB Pritzker said the long lines at Chicago’s O’Hare airport were “unacceptable”.
The crowds & lines O’Hare are unacceptable & need to be addressed immediately.@realDonaldTrump @VP since this is the only communication medium you pay attention to—you need to do something NOW.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) March 15, 2020
These crowds are waiting to get through customs which is under federal jurisdiction
People have been tweeting pictures and videos of passengers waiting to be processed, forming large crowds in airport terminals:
Right now at O’Hare airport in Chicago:
— Terrence Daniels (Captain Planet) (@Terrence_STR) March 15, 2020
Thousands of people are waiting for hours due to “enhanced #CoronaVirus screening” procedures…
This is not good, Trump has literally created a perfect storm to transmit #COVID19. Don’t even know where to start with this one.#Chicago pic.twitter.com/fOUQZfqxX7
Passengers are being questioned about their medical histories and checked for symptoms.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said his office was working with airlines to improve screening times.
Latest Stories
- Sebastien Haller scores first goal after cancer recovery
3 hours - Rashford scores again as Man United go third
3 hours - Kamaldeen Sulemana, Antoine Semenyo make Premier League debuts
3 hours - CHAN 2022: Senegal beat Algeria on penalties to clinch title
3 hours - 84 students inducted into the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi campus
7 hours - Genesis of short hairstyle in Ghana’s schools
7 hours - Life in a glazing building in Aburi, a couple shares experiences on rising temperatures
7 hours - Hundreds of Kumasi residents participate in Luv FM’s Fitness Walk
7 hours - Tamale North MP calls for ‘national debt forum’ to discuss DDEP
7 hours - Samson’s Take: The curse of leadership in Africa
8 hours - Resource Special Prosecutor to fight corruption – GII on Ghana’s poor ranking in CPI report
8 hours - We’re holding our bonds based on assurances from Finance Minister – Kpebu
9 hours - Managers of domestic debt exchange programme have zero credibility – Kofi Bentil
10 hours - Man dies after falling from Puerto Rico cliff while filming a TikTok video
10 hours - Tamale North MP blames Ghanaian culture partly for high level of corruption
10 hours