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Since Chinese authorities disclosed the outbreak of a mysterious pneumonia-like illness, later revealed to be the coronavirus, to international health officials on New Year’s Eve, at least 430,000 people arrived in the U.S. on direct flights from China https://nyti.ms/3dTY6fn
The bulk of the passengers arrived in January, at airports in LA, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Newark and Detroit. Thousands of travelers flew directly from Wuhan as American public health officials were only beginning to assess the risks to the U.S.
During the first half of January, no passengers from China were screened for potential exposure to the virus at a time when it was little understood.
Health screening began in mid-January, but only for travelers from Wuhan and only at the airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. The measures were expanded to all passengers from China 2 weeks later.
In interviews, multiple passengers who arrived after the screening was expanded said they received only passing scrutiny, with minimal follow-up.
Nearly 40,000 travelers arrived in U.S. on direct flights from China in the 2 months after President Trump imposed restrictions on such travel, according to an analysis of data collected in both countries http://nyti.ms/3dTY6fn
Flights have continued into this week, the data show, with passengers traveling from Beijing to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, under rules that exempt Americans and some others and direct planes to those airports http://nyti.ms/3dTY6fn
