US airports swamped

USA Thousands of travelers returning from Europe crowded terminals at several US airports Saturday night in cramped, hourslong lines amid newly implemented heightened coronavirus screening.

The massive lines came hours after the Trump administration’s 30day travel ban on most of Europe took effect. The ban doesn’t apply to American citizens or permanent US residents.

Travelers returning from across the Atlantic were being routed to 13 US airports, including Chicago O’Hare where waits were reportedly as long as eight hours to get through screening for the virus.

Acting Secretary Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security called for patience in a pair of Twitter messages early yesterday. “DHS is aware of the long lines for passengers who are undergoing increased medical screening requirements. Right now we are working to add additional screening capacity and working with the airlines to expedite the process”, he wrote.

He said it takes about one minute for medical professionals to screen each passenger.

“We will be increasing capacity but the health and safety of the American public is first & foremost”, he wrote.

Nevertheless, Chicago’s mayor and Illinois’ governor, both Democrats, criticized federal agencies’ handling of the situation.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the O’Hare crowding “unacceptable”.

(Fox News)