Precautions designed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus now affect an airport popular with Windsor-Essex travellers.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport has been added to the list of major U.S. airports offering advanced screening for the coronavirus. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed Metro Airport on the list early Monday morning.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf has directed all U.S. bound flights from China to land at one of 11 airports across the country. At that point, passengers may be subjected to advanced health screenings. The government is also authorizing border agents to use quarantine powers at these airports if necessary.
"While the overall risk to the American public remains low, funnelling all flights with passengers who have recently been in China is the most important and prudent step we can take at this time to decrease the strain on public health officials screening incoming travellers," said Wolf. "These steps will also expedite the processing of U.S. citizens returning from China and ensure resources are focused on the health and safety of the American people."
With the epicentre of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, located in Hubei province, the U.S. government also indicated that any American citizens who have been in Hubei province within 14 days of their return to the United States might be subjected to a mandatory quarantine of up to 14 days. American citizens who have been in other areas of mainland China within 14 days of their return will undergo proactive entry health screening and up to 14 days of self-quarantine.
Generally, foreign nationals, other than the immediate family of U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and flight crew; who have travelled in China within 14 days of their arrival, will be denied entry into the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The airports have been designated in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The other airports are John F. Kennedy in New York, O'Hare in Chicago, San Francisco International, Hartsfield in Atlanta, Seattle-Tacoma International, Los Angeles International, Dulles in Washington, DC, Inouye in Honolulu, Hawaii, Newark Liberty in New Jersey, and Dallas-Fort Worth International.
The BBC reported Monday afternoon that the coronavirus had infected over 17,000 people in China alone, with 361 deaths. Over 150 countries, including Canada and the U.S., have reported cases. Only one death outside China has been confirmed in the Philippines.
