“We’ve strongly encouraged our federal partners to increase staffing to meet demand,” O’Hare said. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or … University of Chicago student Peiyao Wang waits at O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 5 for her boyfriend to arrive from Beijing on Wednesday amid concerns of about a coronavirus … “To the frustrated people trying to get home, I have spoken with the mayor and our Senators and we are working together to get the federal government to act to solve this. Cities across the US have banned large public gatherings and companies including Apple and Nike have announced that their stores will be closed from Monday. Trump’s testing failures pave way to disaster, experts say, JB Pritzker slams federal government in tweets, Travelers face long waits for mandatory screenings. Christina Clancy said her son, Timothy Clancy, was returning home from Greece Saturday night and was caught up in the lines after his study abroad trip was cut short due to a ban on travel from Europe that was announced earlier this week by President Donald Trump. WILMINGTON, Del. “This is unacceptable. Map COVID-19 CHAOS: People traveling through O’Hare waiting in line for hours to go through customs. Typically coronavirus symptoms are similar to a respiratory infection and can include a running nose, cough and fever. HALLE, Belgium (AP) — The concept of what is essential to keep a society functioning during coronavirus lockdowns is gripping Europe as the pandemic unleashes death, poverty, illness and isolation. O’Hare and Chicago police offered bottled water and snacks, according to that airport’s Twitter account. But for people with a weakened immune system, the virus can progress quickly to a more serious pneumonia-like illness with shortness of breath and trouble breathing. “The crowds and lines … are unacceptable and need to be addressed immediately,” Pritzker wrote. “Thank you for yr patience,” O’Hare tweeted to one person describing a six-hour wait for bags followed by several hours more in “shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.” The airport acknowledged that customs is “taking longer than usual” because of the enhanced screenings. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and government officials recommended people across the country “self-quarantine” to prevent the spread of the disease. “And our concern is when travelers are not getting full information when returning,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Officials are also insisting that the wait is for passengers’ own good, meant in part to allow for health screenings. Thank you for your patience. “Our goal is and remains to process passengers as safely and efficiently as possible,” the agency wrote in the statement. “It’s so frustrating,” Liz Hoyer said. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Charts Last modified on Wed 1 Jul 2020 18.14 BST. Atlanta police charge suspect in fatal shooting of Chicago rapper King Von. Some travelers said they had been waiting at least six hours. The coronavirus is a rapidly developing news story, so some of … TSA remains committed and determined to work ever more closely with interagency partners to stop the spread of COVID-19. It won’t change.". This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Airport staff are handing out water and candy, Maggie Hoyer told her daughter in the family chat. Testing locations RELATED: CORONA VIRUS CONFIRMED IN CHICAGO. Scores of anxious passengers said they encountered jam-packed terminals, long lines and hours of delays as they waited to be questioned by health authorities at some of the busiest travel hubs in the United States. The death toll in the US has climbed to 57, while infections are close to 3,000. Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, acknowledged the frustration over “longer than usual delays” but said in a series of early-Sunday tweets that “in several airports we’re seeing an immediate improvement.”, “We appreciate the patience of the traveling public as we deal with this unprecedented situation,” Morgan wrote. Travelers say they’ve had no screenings of temp yet and no one following #coronavirus protocols. Mayor Lori Lightfoot also reacted to the delays harshly on Twitter and tweeted directly at the president. Photos shared on social media showed a sea of people in line. In these unprecedented times, we ask for your patience.”. This is the scene at O’Hare airport. “You never know. While US citizens, green card holders and some others were allowed to return home, travelers from Europe were being funneled to one of 13 US airports where they were subject to health screenings and quarantine orders. Staffers like her have been equipped and educated on the new risks. “He thinks they’re going to take temperatures,” Christina Clancy told the Sun-Times. Regular visitors to an American Airlines’ Admirals Club at Chicago O’Hare International Airport will see many changes in operation effective immediately due to coronavirus. J.B. Pritzker on Twitter, who demanded, “The federal government needs to get its s@#t together. Trump announced the U.S. ban on travel from most of Europe while her parents were still in the air on their way to Germany. Regular visitors to an American Airlines’ Admirals Club at Chicago O’Hare International Airport will see many changes in operation effective immediately due to coronavirus. J.B. Pritzker on Twitter, who demanded, “The federal government needs to get its s@#t together. “Right now we are working to add additional screening capacity and working with the airlines to expedite the process,” Chad Wolf tweeted. Coronavirus Chicago police and airport staff were giving water bottles and snacks to travelers waiting. Convening regular airport community and stakeholder … The scenes at the airports – captured in an outpouring of angry social media posts – resembled the botched implementation in early 2017 of President Donald Trump’s travel ban targeting citizens from predominantly Muslim countries, which triggered chaos and protests at U.S. airports as travelers from the Middle East were detained or sent home with almost no warning. "And that’s been the case under president after president, prime minister after prime minister. Meany worked at O’Hare for 18 years and was one of the original officers to join the TSA after 9/11. But some passengers on that plane are being tested at the request of the CDC on a case-by-case basis. Beloved Jeopardy! TSO Meany’s dedication to our mission of protecting the traveling public will not be forgotten. Beyond obvious candidates like food stores and pharmacies, some answers in the patchwork of nations and cultures that make up Europe can approach the surreal.