According to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, the painfully long screening lines currently being seen at America’s international airports are an inexorable consequence of proper coronavirus prevention.
He explained this Sunday morning to “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd after being bluntly asked, “What went wrong here?”
Listen to the discussion below:
“I don’t think anything went wrong — I think it’s just the nature of the problem,” Fauci candidly replied. “When you have a situation where people are in different countries, there are going to be restrictions.”
“American citizens, their family, others, permanent residents can get back. They don’t need to immediately get back because they think they’re going to get left out. That’s what they did, but they’re not.”
Because of President Donald Trump’s travel bans on Europe, which for the record do not affect American citizens who haven’t been diagnosed with coronavirus, those Americans who’re currently abroad have been rushing to return home.
In doing so, they’ve clogged up the airports, in part because their authorized re-entry into the United States requires them to first be screened for coronavirus. Except that screening for coronavirus takes time, ergo why the nation’s international airports are currently contending with long coronavirus screening lines such as these:
This is the scene at O’Hare airport. The traveler who took the photo said it’s a 6-hour wait for bags then on to customs for 2-4 more of waiting in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Police are handing out water and disinfectant wipes. @fly2ohare #ord #coronavirus #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/UTx9E0nj1s
— Brooke Geiger McDonald (@BrookeGMcDonald) March 15, 2020
#BREAKING: Passengers stuck in long lines for immigration at @DFWAirport tell us there are no offers of hand sanitizer, gloves, or masks from U.S. Customs / Immigration. Travelers say they’ve had no screenings of temp yet and no one following #coronavirus protocols. pic.twitter.com/9viCnWdncz
— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) March 15, 2020
this is the scene from JFK, Dulles, O’Hare & DFW airports right now. pic.twitter.com/7xj8TfxrL8
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) March 15, 2020
Coronavirus screening at U.S. Airports causes 7-Hour wait in crowded lines. https://t.co/YH1BgiNbco pic.twitter.com/I3XWSg04Mp
— Breaking Aviation News (@breakingavnews) March 15, 2020
This is currently the waiting line for U.S. customs at DFW Airport, as international travelers are having to deal with a long wait as they re-enter the country. https://t.co/AkmAYw2tjg pic.twitter.com/c7RKkS0gzo
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) March 14, 2020
“When they do get back, they’re going to have some enhanced screening,” Fauci continued. “Depending on the country. If you’re in the European group, if you’re now with the UK and Ireland, you’re going to have two weeks of self-imposed isolation.”
While the effects of this enhanced screening are no doubt frustrating to those Americans stuck in these lines, the Trump administration strongly maintains that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“If you just leave the virus to its own defenses it’ll go way up like we’ve seen in Italy – that’s not going to happen if we do what we’re attempting to do and are doing,” he said later Sunday morning to CBS host Margaret Brennan of “Face the Nation.”
“The way we get ahead of it is, I want people to assume that we’re overreacting because if it looks like you’re overreacting you’re probably doing the right thing.”
Listen:
Head of @NIAIDNews Dr. Anthony Fauci said earlier this week that the #CoronavirusPandemic will get worse in the U.S. before it gets better.
How much worse? Dr. Fauci to @margbrennan this morning: “It’s going to depend on the effectiveness of our response” pic.twitter.com/mD0WKoufZf
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 15, 2020
The Trump administration’s recommendations have, in many cases, fallen on deaf ears, with members of the public still partaking in their regular social activities, and members of the Democrat Party likewise crying foul over some of the unavoidable consequences of the the administration’s prevention methods.
Take the long lines at America’s airport. In a series of rude, disrespectful and condescending tweets posted late Saturday evening, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, slammed the president and vice president for them.
Look:
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.
These crowds are waiting to get through customs which is under federal jurisdiction
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) March 15, 2020
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.
We will do everything within our power to get relief.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) March 15, 2020
The federal government needs to get its s@#t together. NOW.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) March 15, 2020
Trump administration officials have for their part made it clear they’re working to add “additional screening capacity” as quickly as possible.
Look:
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. 1(/2)
— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) March 15, 2020
2/2 I understand this is very stressful. In these unprecedented times, we ask for your patience. It currently takes ~60 seconds for medical professionals to screen each passenger. We will be increasing capacity but the health and safety of the American public is first & foremost.
— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) March 15, 2020
We are aware of the reports of increased wait times at some airports across the nation. CBP along with medical personnel are working diligently to address the longer than usual delays. Nothing is more important than the safety, health and security of our citizens. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/JyPRSS9snr
— Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan (@CBPMarkMorgan) March 15, 2020
The media meanwhile is continuing to complain about how the president’s otherwise well-praised travel ban is somehow, someway “racist” and “xenophobic.”
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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