US Strengthens Airport Quarantine and Declares Emergency if Necessary

US Health Secretary Reveals at Press Conference
Calls for Cooperation with China and Enhanced Transparency
White House Considers Travel Restrictions on China in Strategy Meeting

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United States has begun full-scale measures to respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. The White House is also reported to be considering a travel ban on China.

Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), is holding a press conference on the novel coronavirus infection situation.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 28th (local time), according to American media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), held a press conference with health officials in Washington DC and described the novel coronavirus as a "very serious potential health threat," adding, "We are preparing for the possibility that the situation may worsen and will declare a national public health emergency at any time if necessary."

Secretary Azar also announced that quarantine measures for the novel coronavirus have been strengthened. He mentioned, "The number of U.S. airports subject to Wuhan pneumonia quarantine has been expanded from the existing five airports to twenty airports."

He also revealed that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is developing vaccine candidates for the novel coronavirus.

He spoke about cooperation with China to combat the virus. He said, "Based on past experience with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), health cooperation between the U.S. and China has dramatically improved," and added, "We have proposed sending officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to China and are urging China for more cooperation and transparency."

The White House is also reported to be reviewing measures related to the novel coronavirus. CNBC reported that the White House is considering travel restrictions on China as part of its response to the novel coronavirus infection. A day earlier, a Wuhan pneumonia response meeting was held at the White House, where the possibility of travel restrictions to China was discussed.

An anonymous source told CNBC, "If such measures are taken, they could affect flights to and from China and airports within the United States."