PHOTO: New York's JFK International Airport, one of five in the country that will now handle all inbound passengers traveling from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
After declaring that five U.S. airports would be chosen to supply additional screening for possible Ebola infection, and after days of public debate on whether or not to issue a travel ban, the Department of Homeland Security has officially released a new set of guidelines on handling travel from Ebola-stricken countries.
Starting tomorrow, all travelers coming in from the West African nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea will be required to travel through the five airports that currently possess capacity for additional Ebola screening. It's not quite the blanket travel ban issued by other countries, but it will at least allow some control over incoming travelers.
The statement, issued by DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, this morning, reads:
"Today, as part of the Department of Homeland Security's ongoing response to prevent the spread of Ebola to the United States, we are announcing travel restrictions in the form of additional screening and protective measures at our ports of entry for travelers from the three West African Ebola-affected countries. These new measures will go into effect tomorrow.
"Last week, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DHS implemented enhanced screening measures at five airports around the country - New York's JFK, Newark, Dulles, Atlanta and Chicago. Passengers flying into one of these airports from flights originating in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are subject to secondary screening and added protocols, including having their temperature taken, before they can be admitted into the United States. These airports account for about 94 percent of travelers flying to the United States from these countries. At present there are no direct, non-stop commercial flights from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea to any airport in the United States.
"Today, I am announcing that all passengers arriving in the United States whose travel originates in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea will be required to fly into one of the five airports that have the enhanced screening and additional resources in place. We are working closely with the airlines to implement these restrictions with minimal travel disruption. If not already handled by the airlines, the few impacted travelers should contact the airlines for rebooking, as needed.
"We currently have in place measures to identify and screen anyone at all land, sea and air ports of entry into the United States who we have reason to believe has been present in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea in the preceding 21 days.
"Yesterday I had a conference call with our CBP officers at the five enhanced screening airports. I was impressed by their professionalism, and their training and preparation for the enhanced screening. I reminded our CBP officers to be vigilant in their efforts, and encouraged them to set a calm example for an American public nervous about Ebola. I thanked these men and women for their service.
"We are continually evaluating whether additional restrictions or added screening and precautionary measures are necessary to protect the American people and will act accordingly."
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
