United States Declares Health Emergency, Bars Entry of Foreign Nationals Who Were Recently in China.

The novel coronavirus has been declared a public health emergency in the United States, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a White House briefing on Friday.  

Any U.S. citizen who has been in the rest of mainland China will be actively screened at one of seven airports for risk and evidence of symptoms. If no symptoms are detected, the individuals will be allowed to complete their travel home and will be monitored by local health departments in isolation at home. 

White House task force on the coronavirus, said incoming flights from China will be limited to just seven airports — San Francisco, Los Angeles International Airport, Seattle, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Atlanta, Honolulu and Chicago's O'Hare — beginning Sunday. 

After the declaration goes into effect at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, US citizens returning to the United States who have been in Hubei, China, province in the 14 days prior will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine, Azar said. 

The move comes as Delta Air Lines and American Airlines suspended flights between the U.S. and China, following several other international airlines who made similar announcements. United Airlines said that it was suspending flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, but would continue flying to Hong Kong.