Lois Larson
As the Coronavirus outbreak spread across the world, US Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez called on the federal government to begin screening travellers for the virus at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Senators questioned why the CDC had not included the airport in its screenings, despite it being one of the busiest airports in the country. The CDC eventually announced that it would be conducting screenings at the airport, with the state of New Jersey also setting up a 24-hour hotline for information on the disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Newark Liberty International Airport |
| Location | New Jersey, USA |
| Screening status | Screening for coronavirus |
| Screening type | Rolling basis |
| Screening start date | 27th January 2021 |
| Screening conducted by | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
| Flights screened | Flights arriving from China |
| Screening aim | To prevent the spread of the disease |
| Number of quarantine stations at the airport | 1 |
| Total number of quarantine stations | 20 |
| Number of fatalities | 0 |
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What You'll Learn
- Screening for coronavirus at Newark Liberty International Airport was implemented in 2021
- US senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez pushed for the inclusion of the airport in the CDC's screening plan
- The CDC upgraded its travel advisory, warning Americans to avoid nonessential trips to China
- The Coronavirus Task Force was created by Gov. Phil Murphy to coordinate local efforts to prepare for and respond to the virus
- The CDC beefed up staff at all 20 of its quarantine stations, including the one at Newark, to conduct screenings
Screening for coronavirus at Newark Liberty International Airport was implemented in 2021
The CDC had initially directed U.S.-bound flights from China to five airports for screenings: JFK International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport. However, in January 2021, the CDC expanded its screening efforts to include Newark Liberty International Airport, bringing the total number of airports conducting screenings to 20.
Passengers arriving from China were screened on a rolling basis by CDC staff at the airport's quarantine station. The screening process was implemented to prevent the spread of the disease and to educate returning travellers about the signs and symptoms of the virus. Local doctors and health experts in New Jersey agreed that the enhanced screening was a prudent step given the volume of travel between the United States and China.
In addition to the screenings at the airport, the state of New Jersey set up a 24-hour hotline for information on the disease and hospitals in the state were prepared to quarantine patients if necessary.
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US senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez pushed for the inclusion of the airport in the CDC's screening plan
US senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez pushed for the inclusion of Newark Liberty International Airport in the CDC's screening plan. The airport is one of the busiest in the nation, with daily flights arriving from across the globe. The senators questioned why the CDC had not included the airport in its screenings, given that it was receiving flights from China. They asked the CDC to provide resources to all major US international airports to screen passengers from China and elsewhere who may have been exposed to the virus.
In a joint statement, the senators said:
> "We are pleased that the CDC has answered our repeated requests and included Newark Liberty in the agency’s response plan."
The CDC announced that it would be conducting screenings at the airport to prevent the spread of the disease and to educate returning travellers about the signs and symptoms of the virus. The screenings were implemented in January 2021, at a time when the coronavirus had killed more than 100 people and sickened thousands of others in China.
New Jersey has set up a 24-hour hotline for information on the disease, which is also the state's poison control center.
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The CDC upgraded its travel advisory, warning Americans to avoid nonessential trips to China
In January 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its health warning to a level 3, urging Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to Wuhan, China, due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The State Department reiterated its level 2 travel advisory, which warns travellers to exercise caution when travelling to affected areas. The CDC's advisory came as the total number of coronavirus cases in China rose to 634, with at least two major cities under quarantine and the cancellation of Lunar New Year events in Beijing. The coronavirus outbreak, which was first identified in Wuhan, had infected roughly 650 people worldwide, including cases in Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
The CDC's advisory was issued to protect the public's safety and prevent the further spread of the virus. American and United Airlines had already cancelled certain flights to China since the outbreak began, and the Chinese government had taken steps to quarantine Wuhan, sealing off its airport and public transportation systems. Despite these efforts, the coronavirus continued to spread, and the CDC's advisory reflected the increasing concern about the impact of the virus on travel.
U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez had also called on the federal government to implement coronavirus screening at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. They questioned why the CDC had not included Newark in its screenings, as it is a major international airport serving travellers from China. Health officials from the CDC eventually announced that they would conduct coronavirus screenings at Newark Liberty International Airport for travellers arriving from China.
The CDC's level 3 health warning advised Americans to avoid nonessential travel to Wuhan, China, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The advisory was issued to protect public safety and prevent the further spread of the virus, which had already resulted in cancellations and quarantines in China. The CDC's advisory was in line with the State Department's level 2 travel advisory, urging travellers to exercise caution in affected areas.
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The Coronavirus Task Force was created by Gov. Phil Murphy to coordinate local efforts to prepare for and respond to the virus
Gov. Phil Murphy established the Coronavirus Task Force to coordinate local efforts to prepare for and respond to the virus. The task force will bring together experts from various state agencies, health officials, and federal partners to ensure collaborative efforts in protecting the health and safety of New Jersey residents.
Murphy noted that Newark Liberty International Airport is one of eleven major US airports authorized to receive flights from China that require enhanced entry screening for the virus. The establishment of the task force is a proactive measure to address the public health hazard posed by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV or COVID-19).
The task force will also coordinate with the federal government and Newark Airport to ensure effective communication and the dissemination of information to the public. They will work closely with hospitals and healthcare facilities to manage the treatment of patients with coronavirus symptoms or risks.
The Coronavirus Task Force is a critical component of New Jersey's preparedness protocols, aiming to protect the health and safety of its citizens. The state has also launched a webpage and a hotline to provide updates and answer questions about the virus.
New Jersey continues to work closely with the CDC and local health partners to monitor the situation. The task force will play a crucial role in coordinating these efforts and ensuring a unified response to the coronavirus threat.
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The CDC beefed up staff at all 20 of its quarantine stations, including the one at Newark, to conduct screenings
The CDC has increased its staff at all 20 of its quarantine stations, including the one at Newark Liberty International Airport, to conduct screenings for the novel coronavirus. This decision was made in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease, which has caused a global outbreak, with over 90 cases presenting themselves outside of China, where the outbreak began.
The CDC's actions have been welcomed by politicians and health professionals, including New Jersey's US senators, Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, who had been pushing for the CDC to include Newark Liberty International Airport in its screening efforts. In a joint statement, the senators acknowledged the airport's status as one of the busiest in the nation, with flights arriving from all over the world daily, and expressed their satisfaction with the CDC's decision to include the airport in its response plan.
The screenings at Newark Airport specifically target travelers arriving from China, where the novel coronavirus has killed more than 100 people and infected thousands of others. The CDC has also issued a travel advisory, warning Americans to avoid nonessential trips to China. Despite these increased precautions, the federal health agency has asserted that the risk of the disease spreading in the United States remains low.
Passengers arriving at Newark Airport from China will be screened on a rolling basis, and hospitals in New Jersey are prepared to quarantine patients if necessary. The state of New Jersey has also set up a 24-hour hotline for residents with questions or concerns about the coronavirus, which is also the state's poison control center.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Newark Liberty International Airport is conducting screenings for the coronavirus.
Passengers arriving from China will be screened for the virus.
The CDC has increased staff at all 20 of its quarantine stations, including the one at Newark. Hospitals in New Jersey are also equipped to quarantine patients if necessary.
Symptoms include fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
Follow standard hygiene practices such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitizer. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and avoid close contact with others if you are displaying any symptoms.
