Airports in the US struggle to cope with the crowds

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was among those overwhelmed over the weekend with passengers, including many returning from Europe, who faced new screening measures hastily announced last week by the White Hosue.

The throngs of anxious travelers were a stark contrast to the increasingly loud calls for people to practice "social distancing” as a way to get ahead of the spread of the coronavirus and buy time for fragile health care systems.

As pictures of lines and stories from travelers were shared overnight on social media, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker accused the White House of failing to prepare for the influx of people returning to the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump’s new travel restrictions.

As bad as Saturday was, Sunday "will be even worse,” Pritzker, a Democrat, said on NBC’s "Meet the Press.” "There are a larger number of flights with more people coming, and they seem completely unprepared.”

Pritzker’s office also issued a statement that "instead of being briefed about possible challenges at our airports, the governor and other elected officials became aware of major issues at O’Hare on Twitter.”

Trump later tweeted that the medical screenings at airports were "very precise” and are moving as quickly as possible. A White House official said the administration is now actively working with Pritzker’s office on a solution.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said he’s seeking to add more screeners and is working with the airlines to help expedite the process.

"It currently takes ~60 seconds for medical professionals to screen each passenger,” Wolf said in a statement. "We will be increasing capacity but the health and safety of the American public is first & foremost.”

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said that some arriving passengers at O’Hare faced up to eight hours of delays waiting for luggage, immigration, customs and possible medical screening.

Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Illinois’ other senator, said the pandemonium was a health risk for the state.

"Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it increases the risk for the City of Chicago and all who pass through it, as it contradicts current public health guidelines for masses of people to be in such close proximity to one another at this time,” the lawmakers wrote on Wolf and other federal officials on Sunday, requesting additional resources for O’Hare and a dozen other U.S. airports.

Durbin also said that he had secured a commitment for O’Hare, specifically, after a call with Vice President Mike Pence, head of the White House coronavirus task force.

The acting head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Mark Morgan, said in a statement on Sunday that the agency "recognizes that the wait times experienced yesterday at some locations was unacceptable.”

CBP "continually adjusts its resources as needed & will continue to do so,” he said on Twitter.

Trump announced restrictions on travel from Europe last week, leading many American citizens and residents to rush for flights home. On Saturday, Trump said the U.S. will broaden its temporary travel restrictions to include the U.K. and Ireland, two countries left out of the earlier order.

Long lines were also reported at Dallas Fort Worth and Dulles airports.