Airline passengers from locked-down Italy are STILL arriving in the US with more flights scheduled as critics criticize airports for not testing them for coronavirus when they land - despite screening travelers from China

  • An Emirates flight arrived in the US Monday night shortly after all of Italy was placed on lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak
  • JFK welcomed passengers from Milan, shortly after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's new attempt to beat coronavirus in Europe's worst-affected country
  • The do not travel advisory has been set until April 3 
  • But social media users complained people were not being checked after flying in from Italy
  • One claimed only people from China were being checked for high temperatures  
  • Others complained their flights to Italy were scheduled but returns to the US were canceled 
  • The virus that has so far killed more than 460 in Italy 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

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Passengers from Italy last night arrived in the US and still faced no screening when they landed despite the country being locked down to coronavirus.

Just one flight landed in America, Emirates Flight 205 that took off from Milan and arrived at John F Kennedy Airport at 7.53pm.

The new restrictions shutting down Italy were announced while the passenger jet was in the air.

But travelers were furious at the lack of checks in US airports, noting that no one was being screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon landing.   

'My friend just landed at JFK from Italy and they didn’t even check her or anyone on her plane but they checked the plane from China. Even though all of Italy just got shut down makes total sense!' a Twitter user named Kimberly sarcastically posted Monday night.

A woman wears a face mask as she exits one of the terminals at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Monday

A woman wears a face mask as she exits one of the terminals at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Monday

An Emirates flight arrived in the US Monday night shortly after all of Italy was placed on lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak

An Emirates flight arrived in the US Monday night shortly after all of Italy was placed on lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak

But social media users complained people were not being checked after flying in from Italy. One claimed only people from China were being checked for high temperatures

But social media users complained people were not being checked after flying in from Italy. One claimed only people from China were being checked for high temperatures

Huge numbers of flights from Italy to the US have been cancelled, but more are scheduled for the forthcoming days.   

Another complained that as the new rules were announced, it was unclear how travelers would be treated when they arrive in the US and what would happened when it was time to return to the region. 

Marjorie Perrelli Day tweeted at JFK's Twitter account: 'I have friends coming from Italy today from Rome. What will they have to do since Italy is now totally shut down. People have been tweeting that JFK has zero screening. So can you explain this?' 

JFK appeared to deny they were skipping necessary checks.

'The Port Authority is providing all necessary support for the screening currently being carried out by the @CDCgov & @CBP of passengers at its airports and any ensuing referrals for quarantine in cooperation with state and city health authorities.'

One social media user was baffled as she complained she would be able to fly to Italy but said her flight back to the States had been canceled.

'So riddle me this...just got notified by @CheapOAir that there's been a change to our @Delta flight to Milan, Italy...we now have a 5.5 hour layover at JFK and our return flights are completely cancelled...so we can go there, we just can't return? AND we lose our money.'

She added in another tweet: 'We were going to visit my sister and family in Italy for my nephew's birthday...now we get to deal with this nightmare.' 

Emirates, American Airlines and Delta still had flights scheduled for Tuesday but Alitalia flights were canceled. 

JFK said Port Authority was doing everything necessary regarding coronavirus screenings

JFK said Port Authority was doing everything necessary regarding coronavirus screenings

Others complained their flights to Italy were schedudled but returns to the US were canceled

Others complained their flights to Italy were scheduled but returns to the US were canceled

A woman wears a protective mask and surgical gloves whilst using her mobile phone at JFK Airport, New York on Monday

A woman wears a protective mask and surgical gloves whilst using her mobile phone at JFK Airport, New York on Monday

Several American carriers had not officially canceled travel to Italy but they had earlier dramatically reduced flights due to lack of demand. 

Delat temporarily suspended service between Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) and Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) starting Wednesday until April 30. 

It's new Detroit to Rome service has been delayed a month until May 1. 

Delta's JFK to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) has been set back until May 20 and the JFK to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) route is now set to start May 21. 

Delta will continue to fly JFK to Rome Fiumicino from March 11 until April 30. 

But the whole of Italy will be placed under lockdown until next month, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Monday, in an unprecedented new attempt to beat coronavirus in Europe's worst-affected country.

The number of coronavirus cases jumped 25 percent in a 24-hour period to 7,375, while deaths climbed 57% to 366 deaths. It was the largest daily increase for both readings since the contagion came to light on February 21.

The virus had killed 463 by Monday after 97 more people died in one day.  

Passengers wearing a respiratory mask wait to check in at a terminal of Milan-Malpensa airport in Ferno, northwest of Milan, in one of Italy's quarantine red zones on Monday

Passengers wearing a respiratory mask wait to check in at a terminal of Milan-Malpensa airport in Ferno, northwest of Milan, in one of Italy's quarantine red zones on Monday

The move extends measures introduced at the weekend for much of the wealthy north of the country. All the new rules are valid from Tuesday until April 3.

All of Italy, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, covering a total population of some 60 million people.  

The decree says people should only move around for reasons of work, for health needs or for emergencies. Public transport will remain operational, but Conte told reporters he wanted as many people as possible to stay at home. 

People who do want to travel will need to fill in a document explaining their reasons for doing so and carry it with them. If they are found to have lied they face possible fines or jail terms. 

All outdoor gatherings are banned. All events organised in the private or public sector, from culture to sport, religious activities and fairs are suspended. Cinemas, museums, theaters, pubs, dance schools, betting shops and discos must all close. 

Ski resorts must close. Civil and religious ceremonies will not be held. Schools and universities will remain shuttered. Specialist health training is not be suspended. 

Bars and restaurants can only open from 6am to 6pm and only on condition they can guarantee customers are at least one meter (one yard) apart. Businesses will be closed if the rules are not respected. 

Shops can remain open but only if they can guarantee the one-meter safety distance for customers. Big and mid-sized shopping centers have to close at the weekend. Food stores are allowed to remain open at all hours. 

All sporting events and competitions are cancelled. The only possible exception to this are events organised by international sports' bodies, so long as they take place behind closed doors. Gyms, sports centers, swimming pools, spas and leisure centers must close. 

Leave for health workers is cancelled. Those accompanying patients to A&E units are not allowed to stay with them in the waiting rooms without specific permission. 

Anyone with a fever above 37.5C (99.5 Fahrenheit) or anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus must stay at home.

Flights from Italy to the UK and nearby countries were still running. Those routes had not been restricted to the US.

CORONAVIRUS TRAVEL TIPS

As the novel coronavirus spreads across the globe, health experts advise plane travelers to sit in a window seat, disinfect their table trays and window blinds, and warn that wearing a mask won't prevent infection.

Officials say the best way to avoid catching the virus, which is spread through viral particles within mucus or saliva, is to keep your hands clean, disinfect your space, and avoid touching your face.

It is also advised that plane travelers choose a window seat to have less contact with potentially sick people.

'Book a window seat, try not to move during the flight, stay hydrated and keep your hands away from your face,' Vicki Stover Hertzberg, professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, said.

'Book a window seat, try not to move during the flight, stay hydrated and keep your hands away from your face,' a professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, said

'Book a window seat, try not to move during the flight, stay hydrated and keep your hands away from your face,' a professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, said

Hertzberg helped conduct a study that followed passengers and crew members on 10 three to five-hour flights during the flu season and found that passengers who sit in the window seats had less contact with ill people. 

Wearing a mask on the plane may not prove helpful as the air in the aircraft is considered sterile because there are so few microorganisms at such a high altitude and the plane draws fresh air from the outside. 

About 50 percent of the air in cabins is recirculated but it goes through sophisticated air filters similar to those used in surgical environments, before it's its pushed back into the plane. 

A problem with paper masks is that they don't have a respirator to filter out infectious air articles.

That means passengers are more likely to catch the virus through direct contact from someone with the virus or surfaces rather than through the air.

But one study found that the other coronaviruses - such as SARS and MERS - remains on metal, glass, and plastic surfaces for up to nine days. 

Top tips include:

- Good hand hygiene: Frequently wash hands for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitzer

- Disinfect your space: Bring your own wipes and wipe down window blinds, seat belts, arm rests, touch screens and tray tables

- Choose a window seat: Sit near the window and avoid moving around the cabin to limit exposure to potentially sick people

- Use touch screen with a tissue: Avoid contact with surfaces that may hold the virus

- Avoid touching your face: 2019-nCov is spread through viral particles in mucus or saliva. Avoid touching your face and transferring germs picked up from surfaces

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