Traveling outside the US? You might not be able to come back, officials warn
The government might not be able to help Americans who choose to travel outside the country as coronavirus spreads, officials warned Thursday.
Under a new Level 4 Travel Advisory, the U.S. Department of State recommended all citizens avoid traveling internationally, pointing to the growing risk associated with COVID-19 outbreaks in other countries with mandatory quarantines and shuttered borders.
“If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite time frame,” the State Department said.
Officials recommended any citizens abroad consider coming back “using whatever commercial means are available” and “have a travel plan that does not rely on the U.S. Government for assistance.”
President Donald Trump previously suspended all travel from Europe to the U.S., the BBC reported.
But according to Politico — which first reported the advisory before it was officially announced — Thursday’s notice is the State Department’s “most severe warning.”
Several diplomats told Politico it was unprecedented.
CNN reported “hundreds of Americans” are overseas, many of whom are struggling to get home.
At least nine senators — including former presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey — wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday about help for citizens stuck abroad as coronavirus spreads.
“We are particularly concerned about an increasing number of reports that Americans and their family members have been unable to leave areas affected by COVID-19 and return home,” the letter states.
The senators called for clarification as to the support being offered to those Americans, saying the current travel advisories “do not seem to account for the spread of coronavirus.”
But according to Thursday’s warning, some U.S. personnel working abroad in diplomatic and consular posts were allowed to return home as of March 14.
“These departures may limit the ability of U.S. Embassies and consulates to provide services to U.S. citizens,” the State Department said.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Traveling outside the US? You might not be able to come back, officials warn."
