On January 31, President Trump imposed travel restrictions preventing foreign nationals from entering the U.S. if they had been in China within the previous two weeks. The immediate family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents were exempt from this restriction. By this time, three major U.S. airlines had already suspended flights between the U.S. and China,
[238] although one of these,
United Airlines, continued select flights for returning Americans.
[239] Major Chinese carriers did not begin suspending flights from China to the United States until three days after the announcement of the travel restrictions.
[239] In addition to restricting foreign nationals, Trump imposed a quarantine for up to 14 days on American citizens returning from
Hubei, the main coronavirus hotspot at the time. This was the first quarantine order the U.S. federal government had issued in over 50 years.
[236][237] Although the WHO had recommended against travel restrictions at the time,
[240] HHS secretary Alex Azar said the decision stemmed from the recommendations of HHS health officials.
[241] Trump expanded those travel restrictions to Iran on February 29.