Fauci to Americans abroad: 'You will be able to get back'

America's top infectious diseases expert expressed concern over the crush of travelers stuck in airports trying to return home in light of new travel restrictions from Europe, urging Americans to remain calm and not overwhelm the world's airports.

This weekend's implementation of the restrictions announced only days earlier has spurred a mad dash of Americans abroad returning home, causing backups and massive crowds in airports across the country. In response to the mess at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker tweeted: "The federal government needs to get its [email protected]#t together."

But Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned the bottleneck is "countermanding" efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak.