US bars foreigners coming from China for now over virus fear

Quarantine workers check identity documents on Friday as tourists from the Wuhan area walk off of a chartered plane taking them home from Bangkok at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, China. (Chinatopix via AP)

WASHINGTON — The United States on Friday declared a public health emergency and took drastic steps to significantly restrict entry into the country because of a new virus that hit China and has spread to other nations.