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You can read President Trump's full proclamation regarding conditions of travel between the US and Schengen zone here. Nowhere in this proclamation is a mention of a quarantine.

However, several major news outlets seem to be reporting different (and contradictory) things.

BBC reports:

Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has banned non-citizens from coronavirus-hit regions entry, but US citizens are allowed back into the country after a two-week quarantine.

Yet, CNN says

Returning travelers will be screened prior to entering the US and asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

My question is, which is it? Will people exempt by the restriction face a mandated quarantine at the airport, or be told to self-quarantine? Nowhere in the official proclamation do I see mention of screening (which I am all for). If one of these people who is exempt from the restriction passes the screening (negative for the virus), are they free to go?

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    I doubt even Donald Trump was 100% clear on what he meant.
    – Traveller
    Mar 13, 2020 at 9:09
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    The US administration has promised to release details today. However, from what I read (don't remember where), US citizens and PRs and immediate family members will be examined/screened when arriving at designated US airports. I suppose depending on the outcome, they will either be asked to self-quarantine or they will be taken for treatment. I don't think they will forcibly quarantine everyone arriving at government facilities, but I suppose everyone will be asked to self-quarantine to avoid further spread in case the passenger carries the virus despite being a-symptomatic.
    – jcaron
    Mar 13, 2020 at 9:14

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According to the DHS announcement and fact sheet, the procedures for people who have been to Schengen Area countries within the last 14 days who are exempt from the ban (US citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members) are the same as the procedure for people who have been to Mainland China (but haven't been to Hubei province) or Iran within the last 14 days.

Basically, they will have to arrive in the US at one of 13 designated airports, where they will undergo medical examination. If they have no symptoms, they will be asked to self-monitor their health and limit interactions (the government also calls this "self-quarantine") until 14 days after they have left the Schengen Area, but there are no formal restrictions on where they can go.

Only people who have been to Hubei province within the last 14 days are subject to a formal, mandatory quarantine so far.

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  • I have seen a couple of news stories saying that people arriving from the Schengen area have reported that they haven't been subjected to medical screening.
    – phoog
    Mar 14, 2020 at 22:53
  • Welcome to "Security theatre strikes back"... Only this time it would probably help if they actually did something...
    – jcaron
    Mar 14, 2020 at 23:27

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