US airports have been thrown into disarray as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from Europe come into force.

Travellers waited for hours for the screenings before passing through customs.

At Chicago O’Hare and Dallas DFW airports, passengers reported long queues as travellers returning from Europe waited to be screened as part of measures to combat coronavirus.

The US administration has imposed a ban on non-Americans travelling from the 26 European countries in the Schengen free movement zone, and was extended to the UK and Ireland on Tuesday.

US citizens are allowed to return but face screening.

Reports say there is a growing sense of unease and confusion in the US, with fears of a run on hospital beds and concern about childcare as tens of millions of students are sent home from school.