Americans complain about being stranded abroad as coronavirus closes borders and cancels flights

Thousands of Americans are thought to be stranded abroad as border restrictions are imposed across the world in response to coronavirus

Thousands of Americans are estimated to be stranded abroad, many in Peru, as countries close borders to manage coronavirus (REUTERS)

US citizens have been stranded in Peru since the South American country’s president, Martin Vizcarra, announced a 15-day national emergency and border closure on Sunday.

Without prior warning, the measures introduced to manage the coronavirus outbreak in Peru took Americans by surprise. The government closed land, sea and air borders almost immediately.

Foreigners in Peru had around 24 hours between the government announcement and the implementation of the border closure, leaving many to find a seat on fully booked departures from Lima’s international airport.

Hundreds of Americans are believed to be stranded, with most in the Peruvian capital, Lima, and the Andean city of Cusco. Many have been forced to remain in hotels and hostels since the mandatory quarantine came into effect in Peru at midnight on Monday.

Kristin Monesmith, an emergency department nurse stuck in Cusco, told CNN that “the quarantine caught us by surprise.”

“I’m an emergency department nurse for the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill,” she said. “I’m stuck and need to be in the States working!”

In a statement online, the US Embassy in Peru said: “American Citizens who remain in Peru should arrange lodging for the duration of the quarantine period and plan to limit their movements.”

Peruvian officials have since allowed flights to resume in order to repatriate Peruvians from abroad and for foreign governments to repatriate their citizens.

Americans have complained that the governments of other countries, including Israel and Mexico, have organised rescue flights to Peru in recent days. Meanwhile, many took to Twitter to voice their frustration at the lack of updates provided by US officials in Lima.

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Others could not contact the embassy on the emergency phone lines provided.

A notice on the door of the US Embassy in Lima, announcing it’s closure, advises Americans with booked flights out of Peru to contact their airlines to discuss rescheduling.

At present, Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is closed to the public.

Similar measures were put in place in Morocco on Sunday night, stranding many Americans. In a statement, NBC reported that the US Embassy in Morocco had organised flights from Agadir and Marrakech to London in recent days despite a US State Department spokesperson saying US citizens should make travel plans using “commercial travel options.”

It is estimated that thousands of Americans could be stranded abroad due to the enforcement of border closures to deal with coronavirus.