In an unprecedented global health advisory, the State Dept. issued its highest-level alert, usually reserved for war zones or hot spots like Syria, North Korea or Somalia.
Before the passport policy change, embassies and consulates in dozens of countries had already halted public-facing services, such as visa processing, leaving only emergency American citizen services. U.S. personnel or family members overseas who are at a higher risk of death from the virus were also permitted to return to the U.S.
But with embassies operating at reduced staffing, many Americans stranded by local government restrictions have complained about a lack of communication or assistance. Art Goldberg, his wife Sarajane Johnson and their group of 12 American tourists, have been stuck, taking a bus from Marrakesh to Casablanca on Thursday, but still missing the last emergency flights arranged by the British government out of the country. After waiting for hours at the airport, only 59 of the 108 travelers with the tour group, Overseas Adventure Travel, got flights out.
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