Coronavirus screening takes hold in Latin America

El Salvador and Guatemala both announced Friday they will not allow people travelling from China into their respective countries one day after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a new virus a global emergency.

The government has confirmed there are no coronavirus cases in El Salvador but screening is taking place at international ports of entry.

At the international airport in San Salvador, arriving passengers were thermally screened and checked by health care workers before being allowed to leave the airport.

"Each one (country) has its own mechanism activated based on the international health regulation that is part of the international strategies that organizations such as the WHO and OPS (Office of Public Health) dictate," said Francisco Alabí, El Salvador's Vice Minister of Health.

In Brazil, the government has yet to announce travel restrictions.

Some passengers arriving at Rio de Janeiro's international airport wore masks as did airport employees.

Passengers travelling from Dubai said their flight was normal and no one aboard had health issues that they were aware of.

China on Friday confirmed nearly 10,000 cases of the virus, which can cause pneumonia and other severe respiratory symptoms.

So far 213 people have died from the virus in just two months.