"As I recall, the US initially did not block arrivals from China, it blocked Chinese citizens."

You know with Google, it's so easy to check and post the truth. Why spread false information like that?

Here's the actual language of the Presidential proclamation:

"The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the People’s Republic of China, excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended and limited subject to section 2 of this proclamation."

Section 2 then lays out certain exceptions for close relatives of Americans, Green Card holders, etc.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidenti...l-coronavirus/