Pompeo details historic State Department repatriation efforts

<p>Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that the State Department carried out an effort "without parallel," bringing home more than 50,000 Americans stranded in more than 90 countries because of the coronavirus.</p><p>Pompeo, the U.S.'stop diplomat, said at a daily White House coronavirus briefing that the State Department's repatriation task force helped arrange more than 490 flights from around the world and worked with hotels, airlines, medical units and local officials to organize the return of tens of thousands of stranded Americans.</p><p>Travel began increasingly difficult as local airports were closed as national governments tried to quarantine their countries against the fast-moving virus. Meanwhile, airlines had massive service cutbacks.</p><p>"They're proud to know that their country wouldn't leave them stranded," he said.</p>