China coronavirus: 201 Americans airlifted from Wuhan arrive in California after passing health screening
- Passengers will undergo additional health screenings in California and will be temporarily housed there as they complete repatriation process
- Britain also preparing to evacuate around 200 citizens as government holds crisis meeting
A plane evacuating 201 Americans from the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak arrived in Southern California on Wednesday after everyone aboard passed a health screening test in Anchorage, where the aircraft had stopped to refuel.
The aircraft landed shortly after 8am at March Air Reserve Base about 96km (60 miles) east of Los Angeles. A ground crew dressed in white approached the aircraft shortly after it landed and three charter-style buses parked near the plane. Federal and local public health officials scheduled a media briefing for later in the morning.
All the passengers already underwent two health screenings in China and were screened twice more in Anchorage by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. One passenger received medical attention for a minor injury that happened before boarding the aeroplane in China, Dr Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, told reporters after the plane left.
The US government chartered the plane to fly out diplomats from the US Consulate in Wuhan, where the latest coronavirus outbreak started, and other US citizens. Britain is also preparing to evacuate and quarantine around 200 nationals, its government announced on Wednesday.
The Americans will undergo additional health screenings in California and will be temporarily housed there for a period of time as they finish the repatriation process. Officials have not said how long that housing period will last.
“For many of us directly involved, this has been a moving and uplifting experience,” said Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. “The whole plane erupted in cheers when the crew said, Welcome home to the United States.”