U.S. Military Helps Evacuate Americans From China Amidst Coronavirus Epidemic
They were held in Alaska for health checks before moving on to California.
A flight carrying 201 American passengers landed Wednesday morning at a military base in California after stopping for health checks in Anchorage, Alaska.
Health officials screened the group for coronavirus in China, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention screened the passengers again at a stop in Alaska, according to The Associated Press.
All passengers passed their screenings upon landing at March Air Reserve Base in Southern California and will continue to have health checks while in temporary housing. The base is about 65 miles from Los Angeles.
“Our primary objective is to facilitate the safe return of these Americans while protecting the public’s health,” the CDC and Health and Human Services wrotein a statement. The incoming Americans were originally scheduled to be held for at least 72 hours and monitored as part of the repatriation process.
Officials estimate that the number of those infected with coronavirus has reached 6,150 as of Wednesday morning, surpassing the 5,327 patients from China’s 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, AP reported. The death toll rose to 132 as of press time.
The CDC has confirmed five cases of coronavirus in the United States.
Symptoms of coronavirus include coughing, fever, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.
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Image: Reuters.