Hunt for killer flu victims
Evacuees escorted by cops into isolation Medics in hazmat suits travel with them
BACK HOME Brits airlifted from China are taken to quarantine as first UK cases spark virus hunt
We’re all very relieved to be back in the UK
JAMES CONVEY ONE OF THE EVACUATED BRITS
LOOKING nervous in their face masks after being airlifted from coronavirus-ravaged Wuhan, Brits rescued from the locked-down Chinese city are taken into quarantine under police escort yesterday.
It came as the death toll from the virus rose to 213 in China, where 9,809 cases of infection were reported.
More than 20 nations outside China now have the disease, including Britain.
Yesterday 83 Brits landed at RAF Brize Norton on the evacuation flight and were taken to an isolation unit on Merseyside in a fleet of six coaches. Police motorbikes led the convoy, accompanied by several ambulances in case any of the passengers felt ill on the way.
Medics in hazmat suits escorted the passengers – some with young children – from the Oxfordshire military base to Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead.
They arrived at the hospital yesterday evening, met by staff wearing face masks. They will stay in two connecting accommodation blocks vacated by staff, who are being put up in hotels and apartments at the NHS’s expense.
The units are surrounded by temporary barriers.
They will be kept there for 14 days, the maximum incubation period for the virus, and monitored by medics until deemed to be safe.
It is just the latest episode in their dramatic evacuation from Wuhan, where they had to get to the airport at short notice with roads blocked and public transport banned. One evacuee, James Convey, said: “There were a lot of obstacles to
get on that plane. We’re all very relieved to be back in the UK.
“We had about oneand-a-half hours’ notice to get to Wuhan airport. All the transport was locked down, the roads were closed. But my mother-in-law managed to call in a few favours… amazingly we did get there on time.”
Passenger Ben Kavanagh posted a selfie showing rows of empty seats behind him after many Brits were unable to make the flight.
Ben Williams, who had just married in Wuhan, said he had to leave his Chinese bride behind after being given short notice to get to the plane.
He claimed there had been delays in getting paperwork and mistakes in communication between embassies.
He added: “It was a close call to get to the meeting point to get on this flight, and sadly my wife has nothing prepared and it wasn’t right for her to enter the UK with essentially nothing.” Patrick Graham shared a video from a bus driving away from Brize Norton.
Police cars and people in British Army uniform could be seen outside the coach guiding it away from the airport, while passengers all appeared to be wearing face masks.
But at least two of the coach drivers were not wearing any kind of protective gear. The drivers will be medically checked but probably not isolated as they had no direct contact with the passengers.
Owners Horseman Coaches said the buses would be deep cleaned afterwards.
It added that all drivers in the convoy had made the choice to be involved.
The evacuees, most of whom had been in Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province, had to sign a contract agreeing to isolation before they could board the flight. The plane also took 27 EU nationals who were taken on to Spain after dropping the Brits off.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said all passengers were screened before boarding and then monitored throughout the journey.
Families had been told relatives with Chinese passports would be unable to join them after Chinese officials denied them permission to leave. That decision was reversed hours before the plane departed.
The Government will try to send another plane to Wuhan to rescue more British citizens if needed.
Janelle Holmes, chief of the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said staff working in the hospital would at no time have any contact with those in isolation.
She added: “All services within our hospital will continue to run as usual, including emergency services, outpatients and planned surgery.”
Labour MPs representing the region said they were “disappointed” the Department of Health did not inform them before it emerged Arrowe Park Hospital would be used. They said in a joint statement: “Local people are understandably very concerned.”