»»Public safety the top priority, says Hancock
Torn apart by the virus
Travellers spread virus
BY MARTIN BAGOT BRITONS airlifted from China’s coronavirus outbreak could be quarantined at a UK military base.
Secure facilities are being considered as the Government plans for the arrival of about 200 citizens from Wuhan city.
Even those with no symptoms would be detained for 14 days – thought to be the maximum possible incubation period for the new form of coronavirus.
Urgent plans to get the Britons out of Hubei province, where Wuhan is situated, are being finalised with an evacuation thought to be imminent.
Those wanting to leave the area had until 3am on Tuesday to express their wish to the British consulate.
Military bases could hold the Brits for a fortnight and ensure they are “well looked after”, a source said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Public safety is the top priority. Anyone returning from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days with all necessary medical attention.”
Wuhan’s streets are almost empty
SCARED Family in plastic bags with his Indonesian wife and two children, said: “We’d like to be out of here. The man on the phone said, ‘You are on the list but unfortunately your wife probably won’t be able to get on the plane as she does not have a visa’. I won’t leave without her.”
Australia plans to quarantine evacuees at Christmas Island immigration detention centre.
A US charter plane left Wuhan yesterday, believed to be carrying citizens and consular staff. Japan has
Drew Bennett
GERM ALERT Masks at airport evacuated some of its citizens. The UK Government advised about 1500 recent arrivals from Wuhan to go home and “self isolate”. In Birmingham, a medic in a hazmat suit was filmed escorting a man who returned from Wuhan with flu-like symptoms. Sales worker Drew Bennett, 39, was isolated in hospital but there have been no confirmed cases here. The World Health Organization may declare an international public health emergency, for just the fifth time in its 72-year history, after Ebola, polio, swine flu and Zika. British Airways has suspended flights to and from China after the Foreign Office warned against “all but essential travel”. Virgin will continue its China flights, though passengers can re-book or get refunds. Chinese airlines appear to be flying to and from the UK.