What do you do while quarantined?

It’s not home, but those at military hotel report being treated well

VANCOUVER— Last Thursday, a plane chartered by the U.S. government to evacuate people from the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak touched down at the Vancouver International Airport to refuel.

Edward Wang and the other Canadians on board stepped off.

“I got off and could literally see my home,” the Richmond, B.C., resident said. “And smell the fresh Vancouver air.”

But the familiarity of home was short lived. The Canadians on the flight changed planes for their next destination — Canadian Forces Base Trenton, and the 14-day quarantine that awaited them.

Four days have passed since about 215 Canadians on two different flights checked in for their stint at CFB Trenton’s Yukon Lodge, a hotel used by the military that is located on the base. A third plane is expected at the base Tuesday, where passengers travelling back to Canada from Wuhan, where the virus was first discovered, will also pass two weeks in quarantine.

The14 days corresponds to the maximum incubation period and the risk of contracting novel coronavirus is still considered low in Canada — there are seven total confirmed cases across the country. About 70 to 80 more people who have been in the area around Wuhan in the last two weeks are entering Canada every day, following advice to get on commercial flights back to the country if they can, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Those individuals are being asked to self-quarantine for two weeks in their homes.

So what can hundreds of civilians do on a Canadian Forces base for two weeks, especially when contact between quarantined individuals is discouraged?

They may not have all the comforts of home, but the quarantined Canadians report being well provided for at CFB Trenton.

Warm parkas and insulated gloves were handed out by the Red Cross for those whose available clothing was suited more to a mild Wuhan winter than a snowy Canadian one.

For Myriam Larouche, a 25year-old student from L’Ascension, Que., who lived and studied in Wuhan for five months before the evacuation, that was the perfect sign that she was back in her home country.

“I missed snow so much,” she said Monday, on the fifth day of the quarantine.

In videos she sent to the Star, a small pileup of the white stuff could be seen out the window of her bedroom at the Yukon Lodge, and surrounding the parking lot where she goes to walk around and get some fresh air.

The quarantined Canadians were told to wear surgical masks when they do this, in case they are infected with the novel coronavirus and at risk of exposing others.

The area around the lodge offered a view of mostly low concrete, buildings and bare trees.

With the right attitude, it made for a pleasant walk.

“Finally, outside getting some fresh air,” Larouche said.