Quarantine lifted for first group of evacuees
Coronavirus evacuees who have spent the past two weeks in quarantine in Auckland have finally left to go home.
The 157 New Zealanders and foreign nationals were taken to a military training facility in Whangapara¯oa on February 5, after being evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan on a government-chartered flight.
Following final medical checks yesterday morning, most of the group were free to leave in the afternoon, a Ministry of Health spokesman earlier told
Health officials held two people back in quarantine after one displayed mild symptoms that could be linked to the coronavirus.
Director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said one person had displayed mild symptoms consistent with the virus. Both the person and another person who had been sharing their living quarters had been held back in quarantine while tests were run for the virus.
About 10.40am, half a dozen shuttle vans were seen driving through the base’s gates, before the first bus left the facility at noon.
One person waiting outside the gate was William Li, whose pregnant wife Ting Zhong and 2-year-old son Ryan had been in isolation for two weeks.
Zhong had taken Ryan to China for a five-month holiday and to celebrate Chinese New Year. It was the toddler’s first trip to the country.
When the illness started spreading in Li’s hometown of Wuhan, the Auckland family jumped at the chance to come home on the chartered flight.
Li said Zhong, who was 32 weeks pregnant, had been in daily contact, as evacuees were provided with SIM cards and internet access.
He said his wife was nervous about going into quarantine but all her worries dissolved once they arrived at Whangapara¯ oa.
‘‘They have been given so much support ... great food and great hospitality,’’ Li said.
Ryan had been given toys and even icecream while in isolation, his father said.
Li said he ‘‘can’t wait’’ to have his family home.
They planned to go out for dinner last night, and Li had taken a week off work to have some wellneeded time with his wife and son. He did not know what time Zhong and Ryan would be allowed to leave the facility but was ‘‘very excited’’ and just biding his time under a tree.
Erene Huang had been patiently waiting in the heat for her family for hours – the last group to be let out of quarantine.
Her daughter-in-law, two young granddaughters and infant grandson were among those in lockdown for 14 days.
Candy Wang, daughters Tanya, 8, Amy, 6, and 7-month-old son Ryan were reunited with husband and father Tony Tan after being apart for more than a month, having exited the base about 2.15pm.
Huang had
made
her granddaughters little purses, which she hung on a tree outside the gate while waiting for their return.
Wang said she felt like crying when they were all reunited.
They were ‘‘so happy’’ and ‘‘relieved’’ to be able to go home.
Father Tony Tan said he was ‘‘so glad to see his family again’’ – joking his baby was ‘‘much heavier’’ than when he saw him last.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Dr David Clark and directorgeneral of health Ashley Bloomfield confirmed Kiwis on board the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship would also be quarantined at Whangapara¯ oa from this week.
A flight was being arranged by the Australian Government to get New Zealanders out of Yokohama, where the cruise ship was berthed.
About 8 New Zealanders were expected to be brought back to Whangapara¯ oa for a 14-day isolation period. Two New Zealanders recovering from coronavirus in hospital in Japan would not be returning on the flight. A family member would stay behind to support them.