Help us get out of here, plead teacher and his pregnant wife
A BRITISH man is trying to escape Wuhan with his heavily pregnant wife.
Tom Williams has appealed to ministers to help him leave the city before the birth of his second child.
The teacher, who is originally from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, has lived in Wuhan with his Canadian wife Lauren for four years.
They have a two- year- old son, James, who they say ‘is picking up on our anxiety’.
Mrs Williams, who is 35 weeks pregnant, is meant to give birth at a hospital in Wuhan. But the couple are concerned about making the journey when she is in labour at a time when most of the roads are closed.
They are running out of time – most airlines will not allow women to fly if they are more than 36 weeks pregnant in case they go into labour during the flight.
Yesterday Mr Williams posted a letter on Twitter saying that the British authorities had given them ‘no practical steps’ on leaving the city.
He wrote: ‘My wife is currently 35 weeks pregnant and we are quarantined in the city. We are safe and have enough food. Local shops are still open and well stocked.
‘However we are requesting that either the Canadian or the British Government looks to help evacuate us. Advice from the emergency consulate assistance in both Ottawa and London so far is that we should leave if we can. However they have given no practical steps for how to do that.’
Mrs Williams, who is from Langley in British Columbia, told CBC News: ‘The stress is escalating every day at the moment. I am feeling guilt and dread about the possibility of still being here when the baby is born.’
Referring to her son, she added: ‘He’s picking up on our anxiety. He’s a little more emotional and clingy. We are not going out very often. And when we do go out, it’s face masks and mittens and hats on and trying to prevent him from touching anything.’
Hong Kong last night slashed crossborder travel with China over fears that coronavirus could reach the city. High- speed trains and ferries that cross the border will be suspended from tomorrow.
Flights to mainland China will also be halved, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced. Speaking at a press conference while wearing a green surgical mask, she said: ‘The flow of people between the two places needs to be drastically reduced.’
Permits will no longer be issued to those from the mainland wishing to visit Hong Kong, where eight cases have been identified.
‘Stress is escalating every day’