CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: ‘Unprecedented’ military evacuation of 151 South Africans from Wuhan to take place within days By Peter Fabricius PFabric
Strict measures are being taken to ensure evacuees from Wuhan, China do not infect each other, or anyone else, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, and other ministers and officials emphasised at a media briefing on Sunday, 1 March 2020.the operation about to be undertaken was “unprecedented” for South Africa.
Once in quarantine – in a so-far secret location – back home, the South Africans from Wuhan would be held under military-like security in a facility guarded by soldiers who would keep others out and prevent the evacuees from leaving. Mkhize said 16 South African citizens in Wuhan had indicated they did not wish to return. Another South African citizen had elected to be repatriated with Indian citizens who were recently evacuated by the government of India.
Mkize said the government had identified a quarantine facility that met all its requirements. It would have a perimeter line to be strictly guarded by the military to ensure no one either entered or exited the facility, which would be declared a no-entry zone and a no-flight zone. File Photo: Passengers arrive at Cape Town International Airport from Hong Kong after being screened by health officials, January 29, 2020. Photo: ESA ALEXANDER @Sunday Times.
“The members would then be given the final counselling and then granted leave to depart,” though contact would be maintained with them for some time thereafter. “We have been assured that they are recovering. When they test negative, they will be free to return except those going through quarantine. Thereafter they will return without restrictions.” These are the only two South Africans known to have acquired Covid-19, though Mkhize made it clear that the government was on standby for a possible outbreak, noting that since the virus has already spread to 50 countries, the possibility of it reaching South Africa had to be considered.
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