Australians who are trapped in Wuhan will be evacuated to Christmas Island on a Qantas flight leaving the locked-down city on February 3
Australians who are trapped in Wuhan will be evacuated to Christmas Island on a Qantas flight leaving the locked down city on February 3. Those shortlisted for the assisted departure flight were told in an email from the Australian government on Saturday that the evacuation "remains subject to Chinese authority approval".
China Eastern Airlines cabin crew are seen wearing protective face masks at Brisbane International Airport.Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the government expects the evacuation "process to be finalised and finally agreed soon and we are proceeding on that basis". Both Australian citizens and permanent residents will be allowed to board the flight after initial concerns that the Chinese government would only allow foreign citizens to be evacuated from the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.Evacuees have been told that temperature checks will be conducted at check points before they reach the airport and that anyone with a reading over 37.3 degrees celsius will not be allowed to board the flight and will be asked to seek medical assistance in Wuhan."You should expect screening, an identity check will be carried out approximately three kilometres from the airport." All passengers have been told that they will need to make their own way to the airport and wear supplied facemasks during the flight. "Should passengers cough or sneeze during the flight, please cough or sneeze into your hands and use hand sanitiser afterwards," the email said. More than 150 Australians had registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs by Friday to be evacuated.Unaccompanied minors will not be allowed to board the flight. Nearly 11,400 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed globally, of which 11,221 are on mainland China.A total of 12 cases have been confirmed in Australia, including two new cases in South Australia and a fourth case in Victoria on Saturday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday that all non-Australian travellers from mainland China will beEvacuees said they have been told they will need to pay $1000 to be flown out of Wuhan and sign a waiver allowing them to be quarantined on Christmas IslandThe email confirms that all passengers on the flight will be transferred to Christmas Island for 14 days. "Travel arrangements to your final destination in Australia will be arranged with you when you are on Christmas Island," the email states."There will be medical facilities and medical professionals on Christmas Island." Foreign Minister Marise Payne said that the government is still in discussions with Qantas on how the evacuees will be taken to Christmas Island, where the runway is too small to accommodate the largest Qantas plane, a Boeing 747, with a full passenger load.Mr Morrison denied on Saturday that the decision to quarantine the evacuees on Christmas Island was a controversial one. "I think Australians ... want to be assured that the quarantine arrangements, when we are taking people from the most affected part of China - which is where this virus began and where the human-to-human contact has been the most prolific - that we are taking the most serious precautions in putting the quarantine arrangements in place," Mr Morrison said.quarantining Australians on Christmas Island for 14 days is"a drastic measure""I think it's great the government has reached out to have a proper plan, it's important for the safety for everyone," Sydney physiotherapist Bon Lee said.
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