A second flight of evacuees from the heart of China’s novel coronavirus outbreak arrived overnight at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, according to U.S. government officials.
At about 3 a.m., the flight of 201 passengers from Wuhan touched down at the air base and were screened by doctors from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to CDC spokesman Jason McDonald.
The bulk of the passengers were then flown to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, while 53 remained at Travis, McDonald said.
That brings the total number of people quarantined at the base to 234.
So far, four people have exhibited possible symptoms of the virus and are being held in isolation at local hospitals, according to McDonald.
“Anyone who may appear to be symptomatic will be transported to an area hospital and tested to try to determine what’s causing the fever,” he said.
The passengers are under a 14-day quarantine and are being interviewed and tested for symptoms twice a day.
The charter flights are being run by the U.S. Department of State, and the first one arrived at Travis on Feb. 5.
So far in the Bay Area, four confirmed cases of the virus have been reported, two each in Santa Clara and San Benito counties.
Nationally, there are 12 confirmed cases, with 100 cases still pending test results, according to the CDC.
On Friday, the Chinese government announced 3,143 new cases, bringing the total there to more than 34,000, including 636 deaths.
While few details about the people quarantined at Travis are being released, the first group of evacuees consisted of people ranging in age from 2 years to 65 years and included families and individuals, McDonald said.
When passengers first arrived, they were screened for the virus and briefed by CDC officials about what to expect.
“It’s quite a jot,” McDonald said. “They fly out and arrive very early in the morning. They’re tired and we let them know what the expectations will be with the twice daily monitoring,” he said.
Despite undergoing what is a disruptive and likely alarming experience, the people quarantined at Travis appear to be in decent spirits, McDonald said.
“All moods seem positive and everybody seems to be very understanding about why it’s necessary to protect the greater community,” he said.
They are being monitored by a team of 11 CDC doctors and staff lead by Dr. Henry Walke, director of the CDC Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections.
The quarantined passengers are staying at a hotel on the air base and kept separated from base personnel by a cordon staffed by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to base spokeswoman Capt. Amanda Farr.
Their presence, however, is not disrupting normal base operations, Farr said.
12 comments
If you want my professional advice please do not eat at Chinese restaurants. They are unsanitary and are frequently shut down by the Health Department.
LOL, I don’t know where your “professional” advice comes from but see how many times Cold Stone Creamery has been closed down, sometimes the next day after reopening….
I’m wondering how many folks who post here have kitchens that could even pass a Health Department inspection? Given the recent low temps rodents are seeking out warm places and kitchens may look inviting and they may sneak in while your back is turned.
Hospitals are full of germs.. bad ones. But I wont tell people not to go.
I agree with the masked poster.
Usually, for people with only mild exposure, their immune systems begin creating antibodies to combat the invader just like a vaccine. If the organism mutates* new antibodies are needed. Some virii are more virile than others, for example, one hepatitis virus organism can in infect somebody but HIV requires many virii and a friendly environment to become established.
*I read somewhere that the coronavirus had mutated 7 times.
According to Anthony Bourdain in his book “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,” there is a lot that goes on in restaurant kitchens that would shock those who eat there. I like restaurants where you can see the food being prepared. Takes a lot of mystery out of what goes on in the kitchen.
Thanks Masked Poster! My sentiments exactly.
next advice… stay out of doctors offices and hospitals unless you feel you are close to death. You will pick up more germs on the knobs than a lifetime and be over medicated into addiction.. really! seriously!
The only restaurant I have eaten at in the last year is the French Laundry. Other than that my personal chef prepares our meals.
Uh huh.
Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?
But of course……….
Yaaaaaa right…💩💩💩
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