OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — U.S. evacuees from Wuhan China will arrive at Eppley Airfield this week, the CDC said Wednesday amid concerns about the coronavirus.
They will arrive at Eppley Airfield "in a remote and isolated aircraft parking area and will not be inside Eppley terminals," according to Nebraska Medicine.
KMTV was told by the Nebraska National Guard that the evacueesset to be quarantined at Camp Ashland are "healthy people." Housing support will be available for 75 people.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of CDC National Center for Respiratory Diseases, said in a call Wednesday, they're doing it out of an abundance of caution.
"It was based on our understanding of the location that they came from and our calculation of their risk of getting the coronavuirus and the potential risk of them passing it on to their families and communities," says Messonnier.
Passengers from Wuhan China will also arrive at Travis Air Force Base in Sacramento, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
We were told by the Nebraska National Guard that passengers that would be quarantined at Camp Ashland, are "healthy people." CDC says passengers are being screened, monitored, & evaluated by medical staff for Coronavirus symptoms before takeoff, during & after flight.
— Maya Saenz - KMTV (@Maya_Reports) February 5, 2020
Officials say the planes will be met by a team of CDC personnel deployed there to assess the health of the passengers. The passengers have been screened, monitored and evaluated by medical and public health personnel every step of the way, including before takeoff and during the flight.
CDC staffers will perform risk assessments to ensure the health of each traveler, including temperature checks.
Officials say the passengers will be issued quarantine orders after they arrive at their designated location. The order is meant to protect travelers, their families and the public at large.
The quarantine order will begin on the day the flight left Wuhan and will continue for up to 14 days.
The CDC will work with state and local public health officials to bring any passenger showing symptoms to a hospital for evaluation.
The 2019 novel coronavirus is a new virus strain that is believed to have originated near Wuhan China and started spreading among people late last year. While the CDC says the immediate risk of coronavirus exposure to the general public is low, they’re taking measures to keep the risk minimal.
