South Africans will be evacuated from Wuhan city, China, as
fears over the coronavirus — named COVID-19 — continue to grow.
So far, 132 South Africans have requested to be brought
home — and will be quarantined for three weeks when they arrive back in the country.
The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan in
November last year. So far, nearly 2,800 have died from the outbreak.
In a statement on Thursday night, the presidency said
President Cyril Ramaphosa had directed the repatriation of SA citizens from the
Hubei province city.
It was decided, the statement said, to repatriate the SA
nationals “after due consideration of the circumstances, and following several
requests from the families of South Africans in the city”.
“It is estimated that there are 199 South Africans citizens
in Wuhan, as per the latest consolidated list from the department of
international relations & cooperation. At this stage, 132 of them have
expressed the desire to be repatriated. These compatriots are currently living
under lockdown conditions following the outbreak of the coronavirus,” the
statement said.
However, none of those have been diagnosed with the virus
“nor have they exhibited any symptoms thereof”.
“Upon arrival in SA, they will be placed in quarantine for
21 days as an additional precautionary measure,” the presidency said.
Various government departments — including health, defence,
international relations and co-operation, home affairs and social development —
have been tasked with assisting those who do return home.
0 comments:
Post a Comment