Taiwan brought back on Monday over 200 Taiwanese who were in Wuhan, China where the outbreak of the new coronavirus began. The Monday flight was the first bringing Taiwanese home since the epidemic began and there will be another charter flight on Wednesday.
There were 247 Taiwanese aboard the first charter flight bringing them back from Wuhan, China on Monday night. All medical personnel wore masks and protective gear. All of the passengers also wore face masks. Upon arrival, they were screened on the plane for symptoms of the new coronavirus.
Those with no symptoms disembarked first. Of the 247 passengers, one had a fever, two had respiratory problems and one child had a stomachache. The child went to the hospital with the mother along with the other three patients.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung said that the three are being quarantined and sent to a hospital ward for tests.
The shed, airplane, flight attendants and suitcases have all been thoroughly disinfected. The other 242 passengers took 14 tour buses to three quarantine destinations – Linkou, Wulai, and Taichung. They will each be quarantined in separate rooms for two weeks.
Health official Shih Chung-liang said there are health, police and national security officials stationed at each of the quarantine stations.
All of the passengers settled in their rooms by 7am Tuesday. Taipei, Taoyuan and Taichung hospitals will be monitoring and treating them. They will have their temperatures taken twice a day and be sent to the hospital if they have any symptoms. During the quarantine, they will not have physical contact with anyone.