Overseas Koreans from Wuhan, China are disembarking from a chartered flight that landed at Gimpo Airport on the morning of the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Among the 368 Chinese evacuees from Wuhan who returned on the government charter flight on the 31st, 18 were confirmed to show suspected symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held a briefing at the Government Sejong Complex and announced this. Of the 18 returnees showing suspected symptoms, 12 were detected during quarantine at Wuhan Tianhe Airport, and an additional 6 showed symptoms during quarantine at Gimpo Airport. Among them, 14 were transferred to the National Medical Center, and 4 were sent to Chung-Ang University Hospital to receive treatment in isolation wards.
Returnees with symptoms boarded the plane isolated in a separate area on the second floor of the aircraft. Kim Kang-lip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "Measures for contacts who were on the plane with them are being prepared," and added, "Details will be disclosed at the Central Disease Control Headquarters briefing at 2 p.m. today."
The remaining 350 evacuees without symptoms boarded government-prepared buses and moved to temporary living facilities. Two hundred will stay at the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam, and 150 will stay at the National Human Resources Development Institute for Public Officials in Jincheon, Chungbuk.
Although 369 evacuees gathered at Tianhe Airport that day, one person was found to have symptoms during pre-quarantine by Chinese authorities and was unable to board. Vice Minister Kim stated, "We are continuing negotiations with Chinese authorities for additional charter flights to accommodate the remaining applicants."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
