France will fly home its citizens who wish to leave the Chinese city of Wuhan at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak that has sickened thousands and killed 81, the government announced.

The repatriation, via a direct flight to France, will be planned for the middle of this week, with Chinese permission, under the supervision of medical experts, Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said late Sunday after an emergency meeting of ministers called by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

The number could “range from a few dozen to a few hundred,” Buzyn said, adding that consular authorities in Wuhan were doing a headcount.

The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighbouring cities, effectively trapping tens of millions of people — including thousands of foreigners — in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

The United States has also announced it would arrange a flight to evacuate personnel and citizens trapped at the epicentre of the virus outbreak.

Buzyn said that on their return, repatriated French citizens would “stay in a holding area for 14 days”, which is the estimated virus incubation period.

French carmaker PSA said Saturday that it would repatriate expat staff and their families — 38 people in total — from Wuhan.

With coronavirus diagnosed in three people who had recently been to China, France is the first European country with confirmed imported cases.

Six suspected cases are being analysed, Buzyn said.

On Sunday, Paris cancelled a parade for the Lunar New Year, celebrated by the city’s large Chinese community, as a “precaution”, according to mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Celebrations planned for Bordeaux were also cancelled.

France on Sunday put in place a medical team of several dozen experts at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport to take charge of arrivals with possible symptoms of infection with the contagious virus.

– AFP

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

Westminster terror attack updates

President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have…

【冠状病毒19】确诊病患曾到宏茂桥等多家餐馆

卫生部指出,有冠状病毒19确诊病患曾到访宏茂桥城、乌节中央城和313@somerset的餐馆,而三巴旺太阳广场的星巴克曾有病患到访两次。 卫生部昨日(9月30日)发布文告,列出确诊病患曾到访过得新增地点和时段,已向曾和确诊病患有亲密接触者发出通知。当局也促请曾于同一时段,和确诊病患到访同一地点的民众关注自身健康,若出现急性呼吸道感染症状、或发烧、味觉或嗅觉失灵,应尽快就医,并向医生坦承曾到过的地点。 确诊病患曾到访的新增地点和时段如下: 9月23日下午3时40分至4时25分:宏茂桥城(AMK Hub)的Timezone电网中心 9月23日下午4时40分至5时02分:宏茂桥城的Prata Raya马来餐馆 9月24日傍晚6时20分至7时10分:裕廊西城的Mr.D.I.Y 9月25日晚上8时至9时35分:313@somerset的探鱼餐馆 9月26日晚上8时10分至9时40分:乌节中央城(Orchard Central)的Grain Alley餐馆…

Alternative Outcomes for the 2011 General Election

~ By Tim (Tiddy) Smith ~ Citizens spend a great deal of time deciding…

Did Lee Suet Fern and Lee Hsien Yang actually have any motivation to alter LKY’s final will?

A Disciplinary Tribunal appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon has found lawyer Lee…