China has quarantined 94 passengers on a flight arriving from South Korea’s Seoul to Nanjing after three passengers showed symptoms of fever, state media reported earlier today (26 February).
Flight OZ349 departed Seoul and arrived in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing yesterday afternoon (25 February).
Three Chinese passengers showed signs of fever when they were screened by the customs personnel who boarded the aircraft, Reuters reported.
However, none of the three passengers had any recent history of travel to Wuhan city or Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
They were immediately sent to a hospital for treatment and isolation, while the rest of the 94 passengers were sent for quarantine in a hotel, Channel News Asia reported.
On 24 February, South Korea raised its virus alert level to the highest “red level” following the spiraling coronavirus outbreak. The country has reported 1,146 confirmed cases and 12 deaths as of today.
In response to the escalating situation in South Korea, Singapore has recently barred visitors who traveled to the country’s Cheongdo county and Daegu city – designated as “special care zones” by the South Korea government – and imposed that Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders traveling from those areas have to remain home for 14 days after they return to Singapore.
This also applies to citizens with student passes, dependent passes, and work passes.
Meanwhile, China has also implemented intensive safety measures at transport terminals since late January, including closing the outbound traffic from Wuhan. Nationwide airports in China have started screening passengers and will immediately send those with even just small symptoms, such as fever, to special care.
China has reported a total of 78,064 confirmed cases and 2,715 deaths to date.
