The government will organize “Repatriation by direct air route” for the French in the Wuhan region, the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic in China, who wish to do so, announced the health minister on Sunday 26 January.
This repatriation will take place “With the agreement of the Chinese authorities” and under the supervision of a “Dedicated medical team” said Agnes Buzyn after a meeting around the Prime Minister in Matignon Returnees will also “Stay in a place of reception for fourteen days”, estimated incubation period, to prevent the spread of viruses.
The number of people involved could “Go from a few dozen to a few hundred”, according to the Minister. The consular authorities were responsible for identifying those wishing to return to France.
On Saturday, the French manufacturer PSA, which has factories in Wuhan, announced that its expatriate employees would be evacuated to Changsha, a city located more than 300 km south of Wuhan.
Other countries are planning evacuations of the city and its region, quarantined since Thursday. The United States is organizing the evacuation of its diplomatic personnel and other stranded American nationals in Wuhan, where a US consulate is located. Washington hopes to send a direct flight from Wuhan to San Francisco on Tuesday, the state department said.
Suspension of organized trips to China
The union of French tour operators recommended Sunday the suspension of organized trips to China until February 21. For tourists already on the spot, the union does not offer repatriation measures, but “To be at their disposal to answer their questions”, and “Adapt” programs to the measures taken by the Chinese government.
Unlike other countries, France has not implemented border control measures for passengers coming from China, with systematic verification of body temperature. A “Host medical team” was set up at Roissy airport on Sunday to treat people who have symptoms.
Six suspected cases awaiting testing
The minister also announced that no new confirmed case of contamination with the coronavirus had been recorded, apart from the three people hospitalized in Paris and Bordeaux since Friday. However, the health authorities await, in the evening of Sunday or Monday morning, the results of tests undergone by six people. “These are people who are in other cities [que Paris et Bordeaux], mainly from Wuhan “, said Mme Buzyn.
Since Saturday, fifteen new deaths from the viral pneumonia epidemic have been recorded in China, bringing the death toll to 56, and 688 new cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed, for a total of 1,975 cases in the country , announced the National Health Commission.
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