February 11 (Reuters) – A second plane carrying 185 Canadian evacuees from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan has landed at an airbase in Trenton, Ontario, CBC news reported on Tuesday.
The death toll from the coronavirus rose above 1,000 on Monday, with all but two in mainland China, and the virus has spread to at least 27 countries, including Canada, where seven confirmed cases have been reported.
Last week, 176 Canadian citizens and permanent residents were evacuated from Wuhan to an Ontario air force base on a Canadian government-chartered flight, while another 39 Canadian evacuees were evacuated from China on an American flight.
A 14-day quarantine period for evacuees flown to the military base in Trenton, Ontario. was imposed. The Canadian government has also advised citizens not to travel to Hubei Province and to avoid all non-essential travel to China.
Canada has sent 16 tons of protective equipment, including masks, goggles and gloves, to China since Feb. 4, Global Affairs Canada said Monday.
In Wuhan, China, depression over a possible separation turned to joy for Edward Yuan, a Canadian citizen, and his permanent resident wife.
Although they were initially told that she would not be allowed to board the second evacuation flight back to Canada, Canadian authorities later called back and informed her that she would be allowed to board the plane.
“I was depressed at first and my wife cried when we were told she couldn’t walk,” Yuan told Reuters before the flight took off. “But a few hours later the tears turned to surprise, happiness and doubt.”
Only when they boarded the plane together could they finally feel relieved, Yuan said.
Canada’s chief medical officer, Theresa Tam, said Monday eight members of the Canadian Armed Forces escorting the first flight to and from Wuhan have been released from quarantine, as have five other members of the flight crew.
“It is understandable that many in the public are concerned about the virus, but the misinformation and rumors that continue to circulate only undermine our response to the outbreak,” Tam said. (Writing from Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa; additional reporting by Caroline Pailliez in Paris and Moira Warburton in Toronto; additional reporting by Shariq Khan in Bengaluru; editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
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