Qantas flight leaves Wuhan after six-hour delay
Hundreds of Australian citizens and permanent residents have been evacuated out of Wuhan after a six-hour delay, leaving the centre of the coronavirus outbreak. The 243 passengers are now on a Qantas flight travelling over the South China sea. The plane is expected to land at Learmonth RAAF base in Western Australia at 4.45pm AEDT. From there they will be transported by military planes to Christmas Island, where they will be separated into their families and quarantined for two weeks. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said 89 of the passengers were aged under 16, including five under two. Senator Payne said the delay was caused by extensive medical and immigration checks for those travelling. "We have prioritised vulnerable and isolated Australians," she said. The Qantas flight also delivered medical protection supplies including masks, protective suits, goggles and gloves to China. The mainland has been battling healthcare shortages as the number of confirmed cases of the flu-like disease swells to 17,318, with 362 deaths. Australians still trapped in Hubei province are expecting a second flight to arrive within days to take them out of Wuhan. Australian evacuees will have to show identification and a note from the Department of Foreign Affairs in order to pass through road blocks.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2020-02-03/oneworld/qantas-flight-leaves-wuhan-after-six-hour-delay
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Qantas flight leaves Wuhan after six-hour delay
Hundreds of Australian citizens and permanent residents have been evacuated out of Wuhan after a six-hour delay, leaving the centre of the coronavirus outbreak. The 243 passengers are now on a Qantas flight travelling over the South China sea. The plane is expected to land at Learmonth RAAF base in Western Australia at 4.45pm AEDT. From there they will be transported by military planes to Christmas Island, where they will be separated into their families and quarantined for two weeks. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said 89 of the passengers were aged under 16, including five under two. Senator Payne said the delay was caused by extensive medical and immigration checks for those travelling. "We have prioritised vulnerable and isolated Australians," she said. The Qantas flight also delivered medical protection supplies including masks, protective suits, goggles and gloves to China. The mainland has been battling healthcare shortages as the number of confirmed cases of the flu-like disease swells to 17,318, with 362 deaths. Australians still trapped in Hubei province are expecting a second flight to arrive within days to take them out of Wuhan. Australian evacuees will have to show identification and a note from the Department of Foreign Affairs in order to pass through road blocks.<br/>
