It has been confirmed the South African Airways aircraft, carried 114 civilians, evacuated from the coronavirus epicentre in China this week, 14 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and 18 medical personnel. 

Deputy Health Minister, Joe Phaahla is amongst the happy South Africans that have warmly welcomed the group via social media. 

The group will board buses that will transport to them to the Ranch Resort under Protea Hotels, where they will be quarantined for a period of 14 days.

Phaahla says they are optimistic the group will get through this period and be able to see their loved ones in due course.

It has been reported that 58 of the civilians evacuated from Wuhan, are from the North West and Free State provinces. 

In mid-February, the Chinese government represented by Consulate-General, Tang Zhongdong, attempted to, in a Bloemfontein briefing, assure anxious parents of the Free State government bursary recipients studying in the country amidst the devastating outbreak, that their children were safe and were being actively protected. Zhongdong’s attempts did little to allay concerns.

At the time Zhongdong confirmed that more than 60 Free State bursary recipients studying in Hubei province, with the vast majority of this number studying at Wuhan University and the Wuhan University of Science and Technology.

With only 56 Free Staters confirmed to be returning to the country, it is yet to be determined how many students opted to stay in Wuhan instead.

More than 145 000 are confirmed to have contracted the virus, while more than 5400 people have died.

In South Africa, 24 cases have been confirmed thus far.

OFM News