Share
RIVERSIDE — Nearly 200 evacuees prepared Tuesday to end their two-week quarantine at a Southern California military base where they have been living since flying out of China during a deadly viral outbreak.
The group, which includes children, arrived Jan. 29, taking a chartered flight from Wuhan. The locked-down city of 11 million is the epicenter of the virus that has claimed more than 1,000 lives worldwide.
The group — which set up classes and activities to make the most of their time — had a party Monday and planned to gather for a photo before heading out, said Matthew McCoy, one of the evacuees.
Once they pass final screenings, most will be bused to catch flights at Ontario International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, said Jose Arballo Jr., a spokesman for Riverside County’s public health agency. Some will get individual rides and about two dozen people will stay overnight to catch flights Wednesday, he said.

Fear of the Disease Has Led to ‘Unacceptable’ Treatment
In the United States, there have been only 13 confirmed cases, including seven in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health officials.
The evacuees, which include U.S. State Department workers and their families, were isolated from base personnel and weren’t permitted to leave a fenced quarantine area, Kaiser said.
“People on and off the base are not at increased risk for exposure,” Kaiser said.
“There have been comments made that have been hurtful — both in person and on social media — that are often based on incorrect or incomplete information,” Kaiser said. “A few base workers have even been accosted in uniform. This is not acceptable, and needs to stop.”
With One Exception, None Have Tested Positive for the Novel Coronavirus
Hundreds of evacuees in the past two weeks were flown to military bases in California, Texas and Nebraska, where most are still quarantined. With one exception, none have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, health authorities said. That exception was an evacuee who flew into Marine Air Station Miramar in San Diego last week.
The adult and three other evacuees had been in hospital isolation after showing symptoms of the virus but on Sunday, federal health officials said they had tested negative and they were sent back to the base, where they joined more than 200 people.
On Monday, however, CDC officials informed county health officials that “further testing revealed that one of the four patients tested positive” and was returned to hospital isolation. Another evacuee from Miramar also was hospitalized for evaluation Monday afternoon, UC San Diego Health said in a statement.
“Both patients are doing well and have minimal symptoms,” the statement said.
Five evacuees taken to Travis Air Force Base, located between San Francisco and Sacramento, were hospitalized after showing symptoms of the virus but no cases have been confirmed, authorities said.
No symptoms were reported among evacuees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio or a Nebraska National Guard training base in Omaha.
RELATED TOPICS:
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap
5 hours ago
California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law
9 hours ago
Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy
12 hours ago
Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump
13 hours ago
No. 15 Overall Seed UCLA Eases Past Fresno State Behind a Season-High 22 Hits
13 hours ago
Judge and Ohtani Light Up the First Inning With Historic Homers in Yankees-Dodgers Rematch
13 hours ago
Chapman Homers, Harrison Pitches Five Scoreless Innings as Giants Beat Marlins
14 hours ago
General Is a Good Boy — in English and Spanish
15 hours ago

Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants

Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices

Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap

California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law

Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy

Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump
