Australians evacuated from China’s coronavirus-hit city Wuhan arrive on Christmas Island
A dangerous water spout has hit Christmas Island, tearing a roof of a house, just hours after 241 Australians landed to be quarantined for possible exposure to the deadly coronavirus.
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A dangerous water spout has hit Christmas Island, tearing a roof of a house, just hours after 241 Australians landed to be quarantined for possible exposure to the deadly coronavirus.
Images of the aftermath showed extensive damage to cliff front buildings at Flying Fish Cove.
There are no reported injuries.
“(It) only took minutes; residents close by said it sounded like a bomb going off,” an eyewitness told News Corp.
“There were building materials strewn all over the place.”
DEATH TOLL RISES
The coronavirus death toll has climbed again – rising to 427 globally.
The total number of confirmed cases of infection now stands at 20,438, according to Chinese health authorities.
There have been 12 confirmed cases of the mystery bug in Australia.
The new figures come after a new 1000-bed hospital was built in Wuhan – epicentre of the global coronavirus outbreak – in 10 days to treat infected patients.
It opened on Monday, with a second 1600-bed hospital to open later this week.
The death toll rose by 64 in mainland China on Monday, and number of infections rose by 3235 on Tuesday.
Hong Kong has also recorded its first coronavirus death, according to officials.
It was of a 39-year-old man and the second fatality outside mainland China, with the first being in the Philippines on Sunday – a Chinese man, 44, travelling from Wuhan.
Hong Kong officials confirmed the individual had an underlying illness prior to his death.
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There are at least 151 cases in 23 other countries and regions worldwide, including the United States, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia and Britain.
The United States, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and Vietnam are among the countries now denying entry to foreign nationals who have recently been in China.
The nation has confirmed it would welcome assistance from the United States to fight the coronavirus outbreak after it accused Washington of scaremongering.
A one-month-old baby girl has tested positive to the coronavirus.
She is currently living in Huaguo Community, Nanming District, Guiyang City, with her family, according to Chinese authorities.
The baby is undergoing isolation and treatment at the People’s Hospital of Guizhou Province, and is in a stable condition.
The baby had come to Guizhou from another province, Chinese authorities confirmed in a statement.
FOOTAGE OF EVACUEES ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND
The new figures also come as new footage emerges of Border Force personnel enduring wet conditions on Christmas Island as they greet Australians evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Workers donned face masks and protective gear over high-vis jackets as evacuees from the deadly coronavirus’ epicentre alighted the plane and boarded a minibus.
One person was seen carrying a young child.
Seventy-two people were on board the first of four charter flights expected to take more than 240 evacuees to Christmas Island in a remote region of the Indian Ocean.
None of the Christmas Island arrivals have so far shown any signs of having the deadly virus.
However they will spend 14 days in quarantine on the island to ensure they pose no health risk.
A team of specialist doctors and nurses is closely monitoring the evacuees.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed 241 made it to the Island and were being “well looked after”.
A pregnant woman and her partner were separated from the group and instead transferred to Perth where they remain in isolation.
“Thank you to everyone involved in what has been a complex and very challenging operation, from our medical staff, Qantas ground and aircrew to Australian diplomats and other officials,” Mr Morrison said.
“I particularly want to thank the Chinese Government for their cooperative approach.”
We are now working with the Chinese authorities on a possible second assisted departure flight for Australians seeking to leave Wuhan.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) February 4, 2020
We are also working with the New Zealand Government to access seats on their plane, subject to availability.
Meanwhile more than 100 other Australians are expected to join an Air New Zealand charter flight from Wuhan to Auckland.
The first Airbus to Christmas Island left Western Australia’s RAAF Base Learmonth, near Exmouth, on Monday night and touched down on Christmas Island about 9pm local time (1am Tuesday AEDT).
Those on board were among the 243 who had earlier been evacuated from Wuhan via a Qantas flight which arrived at the Learmonth base about 4pm local time on Monday.
Five of the evacuees are under two years old while 89 are younger than 16.
The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre is overseeing their care and said medics on the island had reported all of the evacuees were well.
“They haven’t shown signs of the virus and all going well. God willing, they won’t be showing signs of it and will in 14 days repatriate back home to their nation, Australia,” the centre’s executive director Len Notaras told ABC radio.
Prof Notaras said the evacuees were being kept in discreet clusters of family members or friendship groups.
This will allow medics to effectively manage any emergency on the virus and guard against any widespread transmission among the evacuees.
Prof Notaras said the Christmas Island facility being used to house the group would meet all of their needs.
“I won’t say that it is a salubrious one but it is modern and it is clean,” he said.
A Hercules aircraft also landed containing several vehicles including an ambulance.
Another flight is expected to reach the island later today.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the government would “consider what might be necessary” when asked if a second flight would be organised from Wuhan.
“We are in close consultation with Chinese authorities about a possible second assisted departure flight from Wuhan to Australia,” she said in a post on Twitter.
“As always, we will put the health and safety of all Australians first.
“Thanks to the Chinese Government for its cooperative approach.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said an Air New Zealand evacuation flight had departed and will stop in Hong Kong before continuing on to Wuhan.
It said Chinese authorities had cleared the flight to land late on Tuesday, Wuhan time, which is early morning in New Zealand.
The flight is expected to be back in Auckland late on Wednesday afternoon, New Zealand time.
The number and nationalities of passengers is yet to be confirmed but they will include New Zealanders and possibly Pacific Islanders too.
It is still not clear what will happen to the Australians once the plane lands in Auckland, where they are expected to be put into quarantine. But they could be sent back to Australia.
New Zealand’s government yesterday said it was standing firm on its request for a fee from Kiwis, Australians and their family members looking to leave Wuhan as the coronavirus outbreak continues.
The Australian government axed a mooted $1000 fee from those seeking refuge from the Chinese city, ahead of their uplift on Monday.
Jacinda Ardern defended her government’s choice to charge its citizens $NZ500 ($A483) – as well as any Australians or Pacific Islanders – seeking a route to New Zealand.
There have been 12 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia.
Foreign travellers who have left or passed through China will be denied entry to Australia to limit the spread of the virus.
HEALTH OFFICERS AT SYDNEY AIRPORT
Health officers will remain stationed at Sydney Airport indefinitely as authorities work towards containing the novel coronavirus in NSW.
“While there are planes flying and people coming back from China we will have a presence at the airport to support our commonwealth officials and the border,” NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Tuesday.
“Every person coming from mainland China are identified by border force officers and are then taken to a special area where the screening is occurring.
“We have now tested and excluded the disease in about 173 patients so far and this morning (Tuesday) we had another 15 negative tests come through.”
The number of confirmed cases across the state remains at four with a further 29 currently under currently investigation.
Dr Chant said of those being assessed there are 17 males and 12 females whose ages range from one to 57-years-old.
AUSSIE STUCK ON SHIP DURING OUTBREAK
An Adelaide couple on a cruise through Asia say they have been “rejected again” and are feeling unloved after the Holland America liner was denied entry to several scheduled ports due to the coronavirus threat.
Grandparents David Holst and his wife Judy are on board Holland America’s MS Westerdam, which entered Hong Kong on Saturday resulting in a planned stopover in Manila being cancelled when authorities denied the boat entry.
Mr Holst posted on Sunday on his Facebook page: “It was greed and stupidity when Holland America sent our ship into Hong Kong yesterday given HK is on red alert, the highest level you can have around the virus and other cruise lines were cancelling HK stops as HK is the gateway to China”.
He said the crew “did not even bother to offer face masks to passengers going ashore” so they disembarked using their own and they “did not see any temperature screening for those 700-800 joining the cruise”.
He described sanitation prevention on the liner as “ordinary” and said they were not amused as it was totally avoidable if Holland America had acted “more responsibly”.
Mr Holst said planned stops at Hualien in Taiwan on Tuesday had now also been cancelled, but the liner was heading to Kaohsiung further south on Wednesday.
“I am feeling unloved,” he said, blaming Holland America for the disruption to the itinerary by “recklessly went to Hong Kong”.
Mr Holst said there were “plenty of Aussies” on board, including others from Adelaide, and criticised the cruise company for only really caring “about dollars”.
Hong Kong has recorded 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus. This figure is included in the global total of 20,438.
AUSTRALIANS LAND IN WA AFTER EVACUATION FROM WUHAN
On Monday, the coronavirus evacuation plane used to transport 243 Australian citizens and permanent residents – including 89 children under the age of 16, of whom five are aged under two – landed in Western Australia.
Qantas Flight 6032 touched down at the RAAF Base Learmonth near Exmouth in WA’s north at 4.09pm WA time on Monday afternoon.
Evacuees had their health checked and were split into groups of between 50 and 70 people before boarding smaller planes to travel Christmas Island.
Some of the travellers had an extended stay in WA as they waited for a spot on a smaller charter plane to be taken to the isle.
Passengers on the later flights stayed in “transit accommodation” at the RAAF base in Learmonth.
The flight’s landing came as footage emerged showing the inside of the evacuation plane used to transport Australians from the city where deadly coronavirus outbreak first originated – Wuhan, China.
The evacuees were seen wearing masks and sporting sombre expressions as they waited and received immigration and medical checks, and wrist bands to mark they are ready to board after a five hour delay in China.
On-board the aircraft, Australians were met with meals on their seats and complimentary kits – marked clinical waste – including face masks, hand wipes and sanitiser.
Among the evacuees, professional roller bladers Josh Nielzen, of Sydney, and Rob Kellett, of Brisbane, who were on tour in China, could be seen on-board the flight.
Kellett had left behind his girlfriend of three years in Wuhan and was seen saying in a video: “Who knows what the right choice was but it’s the safer one.”
In a message to his father, shared on social media, Nielzen showed his enthusiasm for the flight to Christmas Island with an update and selfie.
“Hey dad just thought I’d give you the latest update,” he said.
“There’s a flight leaving here in five hours and I’m at the airport.”
Nielzen’s father responded: “Great news Josh.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said: “The Qantas flight also successfully delivered a significant quantity of medical protection supplies to support China in battling this virus.
“That includes specialised face masks, protective suits, goggles, gloves, with an absolute focus on the safety of Australians at home and abroad.”
Chief Medical Officer Professor Murphy said: “The death rate is still around two per cent, the severity rate is still around 18 per cent, with most of the growth in the Hubei province of China.”
Prof Murphy said he did not know how long Australia’s travel ban on non-citizens coming from China would be in place at this early stage.
“I think it’s really hard to tell at the moment,” he said.
The emergency Qantas flight evacuating 250 Australians out of Wuhan, China has touched down at Learmonth Airbase. They’ve still got a long journey ahead of them @7NewsPerth @7NewsAustralia pic.twitter.com/y3N1EQFfbj
— Elle Georgiou (@ElleGeorgiou) February 3, 2020
“It all depends on how well the Chinese government can control the outbreak in Hubei and the rest of China.
“The Chinese authorities have started to reduce travel from China and if the outbreak spreads further in other provinces, they are likely to restrict anyway so the travel ban perhaps is less important, restricting exit anyway.”
BORDER FORCE HEAVY HANDED ON CHINESE STUDENTS: UNI OFFICIALS
Senior university executives slammed Border Force officers for putting Chinese students who arrived in Australia on Sunday in detention.
The tertiary officials claim the students had their belongings confiscated and valid visas cancelled, with some also being subjected to hours of interrogation, The Australian reports.
Border force officers intercepted about 70 Chinese students across Melbourne and Brisbane airports.
Some refused entry were already on their way to Australia when Scott Morrison announced the travel ban.
On Monday eight students were still under guard in a Brisbane serviced apartment complex.
“The government treated the students absolutely disgracefully,” one university official said, according to The Australian.
Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson also criticised the move.
“These reports are very disturbing and have been the subject of discussions with government today. We expect swift action to remedy the situation,” Ms Jackson told The Australian.
“At this hugely difficult time, the welfare and safety of all of our students is our top priority. We hope to welcome these students into our communities as soon as possible.”
THREE INFECTED PATIENTS ‘NO LONGER A THREAT’
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said three of the four confirmed patients with coronavirus had been released from hospital and were no longer a threat to the public.
“We still only have four patients that have been confirmed to have the novel coronavirus infection in NSW,” Dr Chant said.
“No new patients have been confirmed, I note that the total across Australia is 12 patients.”
“Three of the patients were discharged and are doing well, one of the patients remains hospitalised but in a stable condition.
“For the utmost precaution they (the three) were asked to isolate for seven days after discharge and there will be repeat testing. The public can be confident that they pose no risk.
“We currently have 24 suspected patients that are under investigation and pleasingly we have cleared 134 people who have tested negative for the infection.”
Dr Chant said health authorities would remain stationed at Sydney Airport to screen for further potential cases.
“On Sunday February 2 we met 1680 people who were screened by the NSW Health team and nine were referred for testing and all of those tests came back negative,” she said.
“On Monday as of 2pm we screened another 1500 returning from China, six were referred to testing and we’re expecting around another 400 who will be screened this afternoon.”
Dr Chant said people who have not been in direct contact with people from Wuhan or mainland China would not need to come forward for testing at this stage.
INSIDE THE RESCUE FLIGHT
The volunteer Qantas crew manning the Boeing 747 which will fly stranded Australians out of the Chinese city of Wuhan were ready “to get this done”, the airline’s CEO says.
Hundreds of citizens and residents were due at the weekend to be flown from the epicentre of the coronavirus to Exmouth in northern Western Australia, before being taken to Christmas Island where they will be quarantined.
The Qantas plane carrying four pilots and 14 cabin crew took off from Wuhan in Hubei province in central China at the weekend.
The plane was due to land at the RAAF Base Learmonth near Exmouth in Western Australia’s north about 2.30pm WST on Monday. The flight ended up landing about 4.09pm local time.
The passengers were then taken to Christmas Island in smaller aircraft where they will be quarantined.
Last week, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce paid tribute to the crew who volunteered for the mission.
“I spoke to the crew last night and through FaceTime video and they were all very keen to get this done and get the Aussies out,” Mr Joyce said.
“We put in a whole series of protections for these volunteers to make sure that they are protected.
“The flight is on the ground in Wuhan at the moment.”
Passengers went through health checks before boarding and wore surgical masks.
There was a limited food and beverage service to minimise interaction between crew and passengers, and the 747 plane was thoroughly cleaned afterwards.
Mr Joyce said the crew had masks, gloves and sanitisers, and would be placed on the upper deck of the aircraft.
“They are there for safety reasons,” Mr Joyce said.
“In-flight, there is water left on the seats. The crew go back to the upper deck, which is sealed.”
AUSTRALIAN STOCKS DIVE AMID VIRUS FEARS
Australian stocks dive amid virus fears Australian shares have been hammered at the start of trading amid continued fears about the impact on the global economy of the coronavirus epidemic.
The Australian benchmark S & P/ASX200 index was down 113.4 points, or 1.62 per cent, at 6903.8 at 1015 AEDT on Monday, while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 120.1 points, or 1.69 per cent, to 7001.1.
The hardest hit was the energy sector, with the index down 3.77 per cent after 15 minutes of trade The Australian dollar was buying 66.87 US cents, down from 67.19 US as the market closed on Friday.
QLD TOURISM TAKING A HIT
Far north Queensland’s tourism sector has already lost $10 million to the coronavirus outbreak as travel bans from China hit hard.
Cairns and Great Barrier Reef tourism operators have reported more than 25,000 direct cancellations of visitor experiences and accommodation as a result of the outbreak.
International visitors were down by 60 to 70 per cent in January.
The same is forecast for February, a time of the year when Chinese visitors usually pump about $25 million a month into the regional economy.
AUSTRALIA IMPOSES TRAVEL BAN
The federal government announced foreign travellers who left or passed through China would be denied entry to Australia to offset the risk of the virus spreading.
Federal health minister Greg Hunt confirmed an Australian medical assistance team with a mobile hospital had also arrived in the former detention centre of Christmas Island.
“Personnel are in place to receive the passengers from Wuhan and we expect that the flight will be collecting within the next 24 hours,” Mr Hunt told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
The health minister also confirmed more strict screenings would be in place for passengers arriving not only from Hubei province but all mainland China.
People who have been in mainland China since the start of February – excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan – are now advised to self-isolate.
Australians are also being told not to travel to mainland China.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday foreign travellers who have left or passed through China will be denied entry to Australia aiming to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families, dependants, legal guardians and spouses, will be exempted from the strict measures,” Mr Morrison said.
“If you’ve been in mainland China from the 1st of February and you’re not an Australian citizen [ …] do not travel to Australia at this time,” Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram said.
“If you arrive in Australia … your visa will be cancelled and you will be placed in an alternative place of detention for a quarantine period.”
Mr Outram told reporters 71 passengers were not allowed to board their plane in China overnight and 12 flights were cancelled on Sunday.
As a result of this decision, Football Federation Australia advised the Asian Football Confederation it will now not be possible to play the first match of the AFC Champions League 2020 in Australia.
– with AAP