Coronavirus: ‘Infection flight’ to Christmas Island detention? Pass

Faced with the choice of staying in Wuhan or boarding a flight to Christmas Island, Malcolm Scriber is resolute.

Malcolm Scriber with his wife Wenjuan and children Eli, 3, and Luna, 11 months, at his in-laws’ apartment in Wuhan on Friday. Picture: June Scriber

Faced with the choice of keeping his wife and young children in the coronavirus hotbed of Hubei province or boarding a $1000-a-head Qantas flight to Christmas Island, Hobart-based public servant Malcolm Scriber is resolute: the family is staying put in Wuhan.

Mr Scriber and his family, who are midway through a month-long holiday in China visiting relatives, are among the estimated 450 Australians in Wuhan who won’t be joining the Australian government’s evacuation flight when it leaves the city this weekend. For Mr Scriber, the reason is simple: he doesn’t want his family to spend hours on a plane that could be carrying virus-infected ­passengers.

The hefty cost, combined with a two-week wait in isolation in one of the island’s infamous detention centres, makes the federal government’s offer of an escape from Wuhan via a Qantas flight even less attractive.

Speaking from the apartment owned by his Chinese-born wife’s family, Mr Scriber said he felt comfortable for the time being and didn’t want to risk the flight.

“I don’t like the idea of being in a confined space with a bunch of possibly ill people for 11 hours, or however long it would take,” he said. “And I don’t like the idea of being in the detention centre. I’d rather stay somewhere where I’m comfortable and make it home when I can make it home.”

A fortnight ago, Mr Scriber, his mum June, wife Wenjuan and children Eli, 3, and Luna, 11 months, were enjoying the picturesque riverfront gardens of Wuhan. They’re now confined to a small apartment in the central Chinese city of 11 million, unable to leave the building, let alone the country.

They’ve resigned themselves to the fact that Luna will celebrate her first birthday inside their makeshift home in a few days.

Mr Scriber said his wife was eager to be with her extended family as they faced the rapidly spreading disease.

“She wants to stay here until it’s all over in case something happens with her family,” he said. “She wants to be close to them.”

June, who lives next door to her son in Hobart, has also turned down the chance to return to Australia on the Qantas flight.

“I’m not sure how I’d make my way to the airport and then spend $1000 to go to Christmas Island,” Ms Scriber said.

“People on the plane could ­potentially have the virus.”