Coronavirus: Details of how 147 S.Africans in quarantined Wuhan will be repatriated

Off the back of President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement last week - where he confirmed officials would assist in bringing home over 100 South Africans living in the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak - Health Minister Zweli Mkhize outlined, to an extent, on how the process would work. 

To date, COVID-19 has claimed over 3 000 lives globally with more than 90 000 infections. It has spread to more than 60 countries - three of which are on the African continent: Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria.

In SA there has already been a number of potential cases with 121 people having being tested for the virus - all of which have tested negative. 

There are roughly 199 nationals – that government is aware of - living in Wuhan, of those, 147 have come forward requesting to be repatriated meanwhile, 16 of whom have declined the offer to return home. 

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"We have noted that other areas of China do not represent a high risk for exposure to COVID-19, and so the citizens under lockdown in Wuhan have been prioritised."

READ: WHO says window of opportunity to stem virus 'narrowing' as cases soar

Government also wants to make it clear that, "accusations that the government prioritised diplomatic relations with China and accusations that government is sending mixed messages are ill-informed, mischievous and are an attempt to create sensation and controversy on a matter that requires single-minded focus of all to ensure the safety of all South African citizens."

- Evacuation -

The South African Military, DIRCO and Chinese authorities have joined forces to overlook this procedure. First, the 147 nationals will be rounded-up for pre-screening, any individual found to have systems (read below) will not be evacuated and will be subjected to the Chinese health system.

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The citizens will then aboard a chartered aircraft 'under strict quarantine protocols', there they will be escorted by a Multi-Disciplinary Medical Team who will conduct inflight screening and provide medical care. "All support staff coming into direct contact with the repatriates will also fall into the quarantine protocol."

- Quarantine: The Zone - 

Government has not disclosed where these individuals will be quarantined; however, according to a Sunday Times report they will be accommodated  at a private resort in the Free State. 

Mkhize says government has identified a facility "that meets all the requirements" to house the patients. "There will be a medical facility installed as per standard military procedures, and the quarantine facility will be collaborating closely with the designated facilities for Coronavirus in the country."

He outlines the process below. 

· "There will be a perimeter line that will be guarded by the military. Within that perimeter, the area will be declared a no-entry zone and a no-flight zone. Those under quarantine will not be allowed to exit the perimeter but will be allowed to move freely within the perimeter."

· "No-one will be allowed to enter the Zone. There will be a "no man's land" strip to accommodate the collection of goods whereby there is zero contact between the deliverers and the collectors."

· "I must reiterate that no family members, friends or associates of those under quarantine may visit the Zone. We plead with the media to respect the boundaries and not make attempts to enter the quarantine zone."

· "Support staff in the facility will also be subject to quarantine protocols the entire quarantine period will be 21 days duration to allow for arrival and phased exit."

· "Legal action will be taken against any individual that goes against the stipulated regulations in relation to quarantine. On arrival, all quarantine members will be briefed and tested, and there will be screening done at predetermined intervals."

· "Should someone develop symptoms they would be immediately isolated for further testing. Should the patient test positive for Coronavirus, they would immediately be transferred to a designated referral facility."

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· "Should there be multiple cases of Coronavirus the project would be escalated to a multi-isolation system whereby quarantine members would then be confined to their rooms for the entire duration."

· "For every incident of confirmed Coronavirus, the quarantine period starts again at D- Day (or day one)."

- Reunification - 

If, after the 21-day quarantine is 'incident-free,' where all 147 have tested negative - the subjects would then be allowed to leave the Zone and reintegrate themselves into society. "There will be continued contact with the citizens thereafter. All affected equipment, venues, facilities will be subjected to decontamination protocols."

-What to know -

A 24-hour clinician hotline has been set up, as well as a working hours hotline for the public. In the event of an outbreak in SA the public hotline would become a 24-hour hotline. 

The World Health Organization says the incubation period lasts up to 14 days, but some researchers say it may be up to 24 days. It is unclear how many mild cases are unreported. Scientists are scrambling to create a vaccine to treat the virus. 

Elderly and people with pre-existing conditions are said to be most at vulnerable in contracting the virus. 

Anyone experiencing symptoms, even if mild, after travelling from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days, is advised to self-quarantine themselves. 

Thousands of new cases are being reported each day. However, analysts believe the accurate scale could be ten times larger than official figures. Outbreaks have now occurred in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

WHO said it is concerned with the spike of new cases outside China as the window of opportunity to contain the virus is 'narrowing'.