Repatriation team to bring South Africans home from coronavirus epicentre Wuhan

‘Our repatriation team in high spirits and ready to bring our children home.’ Image via: @DrZweliMkhize Twitter

Coronavirus: What we know about South Africans returning from Wuhan

South Africans from coronavirus epicentre Wuhan are returning home on Friday the 13th. As superstitious as one may be, it is no cause for panic.

Repatriation team to bring South Africans home from coronavirus epicentre Wuhan

‘Our repatriation team in high spirits and ready to bring our children home.’ Image via: @DrZweliMkhize Twitter

On Tuesday night, a plane carrying staff from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) flew to the coronavirus outbreak epicentre, Wuhan, to bring home 122 South Africans. 

According to an Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) statement, the repatriated citizens will land on South African soil on Friday the 13th — a date which holds its own controversy. 

Before anyone panics, especially those who are superstitious, one should be aware that the government has plans in order for the safe return of those South Africans as well as us remaining citizens.

Here’s how the repatriation process will take place. 

Coronavirus: How many South Africans can we expect to return home? 

According to the statement, 122 South Africans will be brought home on Friday. There were more, however, that at the last minute, decided to remain in Wuhan. 

Originally the government received over 180 requests from the citizens residing in Wuhan to be repatriated back to South Africa. However, some of them indicated to the government their decision to stay on at their respective commitments in Wuhan.

When can we expect the repatriated citizens? 

According to the statement, the exact time of arrival has not been confirmed, however, we know they will land on Friday. 

The IMTT has listed a full itinerary of the travel plans: 

  • The SANDF flight leaves from OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday 10 March at 21:00;
  • Onboard the flight will be the flight crew from the aircraft company and a total of 15 officials from the Department of Health and the Department of Defense (Military Health); 
  • The flight will stopover in the Philippines on 11 March for refuelling, to rest and to re-stock essential foodstuffs needed for the journey;
  • The aircraft will then fly to Wuhan City; 
  • Upon arrival, the team will work with our Chinese counterparts, screen repatriates for the coronavirus and checking required travel documents; and
  • The flight will leave Wuhan City in the early hours of the morning and land back in South Africa on Friday 13 March. 

Will those South Africans have the coronavirus? 

The IMTT has assured citizens that the repatriated South Africans are showing no signs or symptoms of the coronavirus. 

“We reiterate that no South Africans coming home returning home are showing any symptoms of the coronavirus.”

Therefore, there is no reason to panic just yet. The IMTT has pleaded with citizens to welcome those South Africans with open arms as they begin to rebuild their lives in their communities. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has also assured the country that the South Africans returning home are healthy. 

What happens once they land? 

All repatriated citizens will be quarantined upon their arrival back home with SANDF. The quarantine period will be extended should any person start to display symptoms. 

“The IMTT would also like to confirm, as initially reported, that the repatriated citizen will be quarantined for an initial period of 21 days which may be extended should any person display symptoms of COVID-19 [coronavirus] at the identified site,” it said. 

After the mandated quarantined period, those citizens who are cleared will be re-integrated into their respective communities and be reunited with their families.

At the appropriate time, the quarantine site for the coronavirus will be announced and the details of the site management plan will be shared with members of the public and the media. 

As it stands, no information has been given as to where the quarantine site will be or in which province the repatriated citizens will be landing in. 

The Citizen, however, did report that the Ranch Resort near Polokwane has been identified as a quarantine proximity point for these citizens.

General manager of The Ranch Resort Paul Shearer, confirmed that the establishment was identified as the quarantine proximity point for the coronavirus. 

He did, however, stress that the location would be used for quarantine purposes, and not for patients who needed to be in isolation.

Zweli Mkhize says we must not fear the coronavirus 

According to EWN, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the operation to bring home 122 South Africans from Wuhan, is aimed at restoring calm.

“These are South Africans who were yearning to come back home and requested the government to help them to come back. So, it’s important for South Africans to know that this is a humanitarian exercise and we are actually trying to make sure that we are united with our South Africans and people must not feel so anxious about it,” Mkhize said.

“South Africans must not fight about it, be angry or fear it, we must just unite as South Africans. We are not bringing people because they’re sick; they’re healthy and there is no problem with them,” he added.