Riverside, CA–This morning, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Department of State received the flight carrying approximately 210 U.S. citizens from Wuhan at March Air Reserve Base in California.
The plane was met by a team of CDC medical officers deployed there to assess the health of the passengers. The passengers have been screened, monitored and evaluated by medical personnel every step of the way, including before takeoff, during the flight, during a refueling in Anchorage, Alaska, and now post-arrival. CDC staff have conducted risk assessments to ensure the health of each traveler, including temperature checks and observing for respiratory symptoms.
CDC will work with the California Department of Public Health and Riverside County Public Health to transport any passenger exhibiting symptoms to a hospital for further evaluation.
Passengers not exhibiting symptoms of exposure, will be asked to stay on the base in housing to allow CDC medical officers to perform more thorough screening and to better understand each individual’s exposure.
