Health

Coronavirus: Brazilians in Wuhan to be repatriated

They will be quarantined under the supervision of the Health Ministry

Agência Brasil

Published on 03/02/2020 - 11:12

Brasília

Um trabalhador desinfeta a praça em frente à Estação Ferroviária Hankou, fechada após o fechamento da cidade de Wuhan após o surto de um novo coronavírus, em Wuhan, província de Hubei, China, 23 de janeiro de 2020. Diário da China via REUTERS — © CHINA DAILY/Reuters/direitos reservados

Diagnóstico laboratorial de casos suspeitos do novo coronavírus (2019-nCoV), realizado pelo Laboratório de Vírus Respiratório e do Sarampo do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz), que atua como Centro de Referência Nacional em Vírus — © Divulgação/Josué Damacena (IOC/Fiocruz)

Brazil’s Foreign and Defense Ministries announced the government is adopting all necessary measures to bring back the Brazilian nationals in the city of Wuhan, in the Hubei province, China, the epicenter of the new coronavirus epidemic.

They will be quarantined right after landing in Brazil, as per international protocol and under the supervision of health officials, a note issued on Sunday (Feb. 2) by the two ministries says.

The Defense Ministry, aided by the Brazilian Air Force, is currently devising a plan for the operation, which may include a chartered plane to be sent to China.

Two Brazilians who were in Wuhan and also held Portuguese citizenship, have boarded the French flight with European Union citizens. They will be quarantined in Portugal.

This Sunday, a group of Brazilians in China published an open letter on YouTube asking for help from the Brazilian government to return to Brazil. In the video, they say they are willing to undergo quarantine after arriving in Brazil.