Date Published: 30/01/2020
ARCHIVED - Preparations to repatriate Spanish nationals from Wuhan as another coronavirus alarm is reported in Málaga
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Approximately 20 Spaniards are hoping to fly out of central China to be quarantined in Madrid
As the national government prepares to evacuate the 20 or Spanish people who are in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak which has so far caused 170 deaths, another scare has been reported in Spain itself with the isolation in Málaga of a patient who it is thought could have become infected.
The man has been admitted and isolated in the Hospital Regional de Málaga while simples are analysed to determine whether he is infected with coronavirus 2019-nCoV, having sought medical attention for flu-like symptoms. However, it has been established that he has been in contact with people from close to Wuhan and in consequence the coronavirus protocol has been activated at least until the results of the tests are known.
Earlier this week another alarm was lifted in the hospital of Torrevieja in the province of Alicante, where an Icelandic woman was placed in isolated care: within 24 hours the tests had proved negative and she was allowed home. Neither is this such an unusual occurrence, and in Málaga alone it is reported that as many as six potential coronavirus cases have been ruled out since the start of this week.
Meanwhile, the intention of the government is still to repatriate the Spanish nationals currently in Wuhan, despite the apparent opposition of the Chinese government and a WHO recommendation that this is not an advisable course of action. An aircraft which was due to evacuate British nationals on Thursday has not yet been allowed to take off as the relevant permits from China have not been forthcoming, and it is probable that similar problems will be faced by the Spanish evacuation operation.
Chinese nationals are not being allowed to leave the country as the government imposes strict containment strategies in order to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, and the risks of allowing people to leave are illustrated by a flight which did receive permission to take off and carry around 200 Japanese nationals back to their home country. On arrival three of them were found to have contracted the virus although in two of the cases no symptoms had yet developed, and there are inevitably worries over whether other passengers in the same aircraft have been infected during the flight.
Assuming the Spanish nationals are allowed to fly back to this country it has been announced that they will be placed in quarantine for a fortnight, the maximum incubation period of the coronavirus. The quarantine details have not been fully finalized but the isolation unit on the 22nd floor of the Hospital Gómez Ulla in Madrid has been advised of the imminent arrival of those being repatriated from Wuhan.
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