A charter flight to evacuate U.S. citizens and diplomats from Wuhan is being arranged by government officials as the Chinese city remains gripped by a coronavirus epidemic, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday morning.
The Boeing 767 is slated to leave China Sunday.
The U.S. consulate in Wuhan is currently reaching out to as many of the estimated 1,000 American citizens in the area as possible, but the WSJ reported the secured charter flight only seats around 230 people. It will, however, provide in-flight U.S. medical personnel for all passengers.
The decision to evacuate – approved by China’s Foreign Ministry and other government agencies – comes as the highly contagious virus that originated in Wuhan has claimed more than 40 lives in China and sickened at least 1,200, the WSJ reported.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
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