As the new coronavirus continues to infect thousands in China, 178 passengers arrived Wednesday at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield on a flight from its epicenter near Wuhan.
The Northern California base, which will serve as a quarantine site for evacuees, marks the first time in 50 years that the government has issued a quarantine order, according to Dr. Henry Walke with the Centers for Disease Control.
“Based on our experience with other coronaviruses, we don’t believe these people pose a risk to this community,” Walke said .
Most of the passengers on the flight are American citizens, according to a spokesperson with the CDC.
A child on the flight had a fever, and Walke said an attempt was made to quarantine them during the trip.
“The child is being evaluated at this point and will be put in isolation and tested,” he said.
The coronavirus first emerged in the city of Wuhan in early December. As of Wednesday, there are a reported 28,000 cases and 563 deaths, most of them in China.
A dozen coronavirus cases have been documented in 12 U.S. states, including California.
Travis Air Force Base plans to host two public forums for service members and their families about the passengers, who face up to 14 days in quarantine.
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