Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk has said that a plane is ready to evacuate Ukrainians from Wuhan in China where a coronavirus outbreak has been recorded. He added the plane could arrive in Ukraine as early as February 19.
“The entire process of evacuating our people from China is under the absolute control of the government. We have a clear plan of measures, including in logistics, both in China and Ukraine. Our citizens will arrive to the plane in Wuhan in groups and on time, accompanied by the Ukrainian consul and Chinese experts,” he said at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), chaired by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, the president’s press service said.
Honcharuk said there are several facilities in different regions of the country for hosting people for a two-week observation period. These facilities are prepared in accordance with all safety requirements, in full readiness. Other medical facilities are also ready to help, he added.
“We are taking all safety measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The entire team that will work with evacuated people has already received appropriate training from the Center for Public Health. Only people without disease symptoms and with prior consent to undergo a 14-day observation will be able to board the plane.
“The entire crew and the doctors who will accompany the board will also be under a two-week observation,” the prime minister said.
In turn, President Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian state is obliged to return its citizens home.
“This is not a political issue, but a matter of the security of our citizens and the security of the state. And, by law, we must return our citizens to Ukraine,” he said.
