Canadians coming from Wuhan will be quarantined at CFB Trenton

By Brittany Woodcock 

BELLEVILLE – Canadian Forces Base Trenton will be the temporary home to Canadians who are being evacuated from Wuhan, China.

The CBC says the first planeload of passengers is expected to arrive Thursday.

When they return to Canada, the passengers will spend 14 days at the Yukon Lodge in the base.

The government chose 14 days as a precautionary measure because it’s the longest incubation period before someone could become sick.

Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance said there is no threat to residents in the area. He also said that crews will wear safety suits and take proper safety precautions while working with the Canadians coming from Wuhan.

In a press conference Monday afternoon, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan said that 16 armed forces personnel, four nurses and two doctors will be on the flight. They’ll help with multiple medical screenings the passengers will have to take.

Minister of Health Patty Hajdu explained what the process will be like for the passengers.

Screenings will first be performed by Chinese authorities before going into the airport that is currently closed. Once they make it into the airport, they will do another screening performed by Canadian Forces medical staff. Then they will board the plane.

If someone becomes sick while onboard, the staff will take the person to a quarantined area and put a mask on them for the rest of the flight. When the plane stops to refuel in Vancouver, anyone who is sick during the trip will be taken off the plane and transported to the nearest medical facility for further treatment.

The rest of the passengers will stay on board until they reach CFB Trenton. At the base, they will go through a final screening then they’ll be taken to the lodge for the remainder of their time in quarantine.

During their time, the passengers will be separated from one another so the entire group won’t be affected if someone has the virus. They’ll be offered social support and mental health services to help adjust to the stressful situation.

Minister Hajdu said CFB Trenton was chosen because “it’s an area that we can support coordinated and contained processing and support services. It also has a facility available to house people in a dignified manner.”

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canadian citizens will be the only ones allowed on the plane. Permanent residents of Canada won’t be allowed to board the plane unless they’re the primary caregiver of a Canadian child.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison said that Quinte Health Care have equipped theirselves to handle the virus and an infection control centre has been created at Trenton Memorial Hospital to deal with anyone who becomes sick while at the base.

There are currently four confirmed cases in Canada. One in British Columbia and three in Ontario.