Coronavirus: Kiwi evacuees from Wuhan expected in New Zealand late on Wednesday

Monday, 3 February 2020

The Air New Zealand flight was chartered by the Government last week to bring home anyone in Wuhan. (File photo)

The Air New Zealand charter flight to evacuate New Zealanders from China's coronavirus epicentre is scheduled to leave Auckland late on Monday and arrive in Wuhan on Tuesday.

Evacuees were expected back in this country late Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.

Coronavirus quarantine centre, north of Auckland.

'We have been informed by Chinese authorities that the New Zealand flight into Wuhan has been given a landing slot late Tuesday evening, 4 February Wuhan time (5 February, early morning NZT),' the statement said.

'Officials are working with Chinese authorities and Air New Zealand to finalise flight details.

In Wuhan, a 25,000 square metre emergency specialty field hospital is nearly finished It has a capacity of 1000 beds, to treat patients from the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

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'Mfat is in touch with those who have requested to leave Wuhan and return to New Zealand on the flight. The number of passengers travelling or a breakdown of nationalities is yet to be confirmed,' Mfat said.

'This remains a complex operation with many issues still being worked through including visa requirements and transport logistics. Officials are working to resolve these as quickly as possible.'

It's understood the flight is NZ6001 which was scheduled to depart Auckland at 11.55pm on Monday, bound for Hong Kong. The plane is a Boeing 777-200.

New Zealand and Pacific Island citizens on the flight will be quarantined for 14 days at a military facility on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, north of Auckland.

On Sunday, Health Minister Dr David Clark said it was expected any Australian citizens and residents would be transferred at Auckland Airport on to a dedicated flight across the Tasman.

Chinese authorities were already conducting temperature checks for all passengers departing Wuhan.

New Zealand St John staff and an Air New Zealand doctor would conduct further health checks before boarding, Clark said. 'These checks will ensure all passengers are fit to fly.'

Infection control gear would be worn by staff on the plane whenever they came into close contact with passengers, and health staff would monitor passengers, who would be provided with facemasks.

'The charter flight will land some distance from the main terminal in Auckland, and further health screening will be conducted.'

The flight could take up to 300 people. Somewhere between 60-70 New Zealanders had indicated they want to be on the flight and the remainder would be nationals from Tonga, Samoa and Australia, Clark said on Sunday.

Previously Mfat said passengers on the evacuation flight would be charged $500.