An Australian man who was trapped in Wuhan says he's nervous about being quarantined on Christmas Island after evacuating from the coronavirus epicentre.
Daniel Ou Yang arrived in Wuhan last month to visit family and celebrate Chinese New Year. Instead, he found himself in the middle of a health crisis.
He was on the Air New Zealand flight carrying evacuees from Wuhan, which touched in Auckland on Wednesday evening. From there, he was taken to a quarantine centre on Christmas Island with 34 other Australians.
Ou Yang shared details of the journey in an editorial and also via video on social media site Tik Tok.
"Everyone's wearing masks, and it was nerve-wracking being around so many people in such close proximity," he wrote for The Guardian.
So far 490 people have died from the virus in China.
Although Ou Yang was not concerned about the flight itself, he said they were told to avoid getting out of their seats if they could.
"Everyone is just trying to avoid contact with each other as much as possible and constantly using hand sanitisers," he wrote for The Guardian. "I have to prepare myself for another long flight back to Christmas Island, a huge detour. I'm nervous about being there.
"I just want to get back home."
Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison told radio station 2GB another rescue flight to Wuhan is currently being arranged.
"We can't pretend there's no impact from a virus like this."
Morrison confirmed on Thursday other options for quarantine facilities are being explored should Christmas Island fill up, 2GB reports.
Back in New Zealand, a Ministry of Health spokesperson said Whangaparaoa was chosen as a quarantine facility due to its size and location.
Those in the facility would receive daily medical checks, the spokesperson said.
