OMAHA, Nebraska - A number of health and government officials gathered today at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to discuss the precautionary measures being taken as Americans living or working in China arrive in Omaha. This is in reaction to the novel coronavirus that is spreading in China. None of the people coming to Nebraska have experienced symptoms but will continue to be monitored for 14 days.
Nebraska National Guard Major General Daryl Bohac stated they will be housed at Camp Ashland. He says, "The lodging facilities we have at Camp Ashland, they are modest hotel rooms, if you will, that typically house military students or soldiers."
Governor Pete Ricketts said, "We have a duty to our fellow Americans to be able to help these rescued folks and make sure we continue to check their safety but safety of all Americans."
Health officials from UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, the Global Center for Health Security, the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services attended today's news conference.
The plane is expected to arrive by Friday evening. Those on the flight will be taken to a secure area at Eppley Airfield and will not be entering the main terminal. They will be medically checked and then taken to Camp Ashland where they will remain in quarantine for the next 14 days. Those arriving are children to adults, both male and female. They had been living in Wuhan, China.
Health officials stress that none of those arriving to Nebraska have shown symptoms of the virus. If they do show signs of illness, they will be taken to the Bio-Containment unit in Omaha.
We will have more details as they become available.
Photo courtesy of 6 News.