Two chartered aircraft arrived at Travis Air Force Base, California, on Feb. 5 carrying about 350 passengers evacuated from the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak.
The 747s flew from Wuhan, China, and were received at Travis by personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Passengers from one of the planes will be quarantined for 14 days at the Westwind Inn on base, while the other aircraft refueled and continued on to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
“Travis AFB is committed to providing support to our interagency partners, ensuring the safety and welfare of the Team Travis community, all while continuing our primary mission to rapidly project American power anytime … anywhere,” the base said in a statement.
Also on Feb. 5, the Pentagon announced Camp Ashland, Nebraska, will provide housing for up to 75 people who may be quarantined upon returning to the United States.
The Army National Guard facility southwest of Omaha joins Travis; Miramar; March Air Reserve Base, California; Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas; and Fort Carson, Colorado, on the list of DOD installations that are approved to house evacuees.
“DOD personnel will not be in direct contact with the evacuees and will minimize contact with personnel supporting the evacuees,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “Should routine monitoring of the evacuees identify ill individuals, HHS has procedures in place to transport them to a local civilian medical facility.”