KYIV, Feb 19 – All 48 Ukrainian and 29 foreign citizens, who were registered for evacuation from Wuhan, came for departure and appear to be healthy, State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Andriy Zayats said Wednesday.

The people that are to be evacuated have stayed in Wuhan, the heart of coronavirus epidemic in China, until the Ukrainian authorities have decided on safe ways to transport then to Ukraine.

All passengers, including eight citizens of Argentina, five – of the Dominican Republic, five – of Ecuador, four – of El Salvador, two of each Kazakhstan and Costa Rica, arrived for boarding, he said at a press conference.

Zayats also noted the citizens of Kazakhstan will leave the plane when it lands in Almaty several hours after the departure from Wuhan.

The crew will also be replaced in Almaty.

Deputy Health Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Koval said the passengers had passed two stages of sanitary control, as well as the passport control procedure, and were undergoing the third stage of sanitary examination.

“All of the passengers are healthy,” Koval said.

A representative of the State Emergency Service, whose personnel is also involved in the transportation of the evacuees to a hospital, where they will be isolated for a quarantine of 14 days, said that the flight is expected to arrive in Ukraine at 08:00 on Thursday, February 20. However, he did not specify at what airport the plane would land and where they would be accommodated during the quarantine.

The accommodation places for the people evacuated from Wuhan have been supplied with necessary medicines and equipment, Koval said.

He emphasized that four such places were determined in various regions of Ukraine and did not specify their exact location.

"There are infectious disease hospitals near the places determined for the accommodation of the evacuees from Wuhan. Speaking about treatment, it is symptomatic and these hospitals are supplied with all necessary equipment and medicines. If necessary, extra medical personnel will be called," he said.

Koval recalled that the foreign citizens, who will be evacuated by the Ukrainian plane, also will be quarantined. Two doctors and the nurse, who will accompany the flight, the crew and the drivers of vehicles will also undergo observation.

"We are completely ready to receive the Ukrainian and foreign citizens. We have taken all necessary measures to prevent the virus from getting in the territory of Ukraine. But if this happens, we will not let it spread. All institutions clearly know their duties," he said. (om/ez)