Europeans evacuated from Hubei arrive home to coronavirus quarantine

European citizens are gradually arriving home after being evacuated from the Hubei province in China due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

In Frankfurt, a quarantine center stayed empty while a military jet carrying 120 evacuated German nationals was delayed. It was forced to refuel at Helsinkiinstead of Moscow after Russian authorities said their airport was at capacity. On Friday, 83 British citizens arrived home; they are now in quarantine for two weeks, as are 200 repatriated French nationals.

Many countries including Hungary are sending medical equipment and masks to Hubei to ease the immense pressure on hospitals. Concern over the virus spreading further has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency.

Italy has declared a national emergency after confirming its first two cases. Spain confirmed its first case after a man was diagnosed on the remote island of La Gomera.

Researchers are racing to develop a vaccine but say it is still many months away. Christophe d'Enfert, Head of Biology at the Pasteur Institute, said "We're hoping, if everything goes well, that we can create a vaccine built on the measles virus platform available in approximately 20 months."

The World Health Organization is set to hold its annual executive committee meeting next week. It hasn't issued any specific health measures for travelers but says anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness should seek medical attention and share with their doctor their travel history.

(CGTN)