Americans Evacuated from Wuhan Arrive in California

The 195 Americans who were evacuated from Wuhan, China, because of the coronavirus outbreak will remain at a military base in Southern California for three days while medical staff monitor their health, federal health officials said Wednesday, as the White House announced the formation of a special task force to handle the U.S. response to the outbreak.

"These people are not under federal quarantine orders," said Dr. Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, the evacuees have voluntarily agreed to a 72-hour "hold" that calls for them to stay at the base both as a precaution and out of concern for others.

Braden said he greeted the passengers after their charter flight, which stopped in Alaska, landed at March Air Reserve Base. "They were happy to be here," he added.

The passengers will stay at the base for three days, they will be actively monitored for the full 14 days of the virus's incubation period, Braden noted.

During the evacuees' stay on base, their blood tests will be sent to the CDC's facilities in Atlanta — meaning their test results should be available within the 72-hour period.