16.57°C Vancouver

Feb 4, 2020 5:37 PM -

Canadians in Wuhan to be evacuated Thursday, government letter says

Share On
canadians-in-wuhan-to-be-evacuated-thursday-government-letter
Flight crew members wearing face masks walk through the international arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. China counted 170 deaths from a new virus Thursday and more countries reported infections, including some spread locally, as foreign evacuees from China's worst-hit region returned home to medical observation and even isolation. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The federal government has notified Canadians waiting to be evacuated from Wuhan, China that they will be flown back to Canada later this week.

The Canadian Press has obtained a copy of a letter sent to Canadians and permanent residents currently in the city that is the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The letter says a flight will depart from Wuhan's international airport early Thursday morning although no time has been given. It also says that due to high demand, the government can't guarantee that everyone who is eligible will be able to board the plane.

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu has said 304 Canadians have asked for assistance to return home but only 280 have Canadian passports. Ottawa has said that upon arrival in Canada, the evacuees will be quarantined at the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton for 14 days.

Latest news

CanadaJul 17, 2026

Brampton man identified as homicide victim after body found in Stoney Creek

Hamilton Police have identified a man whose body was found in a Stoney Creek creek on Wednesday morning as 29-year-old Taranpreet Singh Sidhu of Brampton. Investigators have confirmed the case is being treated as a homicide. According to Hamilton Police, Sidhu's body was discovered in a creek near Fruitland Road North and Harbour Drive after a passerby spotted him partially submerged in the water on nearby rocks. Emergency responders attended the scene and confirmed he had died. Detective Sergeant Robert Delaney said Sidhu came to Canada from India in 2022 and had worked as a truck driver whil
AlbertaJul 17, 2026

Two Stony Plain residents killed in Parkland County collision west of Edmonton

Two Stony Plain residents were killed and another person was seriously injured following a two-vehicle collision in Parkland County, west of Edmonton, on Thursday. According to the RCMP, the collision occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 627 and Highway 60, involving a Jeep and a pickup truck. Police confirmed that a 69-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, both from Stony Plain and travelling in the Jeep, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup truck, who was the vehicle's sole occupant, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, RCMP said.
WorldJul 17, 2026

Trump, Spanish PM Sánchez could meet at FIFA World Cup 2026 final amid policy differences

U.S. President Donald Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez could come face to face again during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday, despite recent disagreements over defence spending and U.S. foreign policy. According to the Spanish prime minister's office, Sánchez will attend the final in New Jersey, where Spain is scheduled to play Argentina. If Spain wins the tournament, Trump is expected to present the FIFA World Cup trophy to the winning team as part of the post-match ceremony. The two leaders have publicly disagreed in recent months over NATO defence spending. Trump has
BCJul 17, 2026

RCMP warns B.C. residents about fake letters demanding money in cyber scam

The West Shore RCMP is warning British Columbia residents about fraudulent letters falsely claiming to be from the RCMP's National Cybercrime Coordination Centre in an attempt to extort money from the public. According to the RCMP, the letters falsely accuse recipients of accessing child sexual exploitation material and demand payment within 24 hours to avoid having their names made public and facing court proceedings. Police said the allegations are fabricated and are intended to intimidate victims into sending money. West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl. Nancy Saggar said Canadian pol
modi-criticizes-punjab-governments-law-and-order-record-during-jalandhar-rally
IndiaJul 17, 2026

Modi criticizes Punjab government's law and order record during Jalandhar rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Punjab government's handling of law and order during a public rally in Jalandhar on Friday, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration of failing to ensure public safety and protect the state's future. Addressing the gathering, Modi paid tribute to Punjab, describing it as the land of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He alleged that the state government was attempting to hide the ground reality through extensive advertising, while claiming that the law and order situation had deteriorated across Punjab. The prime minister said businesses were finding it

Related News