San Bernardino County along with the City of Ontario, Ontario International Airport, state and federal partners stood ready to provide a safe and welcoming landing for American diplomats and U.S. citizens returning from China. Late Tuesday evening, the Centers for Disease Control announced the flight scheduled to land at Ontario International Airport would be diverted to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the passengers were screened before they took off; monitored during the duration of the flight by medical personnel on board; screened again on landing to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska; monitored on the last leg of the flight by medical personnel on board; evaluated upon arrival at March Air Reserve Base; and then they will be monitored for symptoms post-arrival. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control website linked here.
In the meantime, no cases of Novel Coronavirus have been reported in San Bernardino County.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that circulate mostly among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Common symptoms in an infected human include a fever, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
“There have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in San Bernardino County to date,” said Dr. Erin Gustafson, San Bernardino County Assistant Health Officer. “We will keep citizens informed as more information about the coronavirus is made available. At this time, we urge the public to remain calm, as it is very unlikely to be at risk of contracting the virus.”
In addition, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health (DPH) will continue to provide updates and work with local healthcare providers as the situation evolves. DPH has been in communication with Riverside County and offered resources and support should they be needed.
“Our department is committed and prepared to protect our citizens and our communities,” stated Trudy Raymundo, Director of San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. “We will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to ensure that we are prepared and coordinated as the situation develops. Our utmost importance is to continue to protect public health.”
Additional questions about the screening process should be directed to the CDC. Additional information can be found though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or California Department of Public Health (CDPH) pages. Information is available in English and Chinese.