Rep. Takano Statement on Federal Quarantine Orders for Passengers from Wuhan, China at March Air Reserve Base
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcement of a federal quarantine order at March Air Reserve Base.
“I was just informed that the CDC has issued a federal quarantine order at March Air Reserve Base for the U.S. citizens who were repatriated from Wuhan, China earlier this week. The CDC made it clear that this serious action was taken out of an abundance of caution based on scientific evidence as new details from China and new evidence suggesting the potential asymptomatic spread of the virus emerge. This federal quarantine will require all passengers who traveled from Wuhan, China to be under observation at March Air Reserve Base for 14 days beginning from the date when the flight departed Wuhan. According to the CDC, this quarantine order offers the greatest level of prevention and will help mitigate any potential impact of the virus in the United States.
“My top concern is the health and safety of our community and employees and personnel at March Air Reserve Base. After speaking with medical professionals, I believe that this quarantine order will help protect our community in Riverside County and the repatriated individuals, their families, and their communities.
“The State Department ordered the repatriation of U.S. diplomats and American citizens back to the United States to ensure the safety of these individuals. My office was not consulted on the decision to utilize March Air Reserve Base as a repatriation center for this flight and I have requested additional information from the CDC, HHS, State Department, and the Department of Defense on the process and rationale for doing so. I have also requested a briefing by the CDC and HHS on any new developments regarding coronavirus, the health status of the U.S. citizens being held under quarantine orders at March Air Reserve Base, and the potential arrival of additional American citizens at March from Wuhan, China.
“To avoid panic and misinformation, I also call on the CDC to conduct a public briefing to answer any questions our community may have about the virus and efforts underway to mitigate its spread in the United States to keep the American people safe.
“As we continue to learn more, I encourage members of our community to remain calm. No cases of coronavirus have been detected in Riverside County and the health of the individuals under quarantine is being closely monitored. I will relay any new updates as I receive them.”
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