As another batch of stranded Australians prepares to be evacuated from the epicentre of the coronavirus in China, more than 200 citizens and residents were taken to Christmas Island overnight.
Amy Xia and her two children were among the first to reach the island at 11pm on Monday.
She told SBS Mandarin on Tuesday that she was “extremely worried” about whether they could receive responsive medical care while in quarantine.
“We did receive information sheets. I asked them how we could ask for help if there was an emergency. The doctor told us they would check on us at 9am every day but didn’t say how we could contact them.”
The facility will house evacuees for the next 14 days to ensure they pose no health risk before re-entering the Australian mainland.
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said the plan was for passengers to be kept in small family groups in the facility.
Ms Xia, an Australian permanent resident whose children are Australian citizens, said families were being kept in small rooms inside larger suites, and they were being assigned rooms based on the size of each family.
Amy Xia and her two children. Source: Supplied
An image supplied by Ms Xia of inside the Christmas Island facility. Source: SBS Mandarin
"The facility here is just ok, more or less acceptable.
“Breakfast should be ready at 7am, but so far I haven’t seen anything. The canteen area is still empty with only a couple of bags of instant noodles.”
Ms Xia left her residence in Wuhan at 5pm on Sunday and had hoped to receive a substantial meal upon reaching Christmas Island.
An image supplied by Ms Xia of inside a room at the Christmas Island facility. Source: SBS Mandarin
An image supplied by Ms Xia of a kitchen at the Christmas Island facility. Source: SBS Mandarin
On Sunday, Australian government reversed its stance on charging Australians for the process of being evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan.
“So far no one has talked with us about the cost [of the quarantine].”
An image supplied by Ms Xia of a general area at the Christmas Island facility. Source: SBS Mandarin
quarantine centre in Christmas Island Source: SBS Mandarin/
Those waiting for the next flight
More Australians are stuck in Wuhan, waiting for information on the second evacuation flight.
Ying Wang and her husband are both Australian permanent residents, and their two children are Australian citizens.
After a long wait, they weren't able to board the first evacuation flight.
She said she learnt about the second evacuation flight, facilitated by the New Zealand government, from Chinese media.
She hoped that her family could board that flight, but so far she has not received confirmation from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ms Yang said people in China were expecting a large increase in confirmed cases this week.
Ying Wang and her children. Source: Supplied
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that the plane bound for Wuhan had departed and would stop in Hong Kong before continuing on to Wuhan.
It said Chinese authorities had cleared the flight to land late on Tuesday, Wuhan time.
The flight was expected to be back in Auckland late Wednesday afternoon.
