Japanese city ready for tourism after evacuees from Wuhan free of coronavirus

The Japanese city of Katsuura in Chiba prefecture is ready to go back to normal after quarantine for coronavirus was over and found that all 197 of Japanese evacuees from Wuhan, China were free of the virus and were ready to go back home.

A hotel in the city has become the centre of coronavirus in Japan after the Japanese government assigned it for “self-quarantine” for those who were evacuated from China. Japan has sent four flights so far to evacuate its citizens from Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. The first group landed on 29 January.

The 206 people on board were asked to test for coronavirus then asked to “self-quarantine” for 14 days, which is the incubation period of the virus. Inside the hotel, evacuees were requested to stay in their rooms and avoid venturing in the corridors.

Support from residents

Despite their initial fears, residents of Katsuura offered enormous support to evacuees like receiving messages and origami cranes, which are usually made for those who are recovering from illness.

Locals also light up candles on the beach of the resort that can be viewed from the guests’ windows to encourage the evacuees. Some residents also arrived to send off the first batch of evacuees that headed home after their self-quarantine.

Around 36 people left the Katsuura hotel on Wednesday night, with more expected to make their way home on Thursday morning.

Those who arrived on later flights are still waiting out the rest of their quarantine period and are expected to undergo final testing before they are given the all-clear to go home.

Meanwhile, evacuees expressed support to those aboard the cruise ship denied entry in the port in Yokohoma due to the virus. Japan has the highest number of coronavirus outside China.