Evacuees From Wuhan Thrilled to Finally be Home But South Africans Divided Over Whether it Was Worth the Risk

At least 114 evacuees, some reports say as many as 122, returned home from Wuhan, China on Saturday when they landed at the Polokwane International Airport in the northern province of Limpopo. They were immediately transported to the Ranch Hotel and Resort where they will be required to undergo a 21-day quarantine. 

Their arrival sparked wall-to-wall coverage on South African television over the weekend. The coverage ranged from warm welcomes to warnings that the government shouldn’t have taken such a huge risk in repatriating these individuals just as the COVID-19 outbreak worsens in SA.

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