350 more Americans fleeing Wuhan, China, return to US

Two chartered flights carrying hundreds of Americans fleeing the coronavirus outbreak in China have landed at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California.

The flights come after a chartered flight a week ago evacuated U.S. consulate workers and scores of Americans living in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the center of the outbreak that has been in lockdown for almost two weeks.

The death toll from the virus rose Wednesday to almost 500, all but two of the deaths in China. The number of virus cases rose almost 25,000, including more than 200 outside mainland China and 11 in the U.S.

“Two additional evacuation flights departed Wuhan en route to the United States,” a State Department spokeswoman said in an email. “All travelers were screened for symptoms at the airport prior to departure and will be subject to Centers for Disease Control screening, health observation and monitoring requirements.”

U.S. and Chinese officials are working out details for “one or more additional flights”  anticipated to depart Wuhan on Thursday, the email said. Seating will be offered to U.S. citizens on a reimbursable basis, and no additional flights are planned, the email said.