As US rescues some from virus in China, others left behind

As hundreds of Americans prepare to evacuate Wuhan, central Chinese city at heart of a new virus outbreak that has killed over 100, San Francisco native Doug Perez is staying behind.

It’s t that he’s unconcerned. Perez, 28, and his girlfriend have hunkered down in ir apartment for past five days. y’ve argued. y’ve fretted over missed food deliveries. y’ve dubbed ir Labror, Chubby, “Apocalypse Dog,” venturing out for short walks on deserted streets only after fitting him with a mask.

But Perez won’t leave because his girlfriend, a Chinese citizen, won’t be allowed on plane.

“A lot of foreigners are stuck here,” Perez said. “re is way on Earth many of us, including myself, are going to leave our loved ones.”

As China rolls out containment measures unprecedented in modern history, locking down more than 50 million people in 17 cities, foreigners trapped in quarantine zone are wondering when y can return home.

U.S. government is chartering a flight on Tuesday night to take several hundred diplomats, family members and or Americans out of country to Ontario, California. plane will refuel in Anchor, Alaska, where passengers will be rescreened, according to Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

But Americans in Wuhan estimate re are more than a thousand U.S. citizens in city, meaning most will be left behind.

“It’s like a sinking ship,” Perez said.

day lockdown was anunced, Perez and his girlfriend got in a fight — “a plate was destroyed” — over wher to venture to a supermarket to buy food. His girlfriend, who doesn’t want to be named, won argument, and couple began ordering food online. streets went quiet. y stay in every night, spending hours a day on social media checking up on latest news and fielding calls from worried relatives.

On Monday evening, guards barred him from leaving his apartment compound, leaving him wondering what’s next.

“That's kind of dawned on me, like how b this could get,” Perez said. “Who kws what will be next week. Will it be police, will it be soldiers? Will we physically t be able to leave our building?”

Japan, South Korea, France and or wealthy governments are also planning evacuations. But for many from or countries, re are plans for evacuations at all,

Ar American, who declined to be identified out of fear of online and government harassment, said she was choosing to stay behind because she has a cough and was told she would likely be quarantined at Wuhan airport by Chinese authorities.

But for Priscilla Dickey, 35, from South Burlington, Vermont, trying to get on plane was a -brainer because of her 8-year-old daughter, Hermione, who she worries could be vulnerable to virus. On Monday afteron, consulate phoned Dickey and told her she and her daughter h seats.

After packing a bag with three shirts and a pair of pants, Dickey stayed up until two in morning trying to figure out how she would get to airport amid a transportation shutdown. She “stress cleaned” her apartment in morning, she said, before getting in an airport-bound car, waves of emotion washing over her.

“I was feeling guilt,” Dickey said, speaking by phone on her way to airport. “Excitement, guilt, stress — all of it.”

Dickey plans to stay with relatives in Cincinnati area after a 3- to 14-day quarantine, she says, ding that she was “very grateful” to be on her way out.

Meanwhile, Perez is still mulling wher to venture to a supermarket, weighing risks of getting infected.

But despite worsening conditions, Perez says re are moments of hope. On Monday evening, residents set off fireworks, and cries of “Go Wuhan!” echoed around his apartment compound.

Perez joined in, shouting “We are all Wuhan people!” His girlfriend cheered and his dog barked, making m feel y were “all in this toger.”

“We needed that,” Perez said. “It lifted us up a bit and gave us some hope.”