An American who flew out of China on a chartered flight tried to leave a Southern California military base where authorities have been monitoring nearly 200 people for coronavirus symptoms, health officials said.
The person, who was not identified, has been ordered to stay in quarantine at the March Air Reserve Base near Riverside, California, until the "entire incubation period or until otherwise cleared," Riverside County Public Health said in a statement Thursday. The incubation period will be 14 days.
"This action was taken as a result of the unknown risk to the public should someone leave MARB early without undergoing a full health evaluation," the agency said.
Nearly 200 Americans arrived Wednesday at the military base from Wuhan, the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China, and were asked to stay for at least three days so they can be monitored for coronavirus symptoms.
US health officials had said they will not issue a blanket quarantine for the evacuees.
While none of the 195 passengers showed signs of sickness, some agreed to stay at the base voluntarily, said Dr. Chris Braden of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC.
"They wanted to protect their family. They wanted to protect others," he said.