Students repatriated from China, quarantined in France are back on Seychelles soil |18 February 2020

Following 14 days of quarantine in Aix-de-Provence, France, the two Seychellois students who were repatriated from Wuhan, China – the epicenter of the novel coronavirus – have reunited with their families in Seychelles.

Mickaella Ernesta and Liza Samson arrived in Seychelles yesterday at around 12.50pm onboard an Etihad flight from Dubai where they had transited.

The two Seychellois students had been among the 120 persons evacuated and repatriated by the French authorities on February 2 from China’s virus-stricken Wuhan, a city on lockdown, to Aix-en-Provence, France.

Their repatriation was made possible thanks to the friendly bilateral relationship between Seychelles and France, and had been done on a humanitarian basis.

In Aix-en-Provence they were put under quarantine and regularly tested for the coronavirus, now officially known as COVID-19, for a period of 14 days before they could come back home.

The 14 days were mandatory to ensure they did not have COVID-19 since the virus’ incubation period – the time between exposure and the onset of symptoms – is said to be around 14 days.

Mickaella is a psychology student who was entering her last year of university in Wuhan while Liza was about to start her first year.

Both students have declined to talk to Seychelles NATION, one stating that she needs some time “to process everything”.

A source from the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD) has stated that the agency will be holding an interview with the press on an “unconfirmed date”.

Elsie Pointe