I am relieved that another 20 Germans and family members have been able to leave Wuhan on a British charter plane. We extend sincere gratitude to our British friends, with whom we have worked intensively and in a spirit of confidence over the past few days to make this possible.

Nationals of many European countries were on board the plane. This was an act of European solidarity which gives one courage for the future and confidence for close cooperation with the United Kingdom even after Brexit.

On this occasion, too, safety is paramount. Our fellow Germans and their family members will be taken to a German Red Cross hospital, where they will spend the next two weeks in quarantine.