The passengers and staff who boarded Scoot flight TR188 and were isolated in Hangzhou, China, arrived safely back in Singapore in the early hours of Jan. 27.

According to a Ministry of Transport (MOT) spokesperson, the 18 Singapore residents and 10 Scoot staff were part of the larger group that was on the Scoot flight to Hangzhou on Jan. 24, 2020.

They were subsequently isolated at the local airport for enhanced health screening, as two passengers who had fevers were found to have contracted the novel coronavirus.

A Scoot spokesperson stated:

"Scoot relief flight TR5001 departed Singapore shortly before noon on Sunday, January 26, 2020.

It flew back to Singapore from Hangzhou as TR1189 at 2028 hrs Hangzhou time, transporting 18 Singapore residents and 10 Scoot staff from TR188 Singapore-Hangzhou on 24 January who were in Hangzhou under the care of the local authorities.

TR1189 touched down in Singapore in the early hours of Jan. 27, 2020."

Further precautionary measures taken

MOT said, "Upon arrival at Changi Airport this morning, all passengers underwent stringent medical checks. All passengers and crew were afebrile."

The health of the entire group is still being monitored closely.

As a precautionary measure, 15 people who were deemed to be close contacts of the two confirmed cases have been served quarantine orders.

The rest of the group have been put on active phone surveillance.

MOT added, "Those who develop symptoms will be brought to the hospital in a dedicated ambulance for further assessment."

MOT worked with Scoot, Changi Airport Group, Raffles Medical Group and the authorities of the People's Republic of China to handle the situation.

Other government bodies such as the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore also assisted in bringing the group back home.

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Top image from Scoot and Changi Airport's Facebook pages.