A Fort McMurray family is having trouble finding a flight to leave China due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Greg MacAulay’s wife Elisa, sons Ryan and Jordan, and his in-laws Fu Yao and Yin Ying traveled to the country in early January to celebrate Chinese New Year.
They were planning to return on February 7, however, their flight was canceled by Air Canada who is temporarily suspending their flights until the end of February.
They are one of multiple reported airlines that are suspending their flights. Westjet doesn’t offer flights to China.
MacAulay tells Mix News he’s worried the longer his family stays in China the more likely they are to get the virus.
“The city that they’re in is not affected at this time but there’s a pretty good chance that it eventually will be and obviously we would want them to be in Canada to get medical care.”
He’s since been in contact with Global Affairs Canada to try and get his family a return flight.
However, the federal government is currently focusing on helping Canadians in the Wuhan region which has reported cases of the coronavirus.
“They can stay there, there’s no problem, they have accommodations – I’m just worried the virus is going to spread,” added MacAulay.
Meanwhile, MacAulay says he’s also reached out to David Yurdiga, MP of Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, to see if he can help with the situation.
