'It was an emotional experience': 178 coronavirus evacuees land in Northern California

FILE - Travis Air Force Base is on the southwestern edge of the Sacramento Valley and known as the "Gateway to the Pacific." It handles more cargo and passenger traffic through its airport than any other military base in the country. less FILE - Travis Air Force Base is on the southwestern edge of the Sacramento Valley and known as the "Gateway to the Pacific." It handles more cargo and passenger traffic through its airport than any other ... more Photo: Yelp / Slickkdee Photo: Yelp / Slickkdee Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close 'It was an emotional experience': 178 coronavirus evacuees land in Northern California 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

In a press conference today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a plane carrying 178 American coronavirus evacuees from Wuhan, China, landed early Wednesday at Travis Air Force Base, 50 miles northeast of San Francisco.

"There was applause when they walked through the door," said Dr. Henry Walke, director of the CDC's Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections. "Frankly, it was an emotional experience."

All evacuees will be quarantined for 14 days and staying in isolation at the Westwind Inn on Travis AFB. They won't have any contact with people living and working on the base.

"Travis AFB is committed to providing support to our interagency partners, ensuring the safety and welfare of the Team Travis community, all while continuing our primary mission to rapidly project American power anytime...anywhere," a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State reads.

None of the evacuees in quarantine at the base have tested positive for coronavirus or shown symptoms. One small child who had a fever on the flight was evacuated to a nearby hospital, Walke said. A parent accompanied the young patient. The age of the child and the medical center treating the patent aren't being revealed for privacy reasons.

"Children have a fever for a number of different reasons," Walke said.

A second plane with American evacuees from Wuhan also stopped to refuel at Travis Air Force Base early Wednesday and then continued on to the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego. These people will also be quarantine for two weeks.

ALSO: Map: Where 11 cases of coronavirus are confirmed in the U.S.

The pneumonia-like new coronavirus has infected more than 24,000 people and killed nearly 500 people worldwide. The majority of cases are in China but the virus has spread to two dozen other countries. In the U.S., there are 12 confirmed cases: six in California, two in Illinois and there is one each in Wisconsin, Arizona, Massachusetts and Washington state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (See the map in the gallery above for locations with confirmed cases).

Known as the "Gateway to the Pacific," Travis AFB handles more cargo and passenger traffic through its airport than any other military base in the country.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.