BEIJING: China’s civil air transport is playing its role in delivering emergency supplies to help fight the novel coronavirus epidemic. As of Feb. 2, a total of 4,330 flights had been dispatched in missions delivering emergency supplies, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China. These flights have transported more than 604,000 items, including masks, medical protective clothing and disinfectant, for the epidemic prevention and control. Among them, 138 flights have been sent to central China’s Hubei Province to deliver more than 192,000 items of emergency supplies, with a total weight of around 1,213 tonnes. Meanwhile, China’s civil aviation authorities have coordinated with airliners to carry 7,558 medical personnel to areas hard-hit by the virus and bring 399 stranded passengers back home from overseas by charter flights. –Agencies
Immigration services suspended in Wuhan
WUHAN: Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province, has suspended immigration administration services as part of the prevention and control measures of the novel coronavirus epidemic, local authorities said Monday. On Jan. 27, Wuhan suspended the issuance of Chinese passports and exit-entry permits to those from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions as well as Taiwan, the public security bureau of Wuhan said.
All the self-service terminals for exit-entry permits to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were also closed across the city, the bureau added. Hubei, the center of the novel coronavirus epidemic, has stepped up measures to contain the spread of the virus. By Sunday, Hubei reported 11,177 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection, with 350 deaths and 1,701 cases in severe or critical condition. –Agencies
Access to health info open for Taiwan
BEIJING: There have been no barriers for Taiwan in accessing information about the novel coronavirus outbreak, a mainland official said Tuesday.
The mainland has kept Taiwan updated on the epidemic and immediately shared information about Taiwan compatriots who are confirmed to have been infected with the virus on the mainland, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, in response to questions related to Taiwan and the epidemic. The mainland has specifically notified Taiwan of the information related to sharing the virus’ genome sequence with the World Health Organization, and of means to obtain it, Ma said. The mainland has also arranged Taiwan experts to visit Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and stepped up communication. “We are always concerned with the health and wellbeing of our compatriots in Taiwan,” Ma said. Epidemic prevention is the most important and urgent task at the moment, said Ma, urging Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authority to stop all political manipulation using the epidemic as an excuse. –Agencies
Wuhan to convert sport center into hospital
WUHAN: Wuhan in central China’s Hubei Province plans to convert three existing venues, including a gymnasium and an exhibition center, into hospitals to receive patients infected with the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the headquarters for the epidemic control said late Monday. The Hongshan Gymnasium, Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center and a cultural building complex dubbed “Wuhan Livingroom” will be turned into hospitals with a total of 3,400 beds, according to the headquarters. The sites, located in the districts of Jianghan, Wuchang and Dongxihu, will take in patients with mild symptoms caused by the coronavirus. The hospitals will serve as temporary medical sites with functions of emergency treatment and clinical testing. Conversion work started late Monday, and by Tuesday morning, hundreds of beds have been in place. –Agencies
