ISLAMABAD: Over 500 students and other Pakistani community members in Wuhan and other parts of China were safe and there was no report of Corona virus infection in any of the community member, the Foreign Office spokesperson on Sunday said. “The community has been reassured of full support and requested to follow health protocols issued by the Chinese authorities and stay indoors. The current situation calls for greater patience and perseverance,” the spokesperson in a press release added. The ministry and the Pakistan Embassy in China were actively monitoring the situation of Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. The embassy in Beijing and other sub-missions in China were also in touch with the Pakistani community as well as the Chinese authorities. Noting the increase in number of cases and its humanto-human transmission, the Ministry of Health of China had put additional measures to reduce the risks associated with the viral infection. “We laud the resolute efforts of Chinese authorities in dealing with the outbreak of the virus,” it said. It further said, the Pakistani students and community members had been advised to regularly visit the Embassy’s website www. pakbj.org. Those who were not yet registered were also being encouraged to register with the Embassy, online. For information and assistance, the following numbers can be contacted: Zulfiqar Ali, Third Secretary Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing (+8618501322992) and Muhammad Junaid, Third Secretary Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing (+8615652889195). Meanwhile, amid a panic triggered by China’s novel coronavirus (NCV) across the globe, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Sunday assured the families of about 500 Pakistani students at the epicentre of the deadly virus that they are “well” and have been instructed to take precautionary measures. “Having spoken with our Ambassador in China, I can confirm that students are well, no case of #coronoavirus among them & our Embassy is actively in touch with them,” he said in a series of tweets. Zafar Mirza said the Pakistani students in China have been informed about protective measures, asking them to follow the instructions and be patient. He instructed those still not registered with Pakistan’s Embassy in Beijing to do so. “Be assured we are closely monitoring the situation,” the SAPM.
