Coronavirus outbreak: Sri Lankan students from Wuhan to be kept under quarantine

Amid stepped efforts by several countries to evacuate ir citizens from coronavirus-hit Wuhan, Sri Lankan students evacuated on February 1 will be kept under quarantine for two weeks. evacuation plan was given a formal d after discussions between Sri Lankan and Chinese authorities following declaration of a global health emergency by World Health Organisation (WHO). 

Sri Lankan Airlines flight landed at sourn Mattala airport and students were taken to a military facility in Diyathalawa as per standard protocol set for health emergencies. island nation has established a special committee to prevent spre of dely virus since a large Chinese community work at construction sites in different parts of Sri Lanka.

At least 259 deaths due to coronavirus have been reported with more than 11,000 confirmed cases of infection. WHO w declared new coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) after second meeting of International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee. committee also ackwledged that human-to-human transmission has occurred outside Wuhan and outside China. 

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WHO Director-General Tedros ham Ghebreyesus congratulated Chinese government for ‘extraordinary measures’ it took to contain virus, despite severe social and ecomic impact those measures are having on Chinese people. “We don’t kw what sort of dam this coronavirus could do if it were to spre in a country with a weaker health system. We must act w to help countries prepare for that possibility," said Ghebreyesus.

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India sends ar flight

India has also started evacuating its nationals and an Air India flight carrying 324 Indian citizens, with a majority of students, landed in Delhi earlier today. Indians who arrived at Delhi airport will be taken to an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp where y will be kept in isolation for 14 days for medical observation.

Ar Air India flight has taken off for Wuhan to evacuate remaining citizens who gave ir consent to leave Hubei Province for time being. Indian Embassy in Beijing urged all Indian nationals living in Hubei province to contact embassy through hotlines if y intend to avail next flight.

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(With PTI inputs)