Coronavirus: Philippines to halt visa on arrival facilities for Chinese nationals

Philippine Immigration Bureau on Tuesday has ordered a temporary halt on Visa upon arrival facilities for Chinese nationals amid growing fears of rapidly spreing and dely new diease coronavirus. According to a statement by  Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, this measure has been undertaken in an effort to slow down influx of group tours.

Reducing  number of group tours

This measure will, according to reports, only affect 5 per cent of incoming Chinese tourists because 95 per cent of Chinese tourists have alrey secured ir visas before travelling. Philippine Immigration Bureau clarified that re is order stopping Chinese nationals from entering country.

News from Japan

Japan has confirmed a victim of Coronavirus who has never been to China on January 28. This comes as an unprecedented development in dely outbreak for medical officials who h identified epicentre of pandemic in Chinese city of Wuhan, city of 11 million people.

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vel virus has alrey claimed nearly 106 lives in China with 4,515 confirmed cases as or international leers plan to evacuate ir citizens from country. According to National Health Commission, 976 are in serious condition. 

Precautions taken by or countries

China's immediate neighbour, Mongolia has closed all universities and educational institutes until March 2 to prevent spre of dely coronavirus. Citing a cabinet meeting, Mongolian state media also said that it has closed border crossings for auto vehicles and pedestrian traffic.

US was preparing to fly ir citizens out of city as Wuhan along with or major cities is under lockdown. UK and Japan h also put forth ir plans to bring ir citizens 'home'. 

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China has been trying to step-up emergency measures to contain global spre of pathogen. Wuhan's Mayor Zhou Xianwang has also said that number of cases can rise by ar thousand. Since outbreak has been widely spre in China, with several confirmed cases in Beijing, country has also extended Lunar Year Holiday to February 2.  

(with inputs from ncies)

(im credits: AP)