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Government to provide financial assistance to Maldivians in Wuhan

The Government of Maldives has decided to provide financial assistance to all Maldivians who are under lock down in the Chinese City of Wuhan following the coronavirus outbreak.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured the Maldivian Embassy in China is closely monitoring Maldivians in Wuhan City following the spread of coronavirus. The ministry stated all 7 Maldivians in Wuhan City are reported safe, while efforts are underway to monitor the situation of all Maldivians across China.

As part of efforts to take the Maldivians in Wuhan city out of the area, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel has held discussions with Ambassador of China to Maldives Zhang Lizhong. The foreign ministry held further discussions with Maldivian Embassy in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has assured to ensure the safety and protection of foreign students and foreigners in the country. China has stepped up its response to a new coronavirus outbreak that has killed 41 people and infected at least 1,287 in the mainland as of Saturday, placing restrictions on 13 cities, including 12 in Hubei Province which is the centre of the outbreak.

Health authorities around the world are taking action to prevent a global pandemic, with cases reported in Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Vietnam and the US. There are a total of 1,321 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, according to international media reports.

World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged the respiratory illness, which has been traced to the city of Wuhan, is an emergency in China, although the organisation said it is too early to declare it a global health emergency.