![Movement and the ability to leave areas in China may be affected [Image: CNN]](https://www.fijivillage.com/news_images/1473776545e310534e36d6b29de891.jpg)
Fijians are being strongly advised against non-essential travel to mainland China.
The Fijian Health Ministry says the Chinese authorities, in their efforts to control the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak, have shut down public transport in cities in the Hubei province – and it is possible that this will be extended to other areas as the outbreak progresses.
It says movement and the ability to leave areas in China may be affected.
The ministry says if you are travelling to China, please avoid visiting ‘wet’ markets that sell live and dead animals out in the open, avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals, avoid contact with persons with flu like symptoms, ensure that you only eat meat or eggs that are thoroughly cooked, practice hand and respiratory hygiene, cover your mouth and nose with tissue, sleeve, or elbow when coughing or sneezing, clean hands after coughing and sneezing and when caring for the sick, frequently clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol based hand rub and avoid contact with persons with flu like symptoms
If you have been to China in the last 14 days and develop any symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), please immediately contact the Health Ministry on 2219905 in the Central Division, 2219906 in the Eastern Division, 2219907 in the Western Division and 2219908 in the Northern Division.
If you need to see a doctor please call before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.
Latest from China
Chinese authorities have agreed to allow the World Health Organization to send international experts to China to assist with research and containment of the worsening coronavirus outbreak.
Los Angeles Times reports that Beijing had repeatedly declined offers of assistance from outside experts, including scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Informed that the WHO would soon dispatch a team to China, Alex Azar, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said he is “delighted” and assumed that CDC scientists would be included.
The first offer was made on January 6th.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss plans to contain the Novel Coronavirus. The two agreed that international experts would visit China to help investigate the situation and enhance the global response.
Nearly 5,000 people around the world have been infected with the virus, and 106 people have died.
