TAKING NO CHANCES ...

A‘ total of 108 citizens, 24 non-citizen spouses and children to be brought back’

Officials in full protective gear disinfecting Indonesian students as they disembark on arrival at Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam, following their evacuation from Wuhan, China, due to the coronavirus outbreak

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians who are currently stranded in Wuhan, China, following the city-wide lockdown in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, are expected to return home today.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said a total of 108 citizens and 24 noncitizens, who are spouses and children registered with the Malaysian embassy, would be brought back.

“However, only those who are declared healthy to board the plane after going through an exit screening set by the Chinese government at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will be allowed home,” she said

Wan Azizah, who is also the head of the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), said in total, eight individuals would be involved in the mission to Wuhan, including six government officers.

AirAsia, which will fly the Malaysians out, will also carry 12 crew members with them.

“The flight will also carry along aid such as face masks, gloves and food as had been agreed by the Chinese government,” she said.

Wan Azizah said she also visited the Air Disaster Centre yesterday where the returning passengers and those involved in the mission would go through another round of health screening as soon as they arrive at KLIA.

“Those who show symptoms will be brought to the hospital immediately, while those who are cleared will board a bus to an observation centre where they will be kept for 14 days.”

Earlier yesterday, she was briefed by Nadma director-general Datuk Mohtar Mohd Abd Rahman at klia2 on the mission to Wuhan.

According to Wan Azizah, the total number of positive cases of the novel coronavirus here in the country remains at eight as of yesterday noon, with test results for 18 patients under investigation still pending.

– AFP PHOTO/INDONESIAN EMBASSY

– BERNAMAPIX MASKED RIDER ... An officer from the 21st Unit of the Ceremonial Mounted Squadron under the Royal Malaysian Armoured Corps performing his duty in front of Istana Negara, wearing a mask as a precautionary measure in the wake of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.