Tbilisi confirms Turkey will evacuate Georgians from epicenter of new coronavirus

Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze has confirmed that Turkey will evacuate Georgian citizens from Wuhan, Hubei province of China, which is the epicenter of the outbreak of the new coronavirus – 2019-nCOV. 

Tikaradze says that a Turkish aircraft is on its way to Wuhan and will evacuate four Georgian citizens along with Turkish, Azerbaijani and Albanian citizens.

• Two Georgians who came from China to be tested in Germany for new coronavirus

She said that two other Georgian citizens refused to come.

The Georgian citizens who will be evacuated from Wuhan will have to stay in quarantine in Turkey for a while and will be under the supervision of medics to avoid contagion if they are infected,” Tikaradze said.

Georgian Health Minister Tikaradze said that two Georgian citizens decided to stay in Wuhan. Photo: tabula. 

Tikaradze stated that several Georgian tourists also contacted them and requested evacuation and ‘we are now negotiating with Turkey.'

• Georgia suspends direct flights with China

Turkish media reported yesterday that seven Georgian citizens would be evacuated by Turkey from Wuhan.

• The new coronavirus, which first emerged in the city of Wuhan, China at the end of 2019 has already killed at least 213 in China and infected almost 10,000.
• The World Health Organisation declared the virus a global emergency and said there had been 98 cases in 18 other countries, but no deaths.
• The new coronavirus, which is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan, can spread between people.
• The incubation period can range from two to 10 days. It causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms mostly start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.