The Azerbaijani government is taking serious measures on the coronavirus inside the country and leading discussions with the Chinese government to evacuate its nationals as deaths in China from the virus rose to 132.
No cases of the flu-like virus have been confirmed in Azerbaijan yet.
On 28 January, based on the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, the Cabinet of Minister was summoned to take preventive measures against the coronavirus.
Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev has signed a decree to strengthen measures against its spread in Azerbaijan. The decree also covers the implementation of sanitary and hygienic and medical regulations in hospitals and other medical institutions. Shiraliyev also noted that all borders of the country are under strict control. All who enter the country will be informed about the coronavirus and its symptoms at the border. If detected, that person will be isolated in a quarantined room at the border.
Seven Azerbaijani nationals live in Wuhan, the quarantined city of the Hubei province of China where the virus broke out the last month. Four of them are students, the RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service reports.
No case has been reported over the infected case of Azerbaijanis in China, says Leyla Abdullayeva, spokesperson of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Abdullayeva says the negotiations are underway with the Chinese government. “As to our nationals in Wuhan, their situation, their demands, and the provision of their needs are under the control of our embassy. Concerning their evacuation from the area the issue is being discussed between our embassy and the Chinese government,” Abdullayeva told the RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service on a call.
Samad Azadi, an Azerbaijani student in Wuhan, told Voice of America that the Azerbaijani students are stuck in the quarantined city.
“I have contacted with our citizens in the city. Some of them left the city but some are still in it,” Azadi was quoted as saying.
China has closed off the city of Wuhan to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Over 500 Azerbaijani students study in China.
The Minister of Education, Jeyhun Bayramov, also stated in a press conference that negotiations are underway with the Chinese government to evacuate the Azerbaijani nationals from the infected city and mainland China. More than 50 countries have requested China to help evacuate their nationals.
