India has cleared some consignments of medical gear placed by China to combat the deadly coronavirus after setting aside export bans on all kinds of personal protection equipment, Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri said yesterday.
The decision came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping offering solidarity and assistance to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in China that has claimed over 900 lives.
In the letter to Xi, Modi expressed solidarity with the president and people of China over the outbreak of the virus that has also infected over 40,000 people.
Prime Minister Modi also offered India’s assistance to China to face the challenge, besides conveying condolences over the loss of lives due to the outbreak.
Mongolia's National Emergency Commission announced suspension of deliveries of coal across its southern border into China until March 2 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
It said “Exports via the border points of Gashuunsukhait, Shiveekhuren, Bichigt and Bulgan will all be stopped.”
The body has also recommending that Mongolia's Tsagaan Sar new year celebrations be suspended.
The Philippine Ports Authority further tightened its noose in all ports, banning the disembarkation of vessel crews while docked at any PPA controlled ports.
PPA likewise cancelled all visitation privileges given to relatives of Filipino seafarers to board as well as boarding privileges of non government organizations extending emotional and spiritual help to seafarers.
PPA made the decision in order to protect Philippine borders from further contamination with Wuahn coronavirus.
However, vessels calling at any Philippine port more than 14 days after calling at any China port, shall be allowed without any restrictions, Santiago added.
To ensure that this is implemented, a special team shall be deployed to monitor the movements of personnel and people inside the port.
PPA is also coordinating closely with the Office for Transportation Security and the Maritime Industry Authority as well as agents of ships calling in the Philippines to issue parallel directives within their jurisdiction.
Wuhan on Tuesday morning received the first batch of frozen pork allocated by China's central government to aid the city at the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The 217.9 tonnes of frozen pork, the first batch of the 2,000 tonnes in total, boarded a train in Shanghai to arrive at the city's Wujiashan Station.
Its arrival was 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of schedule as railway authorities gave the train priority clearance throughout its journey, according to railway officials. ■