The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated its appeal for Maldivians living abroad to register at the resident embassies or high commissions of Maldives in their respective host countries, following the wide-spreading Novel Coronavirus emerging in several countries.

Foreign Ministry revealed that the infection is emerging from countries with large Maldivian communities and that the government will be able to extend aid efficiently if required, once Maldivians living abroad register at their respective high commissions and embassies.

The ministry assures the people that their information will be kept confidential and the ministry has also compiled a list of email addresses and contact numbers for easier registration.

The relevant information has been publicized via the ministry’s official website and Twitter handles of Maldives Diplomatic Missions.

Instructing Maldivians travelling out of the country to register at the embassy closest to them earlier, the ministry went on to caution against all non-essential travel to China, where a deadly bronchitis virus has been spreading at a dangerous rate.

Maldivians are also advised to refrain from travelling to other countries where there have been confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus.

Further, the ministry went on to advice Maldivians living abroad to follow the instructions from public health experts of their respective host countries.

The Novel Coronavirus originated from Wuhan City, China in December 2019. Seven out of the nine Maldivians living in the city were evacuated earlier this week and they have been isolated in quarantine since. The government of Maldives announced on Monday that seven Maldivians tested negative to the infectious disease.