Coronavirus: US airline suspends flights to China
- A US aviation company has joined many international airlines to stop flights to and from China
- Delta Airlines, a US-based firm, has suspended flights to the Asian country due Coronaviris outbreak
- The firm on Friday, January 31, said that suspension of trips to the country will take effect from Thursday, February 6 to Thursday, April 6
Following the devastating spread of the airborne disease, Coronavirus, a United States (US)'s airlines, Delta, has suspends flights bound to China.
Delta Airlines made this decision on Friday, January 31, as a preventive measure towards the epidemic that has claimed a lot of lives in many countries of the world, ABC News reports.
The airlines said that the suspension of flights to the Asian country will begin from Thursday, February 6 to Thursday, April 6.
The aviation firm said that flights to China will continue up to Wednesday, February 5, to allow persons in China arrive in the US due to increasing concerns over the virus.
Coronavirus: Why Nigerains can now travel to China - FG
PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!
It added that the last day for flights to China before the suspension will take effect will be on Monday, February 3.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that despite an initial warning from the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, that Nigerians should avoid travelling to China, the epicentre of Coronavirus, the federal government on Friday, January 31, said that citizens are free to visit the Asian nation.
The new directive was issued by the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, on Friday based on some resolutions made after an inter-ministerial meeting held in Abuja.
Mohammed, speaking to journalists, said that a travel advisory is much better than declaring a ban because doing will be the same as stigmatising the country in question.
The minister also said that except Nigerians in the central city of Wuhan indicate interest to return home, the federal government cannot force them to do so.
He added that according to the Nigerian embassy in China, there are about 16 Nigerians in the city and that they were in safe hands.
The minister said: “I know we have Nigerians in Wuhan; our Embassy in China has confirmed that we have about 16 Nigerians in Wuhan and they are in touch with them.
"They have, however, not indicated their interest to come home. They will, however, contact our embassy if they like to come home.”
Going forward, he said that there is a great need for public sensitisation of Nigerians on the disease and that those intending to travel to the Asian nation should be very transparent about it.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!
I feel sad when I hear everything is bad because of my brother, Buhari | Legit TV