The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday that it is considering bringing back South Koreans in Wuhan, China, by chartered plane.

“We are surveying the demand of South Koreans in Wuhan who want to go back by chartered plane. Those who wish to do so are advised to send us an email, with your personal information such as name and passport number, to ‘wuhan@mofa.go.kr,’” the consulate general in Wuhan said on its web. “The plan has not been fixed yet, and the survey is to investigate general demand, so please be patient and wait for us.”

About 500 South Koreans, including students and businesspeople, are staying in Wuhan. The Chinese government shut down the airport and train station on Thursday and stopped running public transportation, with the blocked area expanding. The roads connecting Wuhan to nearby areas are sealed as well.

The consulate general said, “If anyone has an abnormal fever higher than 37.5 degrees, cough, sore throat, and difficulty in breathing or suspicious symptoms related to infection, please contact the consulate (159-2624-1112) or the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (0082-2-1339).”

The foreign ministry also issued the second phase of travel warning (travel refrain) for Wuhan and the first phase of travel warning (travel attention) for the rest of Hubei Province. The ministry’s travel alerts have four stages -- navy (travel attention), yellow (travel refrain), red (travel withdrawal), and black (travel forbidden).

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun presided over an emergency meeting with municipal and provincial administrative heads after the second Korean patient was confirmed on Friday. “The government should deal with the situation swiftly and thoroughly, putting the priority on the public safety and protection,” he told the participants.

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