RIYADH — Saudi Arabia is to screen travelers arriving from China after the outbreak of a new coronavirus. The respiratory virus has emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

China on Thursday locked down some 20 million people at the epicenter of the virus outbreak, banning planes and trains from leaving in an unprecedented move aimed at containing the disease which has already spread to other countries.

The Kingdom will assess passengers arriving on direct and indirect flights from China to ensure their safety, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Thursday.

The ministry is coordinating with the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and advised those traveling to affected cities to avoid markets, dead or live animals and animal derived products.

The ministry will also closely monitor how the virus evolves by communicating with the World Health Organization (WHO), the statement added. — SG