FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO -The National Health Commission has reported 9,692 confirmed cases of pneumonia and 213 deaths caused by the novel coronavirus (2019n-CoV) as of January 31, 2020. A total of 171 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

Close monitoring of human to human transmission continues - The National Health Commission has so far traced a total of 102,427 of these persons. 4,201 of those traced have been released from medical observation while 98,226 are still under observation by health professionals.

As health authorities continue to attach the greatest of importance to the mitigation and control of the virus spread, the People's Republic of China is confident that the comprehensive actions being taken will result in the containment of the novel coronavirus and a peak in the figures for confirmed cases.

With only the majority of cases and deaths occurring in the People's Republic of China, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has continued to applaud the People's Republic of China "for their commitment to transparency, and the efforts made to investigate and contain the current outbreak". "WHO continues to have confidence in China's capacity to control the outbreak". "There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade".

The People's Republic of China will continue to work with the WHO as well as with the international community in order to safeguard regional and global public health security. The Embassy reiterates its commitment to coordination and close dialogue between the Embassy and the relevant authorities in Trinidad and Tobago in order to ensure the well-being of citizens of both countries. All Chinese organisations and institutions that have operations in Trinidad and Tobago have advised their staffs of postponing travels between China and Trinidad and Tobago. 

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China thanks the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the kindness and friendship that has been shown.

ENDS