[UPDATED] Foreign Ministry: 2 Trinis at coronavirus epicentre

The saying, 'There is a Trini everywhere and in everything', seems to ring true.

For with the entire world nervously watching developments and putting strict preventive measures in place to combat its spread, two Trinis have found themselves in the middle of the deadly coronavirus epicentre – Wuhan, China.

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs who, in a press release issued Wednesday, said that two Trini nationals are currently in Hubei Province of which Wuhan is the capital.

The release said that the TT Embassy in Beijing has been in contact with the two following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan. The embassy confirmed that one Trini is in Wuhan and another in Qianjiang.

In total, 120 Trinis are in China spread out in Beijing, Hong Kong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Chongqing and 18 other cities, including Wuhan and Qianjiang. At present, there are restrictions on public and private transport and on the movement of people in and out of that Wuhan.

The release advised that China's Foreign Affairs Ministry had briefed representatives of Diplomatic Missions in Beijing recently, advising them that their nationals who are in Wuhan should remain there and undergo self-imposed quarantine.

Embassies were advised that Chinese central and local governments have mobilised resources to address the outbreak, that the Foreign Affairs Office of Hubei Provincial Government would assist foreign nationals in meeting their day-to-day needs and that a special co-ordination mechanism to entertain requests from Diplomatic Missions pertaining to the outbreak has been established.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has advised that staff should not return to their respective embassies before February 03, but the TT Foreign Affairs release said that the TT Embassy in Beijing will resume operations this Friday.

The ministry release added that the TT Embassy remains in close contact with Trinis in Hubei Province and has advised them to follow the advice of local authorities. The Trinis have not said they want to be evacuated at this time.

WHO: BE ON ALERT

International news agency AP, reported on Wednesday that World Health Organization's (WHO) head of Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Mike Ryan, warning that the "whole world needs to be on alert" to fight the coronavirus. Dr Ryan praised China's response to the deadly outbreak, saying: "The challenge is great but the response has been massive."

WHO meets today to discuss whether the virus constitutes a global health emergency. The Chinese city of Wuhan is the epicentre of the outbreak. But the virus has spread across China and to at least 16 countries globally, including Thailand, France, the US and Australia.

More than 130 people have died in China and close to 6,000 have been infected. There is no specific cure or vaccine. A number of people have recovered after treatment, however.

Residents of Wuhan, where one of the Trinis is located, are enduring an isolated, frightening time. Most forms of traffic have been banned, and more than 50 million people are shut up in their homes, trying to minimise the spread of the virus.

Videos have emerged online of neighbours shouting "Wuhan jiayou!" out of their windows - roughly translated to, "Stay strong Wuhan!" or "Keep on going Wuhan"

This story was originally published with the title "2 Trinis at coronavirus 'ground zero'" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Two Trini nationals are currently in Hubei Province, China the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. A release from the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs confirmed this on Wednesday.

The release said that the TT Embassy in Beijing has been in contact with the two Trinis who are in Hubei Province, following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province.

The embassy confirmed that one Trini is in Wuhan and another in Qianjiang. In total, 120 Trinis are in China spread out in Beijing, Hong Kong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Chongqing and 18 other cities, including Wuhan and Qianjiang. At present, there are restrictions on public and private transport and on the movement of people in and out of that Wuhan.

The release advised that China's Foreign Affairs Ministry had briefed representatives of Diplomatic Missions in Beijing recently advising them that their nationals who are in Wuhan should remain there and undergo self-imposed quarantine.

Embassies were advised that Chinese central and local governments have mobilised resources to address the outbreak, that the Foreign Affairs Office of Hubei Provincial Government would assist foreign nationals in meeting their day-to-day needs and that a special coordination mechanism to entertain requests from Diplomatic Missions pertaining to the outbreak has been established.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has advised that staff should not return to their respective embassies before February 03, but the TT Foreign Affairs release said that the TT Embassy in Beijing will resume operations this Friday. The ministry release added that the TT Embassy remains in close contact with Trinis in Hubei Province and has advised them to follow the advice of local authorities. The Trinis have not said they want to be evacuated at this time.