MUSCAT: Oman’s Ministry of Health (MOH) said it is closely monitoring the spread of coronavirus that has spread in three Asian countries including China, Japan Thailand and South Korea. 

China has reported 139 new cases of pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus, including a third death, as the outbreak spreads beyond the city where the virus was first identified. Three cases have been reported overseas: two in Thailand and one in Japan. On Monday, media in South Korea said a woman who had travelled from China had tested positive for the virus.

In a statement issued on Monday, MOH said: “The Ministry of Health represented by the General Administration of Disease Control and Control, is following the epidemiological situation of the new coronavirus in Wuhan, China, where 198 people cases have been recorded resulting and two deaths as of January 20, 2020, and four cases outside China have been registered, two cases in Thailand, one case in Japan and one case in South Korea.”

MOH said it is closely following the situation in coordination with the World Health Organisation and has taken all precautions in dealing with the cases. “As the Ministry follows the current situation of this outbreak by communicating with the World Health Organization, it has taken precautionary action dedicated to dealing with suspected cases and raising awareness among travelers to and from the People’s Republic of China,” the statement added.

“The Ministry asked that all citizens and expats take information from its official sources and communicate with the Ministry through the call center (224441999) in case of any inquiries,” the statement added.