Cases found on flight from Afghanistan

The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that some Chinese nationals returning from Afghanistan have been diagnosed with confirmed COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic cases after the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, reported 56 COVID-19 cases.

Fifty-two cases involved passengers arriving in Wuhan from Afghanistan on flight MF8008 on Friday. Twenty-two had confirmed cases and 30 had asymptomatic cases, the Hubei Provincial Health Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.

Local authorities are strictly following anti-pandemic regulations, isolating and observing the personnel involved and treating the patients, the Foreign Ministry's Department of Consular Affairs said on its social media account.

The department said Chinese citizens in Afghanistan should leave the country as soon as possible because of the complicated security situation there and that the Chinese government will provide necessary help.

The Chinese embassy in Afghanistan has assisted unvaccinated Chinese who have decided to stay to get vaccines, and it will continue to provide necessary assistance, the department said.

Last month, the Foreign Ministry issued a safety warning alerting Chinese citizens and institutions in Afghanistan to be cautious and suggested they take international commercial flights to leave.

Due to continuous internal conflicts and frequent terrorist attacks since the beginning of the year, the security environment in the country has become more serious and complex, it said, adding that the warning would remain in effect throughout this year.

The move came amid a "security vacuum" in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of United States-led troops since May.