CHINA has taken a series of measures to protect the health of Chinese people living or studying abroad while stemming the potential import of COVID-19, an aviation official said Thursday.

Nine special flights have been arranged, three from Italy and six from Iran, to bring 1,466 Chinese citizens home between March 4 and 26, said Lyu Erxue, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

A total of 976 Chinese citizens flew back from Iran alone, most of whom were Chinese students, he said, then noting that the fourth such flight taking off from Italy is scheduled to bring back 180 Chinese citizens to the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou.

Another plane has departed Shanghai Thursday morning, headed to London to ferry 180 overseas Chinese students home, the first such flight arranged for Chinese citizens in the United Kingdom, according to Lyu.

For Chinese citizens that remain abroad, 116 tons of health supplies have been delivered to Chinese embassies and consulates in seven countries including Italy, the United States, France and the United Kingdom by April 1, with the rest of the 300-ton supplies bound for 12 countries to be delivered before April 10, according to Lyu.

To minimize the risk of imported cases, the CAAC said it sought to keep international flights under 134 per week, including necessary ones to carry Chinese people studying or living abroad back home.

As of Wednesday, the CAAC has organized 178 planes to send 100 medical experts and workers, as well as more than 2,635 tons of supplies to 40 countries worldwide to help fight the pandemic.

Vice Minister of Education Tian Xuejun said Thursday that the ministry has taken all-out efforts to safeguard the health and safety of overseas Chinese students amid COVID-19 pandemic.

A prevention and control guideline on COVID-19 was compiled for the students, and multiple lectures by renowned experts have also been held to offer more guidance on epidemic prevention, Tian said at a press conference.

Chinese embassies and consulates have distributed epidemic prevention materials including 11 million masks and 500,000 “health kits” to overseas students in a timely manner, Tian said, adding that more support for those in dire straits as well as consular protection are also available.

The overall number and proportion of overseas Chinese students infected with the coronavirus are at a relatively low level, Tian said, stressing that the emergency mechanism will be activated immediately once a confirmed or suspected case is found.

Resources from domestic universities have been mobilized to provide round-the-clock psychological counseling for overseas Chinese students, and counseling hotlines have also been set up for overseas students as well as parents to address their concerns, Tian said. (Xinhua)