Statement on the Wuhan Corona virus

THE Embassy of Saint Lucia to the Republic of China (Taiwan) has issued the following statement on the Wuhan Coronavirus:

Since its outbreak in Wuhan, China last month, the rapid international spread of the deadly coronavirus is of particular concern to the Government of Saint Lucia. Similar to the SARS epidemic of 2003 which killed hundreds of people and caused massive social and economic disruption, this Wuhan coronavirus respects no borders.

If the catastrophe 17 years ago is to be avoided, this new outbreak must rapidly be brought under control and contained in its very early stages before it becomes a global crisis. However, with the vast numbers of airline travellers in this region, attaining this goal is particularly challenging. In any event, effective action can only be achieved if it is meaningfully coordinated internationally particularly among all countries in close proximity to the epicenter of the outbreak.

Short term or myopic considerations must not be permitted to impede international information exchange, consultation and collective action.

Given Taiwan’s proximity, its importance as a transport hub and its 23 million population, Saint Lucia urgently calls on the WHO, as a matter of urgency, to ensure that there is the full involvement of the Taiwanese authorities in the international consultations, planning and decision making to monitor, control and ultimately halt the further spread of the coronavirus.