Over 100 Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Wuhan could heave a sigh of relief as the Centre on Monday said an Air Force flight to the crisis-hit Chinese city is being planned for February 26 for bringing the evacuees back on February 27.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, who undertook a review of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID19) management across the country with senior officials of the Ministry, said he has been informed about the flight by the Ministry of External Affairs Ministry. 

 The Health Ministry quoted Vardhan as saying this.

India's national carrier Air India has already evacuated around 640 Indians from Wuhan in two separate flights. According to estimates, over 100 Indians are still living in Wuhan.

A sizeable number of countries have evacuated their citizens from China and restricted movement of people and goods to and from the country in view of the massive outbreak of coronavirus there.

At present, the screening of passengers is being done in all 21 airports, 12 major and 65 non-major seaports and border crossings.

In all 4,214 flights and 4,48,449 passengers have been screened so far while as of now, 2,707 samples have been tested of which only 3 samples had earlier tested positive (Kerala) and all the three patients have been discharged from the hospitals and are now in home isolation.

"All Indian evacuees from Wuhan have tested negative for COVID19 and have gone back to their homes from the quarantine facilities. In all, 23,259 persons were brought under community surveillance in 34 States/UTs through the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network," said the Minister.

A revised travel advisory on travel to Singapore has been issued on February 22.

Regarding movement across Kartarpur border in Punjab, it was informed that in discussion with the Home Ministry, Health Ministry and Health Secretary, Punjab, special screening has been strengthened across the border and further necessary facilitation for masks to be worn by pilgrims is being initiated.

At present, in addition to screening of passengers from flights coming from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, entry screening has been extended to flights coming from Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia with effect from February 23.