COVID-19 has spread recently in the world and 64 countries have been affected as of March 2. New cases in South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and other countries have increased significantly. Imported cases have been found in many regions of China, like Beijing, Zhejiang and Shenzhen. We hereby provide the following prevention and control suggestions for the overseas Chinese:

I. Follow the local epidemic situation, and actively cooperate with the local government accordingly in carrying out prevention and control measures pursuant to infectious diseases related laws and regulations of the country or region you are in.

II. Follow information published on websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control and other official agencies to see the prevention and control requirements and health tips with regard to COVID-19.

III. Eight personal protective measures: First, maintain good personal hygiene, wash hands frequently, drink more water, and change and wash clothes frequently. Wash hands after coming back home, before eating meals and after using the toilet; hands must be washed or disinfected with hand disinfectant after touching articles that may be contaminated. Second, wear a face mask when going out, getting into an elevator, taking public transportation, or in other closed environments. Third, keep the living environment clean. It is recommended to ventilate 2-3 times a day for more than 30 minutes each time while keeping yourself warm during ventilation. Fourth, avoid the peak time for meals in public places and reduce close contact with others. Fifth, wear a mask when receiving visitors. Avoid shaking hands, giving hugs, and maintain a distance of more than one meter. Sixth, avoid dinner parties and activities in crowded public places, especially places with poor air flow, such as theaters, bars, internet cafes, shopping malls, stations, docks, exhibition halls, museums, public baths, hot springs, etc. Seventh, avoid spitting anywhere, use elbows or paper towels to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes with hands. Wrap nasal and oral secretions or spits with paper towels and dispose of them in covered dustbins. Eighth, if you share a room with others or live in other people's home, you need to observe whether the relevant personnel are running a fever, receiving medical treatment or having other abnormal conditions.

IV. If you have a fever, dry cough and other symptoms, please stop working or studying immediately. You should wear a mask, seek medical treatment at the nearest medical institution, and inform the medical personnel of your relevant contact history. During the treatment, avoid touching articles in the clinic, and avoid subconsciously touching your mouth, nose and eyes.

V. During the COVID-19 outbreak period, please keep calm, and do not travel unless it's necessary. Please make international travels in strict accordance with the relevant recommendations and requirements of local authorities and Chinese embassies. If you have been a close contact of COVID-19 cases, you should cancel travel and conduct isolated medical observation on site.

The World Health Organization has raised the global risk assessment level of COVID-19 to "very high". Therefore, it is necessary for every country and every person to work together to fight against the epidemic.

March 3, 2020