CORONAVIRUS | The Lithuanian authorities declared yesterday a state of emergency in the country over the possible spread of the novel coronavirus, reported Xinhua news agency.

"The state of emergency has been declared exclusively for prevention purposes," Deputy Health Minister Algirdas Seselgis was quoted by local media as saying at a government meeting.

The state of emergency will allow better coordinative and preventative actions, organised work of state institutions as well as the use of medical reserves, said Seselgis, urging people to keep themselves posted about the official information on the epidemic although cases of the new virus have not been diagnosed in the country.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, 48 samples have been tested at the National Public Health Centre, all of which were negative.

The Ministry of Health has recommended for people who recently returned from China or northern Italy to self-quarantine in their homes for 14 days.

"When the state of emergency is declared, all recommendations will be reviewed and some of them will become compulsory instructions," said Seselgis.

Lithuanian citizens are increasingly concerned about a possible coronavirus outbreak after more than 300 cases have been confirmed in northern Italy.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said yesterday that the country needs to prepare for the situation and urged the public not to panic.

- Bernama