The Czech Republic has become the first country within the Schengen Area to stop granting visas in China.
Schengen Visa Info reports the move was announced by Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček.
Petříček reportedly said that the ministry stopped issuing visas to Chinese citizens over the coronavirus infection and is not accepting new visa applications in China.
He added that Czech visa centres in China are closed at the moment.
According to reports, the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 213.
Chinese health authorities said there were 9,692 confirmed cases and infections have spread to at least 22 other countries.
The World Health Organisation recently declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency.
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