Canada has chartered a plane to bring home as many as 160 of its nationals from China because of the coronavirus epidemic, officials have said.
Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters it could take several days to obtain permission to land in or near Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic.
"There are 160 Canadians (in China) who have asked for consular assistance," Champagne said on Wednesday.
"We have secured a plane to repatriate Canadians who wish to come back," he said. "Now the next step is to work on the diplomatic front and the logistics with our Chinese counterparts. We are engaging in discussion as we speak."