Beijing will make arrangements according to epidemic prevention regulations and provide necessary assistance for Washington to evacuate its personnel from its consulate general in Wuhan back to the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks in an online statement on Sunday.

Since the pneumonia outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus in the Central Chinese city, China has briefed the World Health Organization and relevant countries about the epidemic in a timely manner and has stayed in close contact with them, Hua said.

The US State Department said Sunday it is organizing a single flight out of Wuhan on Tuesday, confirming efforts to extricate diplomats and a limited number of private US citizens from the virus-struck city, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Republic of Korea is considering chartering a plane for its citizens, the Wall Street Journal quoted a person familiar with the matter as saying.

According to a statement at the website of the French consulate in Wuhan, France is considering working with the local government to set up a bus service allowing French citizens, their spouses and children to leave the city.