Among Taiwan residents in the mainland, three were confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus and two were suspected of being infected, the mainland Taiwan affairs authority said on Wednesday, noting all have received timely medical treatment.

About 247 Taiwan residents took a chartered flight back to Taiwan from Wuhan, center of the coronavirus outbreak, on Monday, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

More arrangements will be made for other Taiwan residents in Hubei who want to return to the island, the office said.

“The mainland cares for Taiwan residents living on the mainland and will try to help them cope with their difficulties,” said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the office, on Wednesday.

Ma said since the outbreak, the mainland has been keeping in touch with the island authorities in the prevention and control of the outbreak for the safety of people on both sides of the Straits.

He said the mainland has arranged experts from Taiwan for field work in Wuhan and provided relevant materials for the island.

The mainland has given Taiwan outbreak information 36 times, and Taiwan to the mainland 15 times in return.

Taiwan-invested companies, businesspeople and organizations also offered donations to assist those affected by the novel coronavirus on the mainland.

“Helping each other is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation. The compatriots on both sides are a family with the same blood and also a community of common destiny,” Ma said.

The mainland’s concern and care for Taiwan compatriots and support from people on the island for the mainland's fight against the epidemic demonstrate the deep feeling between compatriots on both sides, he added.

Ma said the mainland will continue to maintain the communication and coordination mechanism on epidemic prevention with the island, and manage cross-Straits personnel exchanges.

For Taiwan residents returning from the island to the mainland to work and study after the Spring Festival holiday, efforts will be made to strengthen prevention and control of the epidemic, he said.

Services will be provided to Taiwan-funded enterprises on the mainland that resume production to ensure orderly production and business operations, he added.

The spokesperson called on island authorities to properly handle the return of mainland students who study in Taiwan to the island and ensure their health and education rights.