The Civil Aviation Administration of China has approved several applications by domestic airlines for charter flights to transport residents of Wuhan who have been stranded abroad since the novel coronavirus outbreak.  

Starting from January 23, a number of airlines have suspended flights to and from the city, the epicenter of the outbreak in the light of concerns about the spread of the epidemic.

The disease has sickened at least 7,711 people and killed 170 on the Chinese mainland up to Wednesday midnight.

A large number of travelers from Wuhan had flown overseas before the alert about the virus was raised.

The civil aviation administration said airlines should not refuse any passenger who has passed a health test from boarding the plane and shall keep a record of crew members and passenger information.

So far, a number of Wuhan residents have been brought home from destinations like Krabi in Thailand, Mandalay in Myanmar, Singapore and Osaka in Japan, according to the agency.

(With input from China Daily)