The Kremlin announced Thursday that it has begun subjecting officials and journalists attending events attended by President Vladimir Putin to a thermal examination, in light of concerns about the new Corona virus.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping today discussed by telephone the issue of Corona Virus outbreak with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, while the World Health Organization announced a meeting of international experts next week to discuss the Corona crisis.

"This is a precautionary measure," Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the official news agency "Novosti," after examining reporters in the Kremlin Thursday afternoon, adding that all those present at the meetings attended by the Russian leader would be examined.

The temperatures of all the journalists working in the Kremlin were taken before the start of the State Council meeting (an official consulting institution) on Thursday, and all of them were allowed to enter, according to the official news agency.

The agency quoted officials as saying that the measure was taken to prevent the spread of the new Corona virus in Russia.

Two epidemic cases have been confirmed in Russia, which shares a 4,000-km border with China, and both sufferers have Chinese citizenship and are receiving treatment in a Siberian hospital.

Russia has closed its land borders with China, and has taken other measures to halt the spread of the virus.

Telephone conversation
Xinhua News Agency reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday discussed by telephone the issue of Corona virus outbreak with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The agency added that the two sides discussed "efforts to combat the new Coruna virus epidemic and ways to control it."

The Corona virus in China is exacerbated by the increase in its toll to 563, and the number of infected people across China has reached more than 28,000, while the authorities are working to contain the spreading disease, despite forcing millions to stay in their homes in an increasing number of cities.

International meeting
The World Health Organization announced today that it is scheduled to meet international experts in Geneva next week, to discuss the crisis of the new mutated Coronavirus, which continues to spread in China and the world.

It is expected that the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday will contain the latest experiences and information about the virus, and experts intend to discuss treatments and vaccines, in addition to examining the possible source of the virus and how it spreads.

The experts also intend to discuss the development of rapid diagnosis and blood tests.

Nearly 25 countries confirmed cases on their soil of the virus, which first appeared in a wildlife market in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, in late December.

A number of countries have banned flights from China, and governments have warned against travel to this country, while airlines have suspended flights to it.

Saudi Arabia has become among the countries that have banned its citizens and residents from traveling to China, while Air France-KLM has decided to extend the suspension of its flights to China for another month until March 15.