A woman wearing a protective mask, walks near Arc de Triomphe following France's Prime Minister announcement to close most all non-indispensable locations, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs and shops as France grapples with an outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, in Paris, France, March 15, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese students overseas are better off suspending their trips back to China if "it's not very necessary",  a health official in Beijing said on March 18, as the novel coronavirus spreads worldwide and long trips may increase their risk of being infected.

"Students abroad should assess their own health situation and try to choose non-stop flights if they have to go back to China,"  Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said at a news conference held by Beijing municipal government.

Returnees should take the initiative to report to customs their health conditions and not hide any symptoms. Otherwise, they will be held liable, she said.

Faced with a rising risk of imported infections, the capital has required all inbound travelers, no matter which country they departed from, to be quarantined for 14 days.

Chinese students who stay overseas are advised to improve self-protection measures, cooperate with local governments to prevent the virus, and follow information about the disease from relevant authorities, such as China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Center for Disease Control.

Pang said students overseas are advised to reduce close contacts with others, avoid social gatherings, and improve their autoimmunity. 

If sharing an apartment with others, she suggested students overseas pay attention to the health of their roommates, too.

"If they have a fever overseas, students had better go see a doctor nearby," she said, adding that they can also approach the Chinese embassy for help.