Last Updated on 2020/01/23
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From 10 am on Tuesday, all city buses, subways, ferries, and long-distance transport are suspended in Wuhan.
Wuhan authorities have announced a travel ban on city residents due to the coronavirus epidemic that killed 17 people and infecting another 550 in China.
The news was released by CCTV on Wednesday.
Trains and flights departing from Wuhan will also be temporarily suspended. The notice did not say when the services would resume.
According to the authorities, the ban in Wuhan, which has a population of 11 million and is China’s fourth railway hub, is to “best prevent and control the epidemic of the new type of coronavirus infection, effectively cut off the transmission of the virus, and curb the spread of the epidemic to ensure the safety and health of the people”.
The Wuhan government also issued another notice mandating that everyone wear masks in public places, including civil servants and employees of public institutions.
Roads in Wuhan on lockdown and blocked by police as the city is being quarantined #China #Wuhan #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/KzS4vrWXng
— CNW (@ConflictsW) January 22, 2020
Some residents rushed to the Wuhan flight station and airport trying to leave the city soon after the government announcement.
The outbreak of the epidemic came at the worst time of the year, during the Chinese New Year celebrations when millions of Chinese workers return to their hometowns to spend the holidays with their families.
Other provinces, such as Jiangsu, have issued bans to prevent travel to Wuhan, and have set up checkpoints to inspect passengers from Wuhan.
Wednesday, Beijing News reported that Wuhan is struggling to cope with the situation, with overcrowded hospitals and numerous feverish patients waiting.
Most infections and deaths occurred in Wuhan, where the virus is supposed to have originated. Numerous infected people live or work near the Huanan Fish Market, which has been identified as the source of the outbreak.
The World Health Organization remains in close contact with local authorities.
Source: scpm