A Coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, has killed 17 people and infected more than 570 across China. Authorities will suspend all outbound transport from Wuhan.
The government is also asking citizens not to leave the city of 11 million unless there are special circumstances, state media said.
Officials said the nation is now at the most critical stage of prevention and control, especially as China prepares to celebrate the lunar new year on 25 January and hundreds of millions will crisscross the country.
The city’s airport and train stations, bus, subway, ferry and long-distance passenger transportation networks from the city will be suspended from 10 am local time on Thursday, state media reported.
“Spring festival is just around the corner … which objectively increases the risk of the disease spreading and the difficulty of prevention and control. We must not be careless, and we must be highly vigilant,” said Li Bin, deputy director of the commission.
“The virus may mutate, and there is a risk of further spread of the virus,” he said. The public have been advised to avoid densely populated areas.
The World Health Organization put off a decision over whether to declare the outbreak a global health emergency and asked its expert committee on the issue to continue their meeting for a second day on Thursday.
The Who’s Director General said that the emergency measures taken by authorities in Wuhan showed commitment to minimizing risks locally and abroad.
>Juthy Saha
