BEIJING: Huanggang on Thursday became the second Chinese city to go into lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 17 people and infected more than 630.
Health authorities in the city of around 7.5 million, which is 70km from the central city of Wuhan where the outbreak is centered, said they would suspend public bus and railway operations from midnight.
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They also ordered indoor entertainment venues including movie theatres and internet cafes to shut, and asked citizens not to leave the city other than under special circumstances.
Another nearby city, Ezhou, said on Thursday it had shut its train stations.
Huanggang had reported 12 cases of the coronavirus as of the end of Monday.
Health officials fear the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for the Chinese New Year, which begins on Saturday.
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Wuhan is already on lockdown, shutting all urban transport networks and suspending outgoing flights from Thursday.
READ: Last flight from Wuhan: 'Everyone was wearing masks'
READ: 'Verge of tears': Residents of virus-hit Wuhan call for support amid worries of food shortages
The previously unknown virus strain is believed to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market in Wuhan.
There is no vaccine for the virus, which can spread through respiratory transmission. Symptoms include fever, difficulty in breathing and cough, similar to many other Read More – Source
BEIJING: Huanggang on Thursday became the second Chinese city to go into lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 17 people and infected more than 630.
Health authorities in the city of around 7.5 million, which is 70km from the central city of Wuhan where the outbreak is centered, said they would suspend public bus and railway operations from midnight.
Advertisement
Advertisement
They also ordered indoor entertainment venues including movie theatres and internet cafes to shut, and asked citizens not to leave the city other than under special circumstances.
Another nearby city, Ezhou, said on Thursday it had shut its train stations.
Huanggang had reported 12 cases of the coronavirus as of the end of Monday.
Health officials fear the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for the Chinese New Year, which begins on Saturday.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Wuhan is already on lockdown, shutting all urban transport networks and suspending outgoing flights from Thursday.
READ: Last flight from Wuhan: 'Everyone was wearing masks'
READ: 'Verge of tears': Residents of virus-hit Wuhan call for support amid worries of food shortages
The previously unknown virus strain is believed to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market in Wuhan.
There is no vaccine for the virus, which can spread through respiratory transmission. Symptoms include fever, difficulty in breathing and cough, similar to many other Read More – Source