Amid the spread of the deadly new virus, Coronavirus, the Chinese government has extended travel restrictions to Huanggang and Ezhou, in addition to the lockdown imposed on Wuhan city.
The authorities in Huanggang have announced the suspension of public buses and trains, as well as the closure of cinemas and internet cafes until further notice.
This decision comes after the lockdown of Wuhan, where all flights have been canceled, and residents have been advised against traveling.
Officials are also planning the closure of Huanggang, a city with seven million residents, located near Ezhou, which has about one million residents.
With the outbreak, over 580 coronavirus cases have been confirmed, resulting in at least 17 deaths, mostly in China. The virus has also been detected in eight individuals in Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States, with authorities in Washington monitoring at least 16 people.
As the World Health Organization convenes to decide whether it constitutes an international emergency, the British government has heightened measures to contain the virus, directing passengers from the last flight from Wuhan through a separate area at London’s Heathrow airport.
Researchers suggest that the virus, which can lead to pneumonia, might have been transmitted to humans from snakes. They also mentioned the absence of a specific drug or vaccine targeting the new coronavirus, but expressed belief in the potential effectiveness of existing antiviral drugs against it.