New Delhi (NVI): China is putting on lockdown Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, considering it the epicentre of novel coronavirus, that has killed 17 and infected nearly 600, as health officials around the world scramble to prevent a global pandemic.
The authorities have suspended planes and trains in and out of the city of 11 million people, as well as buses, subways and ferries.
The move is meant to “effectively cut off the virus spread, resolutely curb the outbreak and guarantee the people’s health and safety,” the notice said, according to Xinhua news agency.
Residents have been told not to leave. Worried about a food shortage, one said it felt like “the end of the world”.
Health officials fear the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for Lunar New Year, which begins on Saturday.
Cases have been detected as far away as the United States, stoking fears the virus is already spreading worldwide.
In contrast with its secrecy over the 2002-03 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that killed nearly 800 people, China’s communist government has this time provided regular updates to avoid panic ahead of the holidays.
Authorities had confirmed 571 cases and 17 deaths by the end of Wednesday, China’s National Health Commission said. Earlier, it said another 393 suspected cases have been reported.
Several regional airlines – including Malaysia’s AirAsia and Singapore Airlines budget carrier Scoot – have announced a temporary halt to flights to and from Wuhan.
