Hong Kong declares Wuhan virus outbreak an 'emergency'
China's virus-struck city of Wuhan will restrict car traffic as it battles to contain the outbreak of the new coronavirus, the local government said Saturday.
"Motor vehicles shall be prohibited from driving in the central urban areas" from midnight, the government said, with a few exceptions such as official vehicles. AFP reported.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has declared the outbreak of coronavirus as an "emergency" -- the city's highest warning tier -- as authorities ramped up measures to reduce the risk of spread of infections. NDTV reported.
"Today I declare the lifting of the response level to emergency," chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters.
There are two cases of coronavirus reported in Hong Kong while Japan's health ministry said on Saturday a third case of infection by China's coronavirus has been recorded.
China has launched a massive quarantine effort for Wuhan where coronavirus outbreak has triggered health warnings in several countries across the world in the last few days.
Several other cities in China are also under lock-down as number of deaths due to the outbreak have jumped to 41.
China's aggressive response has won praise internationally, especially compared to SARS, in which it was accused of a slow-footed reaction and stonewalling the international community.
Festivities Cancelled
Wuhan and Beijing have cancelled public events that usually attract hundreds of thousands of people to temples during the New Year holiday.
Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has asked China's 1.4 billion citizens to forego New Year gatherings and confine themselves at home until all is clear.
To discourage nationwide travel, the government also said all tickets for rail, air, road, or water transport could be refunded.
Festivities Cancelled
Wuhan and Beijing have cancelled public events that usually attract hundreds of thousands of people to temples during the New Year holiday.
Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has asked China's 1.4 billion citizens to forego New Year gatherings and confine themselves at home until all is clear.
To discourage nationwide travel, the government also said all tickets for rail, air, road, or water transport could be refunded.
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