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China bans long-distance buses from entering three cities to contain coronavirus spread Coronavirus: China bans inter-city buses from Beijing as lockdown intensifies
(about 1 hour later)
Shandong province and Beijing, Tianjin and Xi’an have suspended long-distance and chartered buses from crossing their borders Shandong province and the capital, Tianjin and Xi’an have suspended inter-city and chartered buses from crossing their borders
Chinese authorities have stepped up their attempts to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak as one province and three cities – including Beijing – banned long-distance buses.Chinese authorities have stepped up their attempts to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak as one province and three cities – including Beijing – banned long-distance buses.
As the United States, France and Australia prepared to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan, the quarantined city at the outbreak’s epicentre, drastic measures were being put in place to prevent China’s population of 1.4 billion from moving around the country.As the United States, France and Australia prepared to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan, the quarantined city at the outbreak’s epicentre, drastic measures were being put in place to prevent China’s population of 1.4 billion from moving around the country.
The eastern Shandong province, with a population of 100 million people, will suspend long-distance buses entering the province, state broadcaster CCTV reported, following the announcement of similar measures in the cities of Tianjin, Beijing and the historic Xi’an.The eastern Shandong province, with a population of 100 million people, will suspend long-distance buses entering the province, state broadcaster CCTV reported, following the announcement of similar measures in the cities of Tianjin, Beijing and the historic Xi’an.
Inter-city buses in the province will only be allowed to leave if stations have temperature screening measures, CCTV said.Inter-city buses in the province will only be allowed to leave if stations have temperature screening measures, CCTV said.
From 6pm (1000 GMT) on Sunday, Xi’an – home to the Terracotta Army – will suspend long-distance buses and tourist chartered buses entering the city of 10 million people, local officials said on the Twitter-like Weibo platform, following the announcement of similar measures in Tianjin and Beijing.From 6pm (1000 GMT) on Sunday, Xi’an – home to the Terracotta Army – will suspend long-distance buses and tourist chartered buses entering the city of 10 million people, local officials said on the Twitter-like Weibo platform, following the announcement of similar measures in Tianjin and Beijing.
Inter-city taxis will be suspended, except those from the city’s airport, the statement said.Inter-city taxis will be suspended, except those from the city’s airport, the statement said.
The measures are to stop the spread of the virus through “passenger transport by road and taxis”, officials said.The measures are to stop the spread of the virus through “passenger transport by road and taxis”, officials said.
Shantou in the southern province of Guangzhou – 800km from Wuhan – said on Sunday it was also banning cars, boats or people from entering the city, except for emergency purposes. But this statement was later reversed with local state media STRTV saying that it would only strengthen disease controls such as disinfection efforts.Shantou in the southern province of Guangzhou – 800km from Wuhan – said on Sunday it was also banning cars, boats or people from entering the city, except for emergency purposes. But this statement was later reversed with local state media STRTV saying that it would only strengthen disease controls such as disinfection efforts.
China has locked down the hard-hit province of Hubei in the country’s centre and the capital Wuhan in an unprecedented operation affecting tens of millions of people to slow the spread of a respiratory illness that president Xi Jinping said posed a “grave” threat.China has locked down the hard-hit province of Hubei in the country’s centre and the capital Wuhan in an unprecedented operation affecting tens of millions of people to slow the spread of a respiratory illness that president Xi Jinping said posed a “grave” threat.
The virus has spread throughout China and around the world, with cases confirmed in around a dozen other countries as distant as France, Australia and the United States.The virus has spread throughout China and around the world, with cases confirmed in around a dozen other countries as distant as France, Australia and the United States.
The State Department said on Sunday it was arranging a flight to evacuate staff at its consulate in Wuhan as well as other American citizens trapped in the city.The State Department said on Sunday it was arranging a flight to evacuate staff at its consulate in Wuhan as well as other American citizens trapped in the city.
The flight departs Wuhan on Tuesday for San Francisco, it said in an email to Americans in China, while warning of “extremely limited” capacity for private citizens.The flight departs Wuhan on Tuesday for San Francisco, it said in an email to Americans in China, while warning of “extremely limited” capacity for private citizens.
France’s government and the French carmaker PSA - which has a sizable presence in Wuhan - also said they were formulating plans to evacuate staff and relatives, who would be taken to a city in a neighbouring province to face a quarantine period.France’s government and the French carmaker PSA - which has a sizable presence in Wuhan - also said they were formulating plans to evacuate staff and relatives, who would be taken to a city in a neighbouring province to face a quarantine period.
Sri Lanka said its embassy in Beijing also was considering action regarding its own nationals.Sri Lanka said its embassy in Beijing also was considering action regarding its own nationals.
The streets of stricken Wuhan were even more deserted on Sunday after new restrictions went into effect banning most cars from roads in the metropolis of 11 million.The streets of stricken Wuhan were even more deserted on Sunday after new restrictions went into effect banning most cars from roads in the metropolis of 11 million.
A woman said she and fellow staff at a Wuhan hotel were living in the hotel itself as a precaution amid the transport freeze.A woman said she and fellow staff at a Wuhan hotel were living in the hotel itself as a precaution amid the transport freeze.
“The hotel is letting us live in it for our safety because if we go out we are afraid of being infected,” said the woman, who declined to give her name.“The hotel is letting us live in it for our safety because if we go out we are afraid of being infected,” said the woman, who declined to give her name.
But residents interviewed by AFP generally took the hardship in stride.But residents interviewed by AFP generally took the hardship in stride.
“I have a lot of confidence. I believe the Wuhan city government can defeat this (epidemic),” said a man who gave only his surname, Wan.“I have a lot of confidence. I believe the Wuhan city government can defeat this (epidemic),” said a man who gave only his surname, Wan.
Travel is also being curtailed in other parts of the country, with long-distance bus services entering and leaving Beijing suspended Sunday. The neighbouring northern city of Tianjin plans to follow suit Monday.Travel is also being curtailed in other parts of the country, with long-distance bus services entering and leaving Beijing suspended Sunday. The neighbouring northern city of Tianjin plans to follow suit Monday.
Overseas Chinese tour groups will be suspended from Monday while domestic trips have already been halted since Friday.Overseas Chinese tour groups will be suspended from Monday while domestic trips have already been halted since Friday.
In the semi-autonomous southern city of Hong Kong, Disneyland announced Sunday it had closed following the government’s declaration of an emergency to combat the crisis.In the semi-autonomous southern city of Hong Kong, Disneyland announced Sunday it had closed following the government’s declaration of an emergency to combat the crisis.
The nationwide death toll rose to 56 after 15 new deaths, most of them in Hubei.The nationwide death toll rose to 56 after 15 new deaths, most of them in Hubei.
The financial hub of Shanghai, which has extensive international air connections, on Sunday reported its first death - an 88-year-old man who had pre-existing health problems.The financial hub of Shanghai, which has extensive international air connections, on Sunday reported its first death - an 88-year-old man who had pre-existing health problems.