41 million people in 13 Chinese cities were affected by a travel ban as authorities sought to control the pneumonia epidemic.

China today imposed a ban on traveling with four more cities in Hubei province, including Ham Ninh, Hieu Cam, An Thi and Nghi Xuong. Public transportation services here, such as buses and trains, will all be shut down.

Yichang, a city of 550,000, announced the closure of all businesses except a pharmacy, while An Thi with 800,000 had closed all entertainment venues.

Kinh Chau City, home to 6.4 million people, said all services departing from the train station in the city would be suspended. Huangshi, home to a population of 2.4 million, also closed roads, a ferry, a bridge over the Yangtze and suspended public transport.

Other cities that impose travel restrictions include Tiem Giang, Tien Dao, Xich Bich, Ngac Chau, Hoang Cuong and Loi Xuyen. The virus appeared in the middle of the Lunar New Year holiday, causing authorities to cancel many cultural performances in public places.

Pandemic new virus strain of pneumonia strain (nCoV) first appeared in Wuhan city, capital of Hubei province. A seafood and live animal market is identified as the outbreak center. As of today, the pandemic pneumonia has killed 26 people and about 800 cases worldwide. Outside of China, outbreaks have occurred in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Pandemic pneumonia has caused an alarm similar to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Nearly 650 people in mainland China and Hong Kong died from the SARS epidemic in 2002-2003.

China also today announced the closure of part of the Great Wall and other famous landmarks in Beijing to control the spread of the disease. A series of Chinese New Year festivals were canceled, while the Forbidden City in Beijing and Disneyland Park in Shanghai were also closed.