The Chinese government announced an extension of the Chinese New Year holiday until February 2 amid a new outbreak of pneumonia caused by a new strain of the corona virus (nCoV).

The holiday is scheduled to end on January 30 but is extended by three days in an effort to prevent and control the new strain, Chinese central broadcaster CCTV said today. Additional holidays will be available but a return date has not been announced.

Beijing capital yesterday said it would delay the new semester at all kindergartens, elementary, secondary and tertiary to prevent acute pneumonia. Extracurricular educational programs are also suspended and the time when students in this city enter the new semester has not been set.

The announcement of the extended Chinese New Year holiday was made when the acute pneumonia epidemic was spreading to many provinces of this country and other countries. Health authorities around the world are racing to prevent the pandemic after more than 2,000 people have been infected in China and 56 have died from virus infections.

The virus causing Wuhan pneumonia is thought to originate from a seafood and animal market in the central Chinese city. Many countries have reported people infected with nCoV such as Thailand, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Singapore and Vietnam.

China has closed a number of attractions and canceled a series of events to celebrate the New Year before the Lunar New Year, while taking measures to prevent other spreads such as city blockade, traffic restriction. , tourism and entertainment spots.

Wuhan City and many parts of Hubei Province have issued an order "on the inside and outside the country" on January 23, while banning non-essential vehicles from circulating in the city center.