China Wuhan Minister Chu Tien Vuong urged residents not to leave and people from other regions not to come to the city to avoid spreading pneumonia.

Zhou said in an interview with CCTV on January 21 that reducing the flow of people would reduce the likelihood of the virus spreading and reduce the pressure on disease prevention and control efforts.

Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in Hubei province, central China, is the site of a new outbreak of pneumonia caused by a new strain of the corona family (nCoV). 17 people were killed. The disease has spread to many other populous cities in China and to the United States, Thailand, South Korea and Japan. Some countries such as the United Kingdom and Singapore tighten check on passengers on flights from China. Beijing on January 20 confirmed that the virus could be transmitted from person to person.

The body temperature scanners are set up at the train station and airport in Wuhan. Officials check the driver's temperature at highway checkpoints. Tour groups are prohibited from leaving the city.

Wuhan canceled the annual prayers at Quy Nguyen pagoda and closed the temple - which attracted 700,000 tourists during the holiday last year. All art shows are canceled and museums are closed. The ticketing platform Toupiaopiao said it would refund the ticket price.

Melissa Santos, a Dominican student living in Wuhan, said a friend living in another city in Hubei province revoked her invitation to visit during the holiday. "He was afraid I would catch the disease," she said. "I also want to cancel the trip because I don't want to get on the train and sit next to people who might get sick."