Jitters turn Wuhan into ghost town

Wuhan has turned into a ghost town as it struggles to contain the mystery pneumonia virus that has spread across the country.

Mayor Zhou Xianwang urged the 11.8 million residents not to leave the capital city of Hubei province in Central China and for visitors to avoid it to reduce person-to-person spread of the virus.

"If it's not necessary, we suggest that people don't come to Wuhan," Zhou told state broadcaster CCTV.

National Health Commission vice minister Li Bin added his voice to calls to avoid Wuhan, saying yesterday it is best "that people do not visit Wuhan unless needed and for Wuhan residents not to leave the area."

With the number of confirmed cases increasing every day, residents should also avoid public areas and stay home, Li added.

One video shows empty metro stations, with no passenger waiting for incoming trains in the major transport hub. Another shows an empty Zhongshan Avenue, usually a busy commercial area, when one bus drove by. Fever scanners have been set up at the city's train stations and at the airport while officials check the temperatures of drivers at highway checkpoints.

Outbound tour groups have been banned from leaving the city.

The Wuhan government said in a notice that it will cancel activities during the Lunar New Year holiday, announcing a list of 11 categories of holiday events that had been canceled.

The list includes the annual lion dance and drum contest that was to have taken place on February 5 and large-scale light shows on the first day of the Lunar New Year on Saturday and on February 8.

The city also canceled the annual prayer-giving at Guiyuan Temple. It has closed the temple, which attracted 700,000 tourists during last year's holiday.

City authorities said 30,000 tourists had already booked tickets for celebrations that had either been canceled or postponed and 200,000 free event coupons had been distributed.

The Wuhan new coronavirus infected pneumonia prevention and control headquarters said it will cancel public events that are not necessary, including the museum and all local artistic and theater performances.

It has pulled plans to send opera troupes around rural areas during the holiday.

The government announced a series of tightening measures after facing criticism for holding a public banquet at the weekend. In response to the criticism, Zhou said the authorities did not fully understand how the virus was spread.

Police are now conducting spot checks for live poultry or wild animals in vehicles exiting and entering the city.