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Qatar tribune
China banned trains and planes from leaving a major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on Thursday, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed 17 lives, infected hundreds and spread to other countries.
Authorities in Wuhan, a major transport hub, also suspended public buses and subways, and said residents should not leave "without a special reason".
More than 570 people have been infected with the virus across China -- with most cases found in Wuhan, where a seafood market that illegally sold wild animals has been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak.
The coronavirus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
Like SARS, it can be passed among people through the respiratory tract.
Wuhan residents shared their anguish on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform, with one describing being on the "verge of tears" when the de facto quarantine was announced.
"We are feeling as though it is the end of the world," said another on Weibo, voicing concerns about shortages of food and disinfectant.
"We really need everyone's help."
Wuhan's train station was almost empty except for workers and about a dozen people lining up for taxis, all of whom were wearing masks, according to an AFP reporter.
The first case of the new virus was confirmed on December 31, and it has since been detected in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday delayed a decision on whether to declare a global health emergency -- a rare instrument used only for the worst outbreaks.
The emergency committee will meet again on Thursday, after its chair, Didier Houssin, said the experts were split over declaring a public health emergency.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said "more information" was needed but he also praised China's "very, very strong measures".
"By having a strong action not only will they control the outbreak in their country but they will also minimise the chances of this outbreak spreading internationally," Tedros said when asked about Wuhan's transport shutdown.
With hundreds of millions of people travelling across China this week for the Lunar New Year holiday, the National Health Commission announced on Wednesday measures to curb the disease nationwide -- including sterilisation and ventilation at airports and bus stations, as well as inside planes and trains.
Wuhan's special anti-virus command centre said the quarantine measures were meant to "effectively cut off the virus spread, resolutely curb the outbreak and guarantee the people's health and safety," according to state media.
While departures were banned, trains and planes were still allowed into the city.
On one inbound train, the few passengers aboard heading ahead of the Lunar New Year were wearing masks.
"I wanted to go home,"a 28-year-old man surnamed Fang on a train from Shanghai to Wuhan told AFP.
The city's tourism and culture department cancelled all group tours until February 8, according to state media.
The city has also cancelled large public events for the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts Friday.
Authorities made it mandatory to wear a mask in public places in the city.
"Those who disregard the warning will be punished according to relevant laws and regulations," the city government warned, according to state media.
Animals are suspected to be the primary source of the outbreak, with Chinese health officials saying that the virus originated from the market where wild animals were illegally sold.

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23/01/2020
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