Novel Coronavirus: Travel Disruption and Situation Update

23 January 2020 ,  —

London


Defer all travel to Wuhan. Public transport from Wuhan suspended from 23 January. Requirement to wear face masks in public places in Wuhan. Cases detected in Hong Kong. WHO continues meeting to determine if outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Cases have been confirmed in people who travelled from Wuhan to other locations in China including; Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai, as well as to other countries/territories including Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand and the United States.

Restrictions to Movement: In Wuhan, local tourist groups have been banned from travelling outside of the city and private cars will be checked by the local police to prevent the import and export of animals. The authorities have installed 35 fixed temperature screening stations at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH), train stations and bus stops. Travellers with symptoms of the virus will be quarantined and directed towards designated hospitals.

Several airports in Zhejiang province, including Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH), Ningbo Lishe International (NGB), Taizhou Luqiao (HYN), Wenzhou Longwan International (WNZ) and Yiwu (YIW), began conducting temperature screenings on travellers from Wuhan on 20 January. The authorities in Shenzhen (Guangdong) have also started conducting temperature screenings at airports, docks and railway and bus stations. Guangzhou (Guangdong) will start temperature checks at metro stations from 22 January. Those travelling to Hong Kong from Wuhan by air will have to fill out Health Declaration Forms as part of the screening procedure. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control raised their travel to Level 3, advising people against non-essential travel to Wuhan.


International SOS is monitoring the situation closely. Defer all travel to Wuhan. Follow all official directives, including wearing of face masks in public places in Wuhan. Everyone in China is advised to pay attention to general hygiene, avoid contact with sick people and avoid wet markets. Do not travel if you are sick.

For more information and the latest International SOS webinar on the Novel Coronavirus, click here.


Notes to Editors

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