Wuhan shuts down airport, railway stations to contain spread of coronavirus

Wuhan City in central China, where an outbreak of pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus has claimed 17 lives in three weeks, is suspending all public transport to prevent further spread of the disease, according to a statement released by the Pneumonia Epidemic Control Headquarters in the city.

Starting from 10:00 a.m. Thursday, the city will shut down all outbound flights and trains, the statement said.

The government has asked local residents not to leave Wuhan "without special reasons."

Services of bus, subway and inter-city bus are also going to be suspended.

Nearly 500 cases of infections of this new virus has been reported nationwide in China as of Wednesday, most of which are in Wuhan, and the rest were mostly traced back to people traveling from Wuhan.