The endorsement for traveling to and from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region has been suspended, the National Immigration Administration announced on Tuesday amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The measure will affect Chinese mainland residents who are going to visit Hong Kong and Macao on individual and group tours. The suspension is for an indefinite period of time. 

For those who already have received an endorsement, but have not yet hit the road, authorities said they will reinstate the endorsement after the suspension is over.

Since Hong Kong and Macao have implemented immigration management measures against mainland travelers, an unnamed official with National Immigration Administration urged mainland residents who have valid endorsements to reschedule or cancel their trips. 

As of Tuesday, eight confirmed cases have been reported in Hong Kong and seven cases in Macao.

(Cover image: A file photo of Hong Kong SAR. /VCG Photo)