Hubei Province, the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak, has been granted a formal extension of the Lunar New Year holiday in order to effectively curb the spread of the epidemic.

Delays in business operations and school openings should be applied in other places facing a relatively rapid increase in new cases.

Earlier this week, China extended the New Year holiday until February 2 in the face of the virus outbreak. The holiday was initially due to end on January 31.

The decision was made at the meeting of a leading group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the prevention and control of the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, chaired by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Read more：

Hubei Province granted formal New Year holiday extension