China expands transport ban to 13 cities, 41 million affected (update)

Medical officers (in black) checking the body temperature of passengers after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou, China's eastern Zhejiang province on Friday (Jan 24). As at 5pm on Friday, the govt added four more cities to a transport ban around the epicentre of a deadly virus, restricting the movement of some 41 million people in 13 cities as authorities move in speed to control the disease. - AFP

BEIJING: China on Friday (Jan 24) at 5pm has added four more cities to a transport ban around the epicentre of a deadly virus, restricting the movement of some 41 million people in 13 cities as authorities move in faster urgency to control the disease.

Officials in Xianning, Xiaogan, Enshi and Zhijiang cities -- all located in central Hubei province where the virus first emerged -- said public transport services including buses and train stations would be closed.