Americans should ‘reconsider travel’ to China over virus: State

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An aerial view shows residential and commercial buildings of Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak that began in the city. – China on January 27 extended its biggest national holiday to buy time in the fight against a viral epidemic and neighboring Mongolia closed its border after the death toll spiked to 81 despite unprecedented quarantine measures. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US State Department on Monday encouraged Americans to “reconsider” any plans to travel to China amid a deadly outbreak of a coronavirus that originated in the city of Wuhan.

The State Department also issued a stern warning for its citizens not to travel to Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. So far, 82 people have died as a result of the virus, all of them in China.

The department noted that last week it ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members from Wuhan.

“The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Hubei province,” the department said in a statement.

© Agence France-Presse