The measure to stop the public New Year's celebration is the latest in a row aimed at stopping the recently mutated corona virus from killing even more people. Among other things, it reports CNN: broadcast in Beijing citing a message from the city's Culture and Tourism Agency:
"In order to control the epidemic, protect the lives and health of citizens, reduce the number of mass meetings and ensure that people have a harmonious and peaceful Spring Festival, it has been decided from today to cancel all large-scale events in Beijing, including temple festivals."
The Chinese New Year, "Spring Festival", is one of the largest unemployed weekends in the country and is celebrated this year from January 25 to February 8. It is a weekend when many Chinese travel home to their families, something that has increased concern about the spread of infection.
Even in the city of Wuhan where the disease first broke out, the New Year celebration is stopped, according to Johan Björnfot who lives in the city.
"I have also heard about certain cities where people are celebrating" in a different way, "he tells SVT.