The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning against “nonessential travel” to all of China as the coronavirus continues to spread.
The warning comes a day after the CDC said researchers are investigating at least 110 Americans spread across 26 states, including Illinois, California, and Arizona, for possible viral infection. The State Department also issued a travel advisory Monday recommending that people “reconsider travel” to China.
Five cases have been confirmed in the U.S. so far. The CDC said the virus can spread from person-to-person and that it is likely there will be more cases in the coming days and weeks.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we are still in the early days of the investigation – both domestically and abroad,” the agency said Sunday. “CDC is leaning forward with an aggressive public health response strategy and working closely with state and local public health authorities to identify potential cases early and make sure patients get the best and most appropriate care.”
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced that the territory will suspend high-speed rail and other train connections to mainland China, slash the number of flights to the mainland in half, and ban some tourist visas starting Thursday.
The number of coronavirus cases increased from 2,835 on Monday to 4,515 on Tuesday and the death toll has reached 106.
The State Department issued an even stronger warning Jan. 23, telling people in the U.S. not to travel to to Hubei province, the epicenter of the virus, and ordered all non-emergency personnel to return to the U.S. The coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in Hubei province, but spread so rapidly to other parts of the country as well as to other Asian countries that a wide-reaching travel advisory became necessary. Airports in Thailand, Singapore, and others have begun to screen arrivals. Three cases in France and one in Germany have been confirmed as well.
