• The Chinese government on Saturday announced a ban on overseas tours and the purchase of flights and hotels abroad, according to a report from The New York Times.
  • The move comes as the government works to limit the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus that has so far killed 42 both within its borders and abroad.
  • Buses to and from the country’s capital city of Beijing have also been restricted.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

China on Saturday banned its citizens from booking overseas tours and from purchasing overseas flights and hotel packages amid the ongoing coronavirus epidemic that began in the city of Wuhan according to a report Saturday from The New York Times.

The move comes as the government attempts to limit the spread of the deadly virus within its own borders and from further spreading the virus to other countries. Per The Times report, the move comes at a time when countries around the world have begun to implement procedures for scanning incoming travelers who could have come in contact with coronavirus.

The Beijing city government has also prohibited buses that travel between various provinces, which as The Times reported, will limit travelers heading into the country’s capital city from other parts of the country.

Groups currently on tours abroad are allowed to proceed with their trips that are still in progress, The Times reported, though the association for China’s travel agencies warned the groups to monitor their health for signs of the virus that has so far lead to 42 deaths across China.

Each of the 42 deaths has occurred within China's borders, though the virus has been spread worldwide with reported cases in 12 other countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Nepal, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, France, and the United States, per The Times.

Vehicle traffic within Wuhan was restricted beginning at midnight local time Saturday in a move that prohibited vehicles from driving toward the city center. Travel in and out of the city has been restricted since Thursday.

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