French tour operators are reportedly suspending their holiday packages for China in the wake of the coronavirus.
The news comes as fears mount that the virus was spreading during the incubation period that makes it a far higher risk.
In a press statement on Sunday, the Tour-Operating Syndicate (SETO) “recommended” to its members that they “suspend all organised trips to China until 21st February 2020.”
Companies should “inform their clients as soon as possible “and offer changes at no cost or delaying trips at no cost for affected trips.”
The organisation justified the move by saying “the closure of most of the tourist sites justifies this decision.”
In Beijing, the Forbidden City is currently closed as is Disneyland.
France’s Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters on Sunday that the repatriation of French citizens already there would take place “midweek.”
A French Foreign ministry official was quoted in local media as saying that all the evacuated French citizens would first have to spend 14 days in quarantine in another Chinese city before being allowed to return home to France.
Wuhan, a city with a population of around 11 million people, has been in lockdown since Thursday.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.