Chinese authorities on Tuesday asked overseas Chinese to reconsider or minimise their travel plans as the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the world and prompts an uptick of imported cases arriving in the country.

Travellers from countries with severe coronavirus outbreaks who arrive in Guangdong province, an economic and export powerhouse in the south, must undergo a 14-day quarantine — state media reported on Tuesday.

The financial hub of Shanghai will also require all people, regardless of nationality, to remain in quarantine for 14 days if they have travelled to the city from a country with “relatively serious virus conditions”, an official said.

Dandong, the northern Chinese city which borders North Korea, said it would test all visitors who arrived in the city from February 12.

Britain ‘battle plan’

Britain unveiled its “battle plan” to tackle the spread of coronavirus on Tuesday, warning that as many as a fifth of employees could be off work at the peak of the outbreak.

Concerts cancelled

Major concerts and sporting events in Gulf Arab states have been cancelled or postponed and Saudi Arabia stepped up health screening measures in response to the spreading coronavirus.

Wuhan hospital shut

Wuhan has closed the first of 16 specially built hospitals, hurriedly put up to treat people with the virus, after it discharged its last recovered patients, state broadcaster CCTV said on Monday.

Myanmar cruise ship

Myanmar stopped a cruise ship carrying hundreds of tourists from docking in the country, a senior tourism official said on Tuesday.

S. Korea order

South Korea’s President declared war on the coronavirus on Tuesday, ordering additional hospital beds and more face masks to be made available as the number of cases rose by 974.