BREAKING: Cairo Airport to Screen Travellers From China

Moments ago, authorities have official announced that, starting from today, travellers arriving from China at Cairo airport will undergo screening for signs of the new coronavirus outbreak.

Reuters quoted airport sources saying that there are doctors and health monitors in arrival halls equipped with medical devices needed to examine passengers coming from China.

"Flight attendants have also been instructed to report any coronavirus suspected cases among travellers and any suspected cases would be isolated and sent to hospital," the sources added.

The sources noted that all airports in Egypt are on high alert and have received the same instructions, but most of the flights coming from China arrive in Cairo airport.

[caption id="attachment_105420" align="aligncenter" width="470"] People wear face masks as they wait for arriving passengers at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing[/caption]

Worldwide, airports and airlines are stepping up efforts to protect staff and passengers amid heightened concern over the outbreak of the deadly virus originating from the Chinese city of Wuhan.

This morning, Chinese officials said that Huanggang, a neighboring city about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Wuhan, will be effectively locked down due to risks associated with the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus.

The Hubei Huanggang New-type Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control Command, a task force set up to deal with the crisis, said in a statement that at midnight, the city's subway and train stations will close, per a report in the People's Daily, a state-run newspaper. All theaters, internet cafes and indoor public culture, tourism and entertainment facilities in the city will also stop business, People's Daily reported.

Earlier, regional health authorities in China have confirmed 13 new cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in mainland China to 611.

According to media reports, the Hong Kong government has not formally confirmed the presence of the virus in the city, but said it is investigating two "highly suspected" cases. Preliminary tests of the first inpidual were positive for the virus.

The self-governing island of Taiwan has reported a confirmed case of the coronavirus.