China Draws Strongest Card of 'City Lockdown'... Companies Ban Business Trips to Wuhan

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Sunmi Park, Reporter Hyunjin Jeong] The lockdown of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, which began at 10 a.m. on the 23rd, is the strongest response measure taken by Chinese authorities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. It is interpreted as a strong expression of determination to prevent a recurrence of the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis, which paralyzed the entire country due to initial response failures.

According to sources on the 23rd, control within Wuhan, the epicenter of the 'Wuhan pneumonia,' had so far been concentrated only around the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Market, where confirmed cases surged. Although police lines were set up around the market, which had already been disinfected and closed, blocking citizens' access, the market is located next to a main road and surrounded by many shops, leading to criticism that the blockade was not complete.

This city lockdown measure came just three days after Wuhan pneumonia was classified as a legally notifiable infectious disease under full national control, indicating that China is taking the matter very seriously. Wuhan's area is larger than New York and London, with a population exceeding 11 million. It is a central inland transportation hub through which all railway networks in China pass, as well as a major commercial and industrial city. Moreover, the massive Spring Festival travel period (January 24?30), during which 3 billion trips are made annually, has already begun. The lockdown announcement was posted around 3 a.m. on the 23rd, reflecting concerns that if the initial lockdown failed, confirmed cases would spread rapidly.

During the 2003 SARS outbreak, some major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai issued school closures and closed major buildings, shops, and roads connecting cities, but public transportation across entire cities was never shut down. Learning from the failed initial response to SARS, the calculation is to prevent virus spread from the outset with the strongest city lockdown measures.

As Wuhan pneumonia rapidly spreads worldwide, governments around the globe are responding by restricting their citizens' access to Wuhan. Major U.S. companies have suspended business trips to Wuhan. According to CNBC, U.S. automaker General Motors (GM) issued a statement on the day announcing a temporary restriction on employees' business trips to Wuhan, China. Ford also stated, "All business trips to Wuhan are suspended," adding, "We are monitoring the situation very closely." Fiat Chrysler has not yet restricted business trips but has instructed employees traveling to China to perform only essential duties.

Concerns are even greater for airlines. Amid strengthened airport quarantine measures worldwide, Russia, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia have decided to screen all passengers arriving from China for possible infection. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), representing flight attendants from 20 U.S. airlines, requested that airlines take preemptive measures for their crew members. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) also distributed information about the novel coronavirus infection, provided by U.S. and other health authorities, to its members. Norwegian Cruise Line, a U.S.-based cruise operator, is monitoring passengers departing from Chinese ports and is not allowing boarding to passengers who have visited Wuhan within the past 30 days.