Authorities say no imminent lockdown of Beijing

Beijing's transportation authority said on Sunday the capital will not put the city in lockdown as the novel corona-virus epidemic further intensifies nationwide.

"The external transportation system of Beijing has been running normally, we didn't and will not impose a lockdown," said Rong Jun, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, adding they will take strict precautions against possible virus spreads through transportation vehicles.

The city suspended all inter-provincial highway passenger bus services on Sunday to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In East China's Hangzhou, the city government said on Sunday with the adoption of body temperature detection in certain city entrance checkpoints, Hangzhou will not be locked down from outside, asking citizens to ease their panic and reduce daily mobilization.