Hubei stops issuing permits for travel to HK

'Special channels' are being opened for individuals who 'have to leave the mainland for urgent reasons'. Photo: AFP

Authorities in Hubei province have stopped issuing the documents required for residents to travel to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan amid the current Wuhan virus outbreak, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.



The agency also quoted immigration officials as saying that no passengers had left the mainland via Wuhan's Tianhe International Airport or via the Hankou port in the past four days.



But it added that "special channels" would be opened for individuals who "have to leave the mainland for urgent reasons".



Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan have all banned the arrival of people from Hubei for the time being.



Xinhua said once the outbreak is over, residents of the province who already have the necessary permits to travel to the two SARs or Taiwan will be able to get fresh permits at no charge if the old ones have expired.



It said entry and exit offices at all ports were still being staffed being as some countries and regions have prohibited the entry of people from key areas of the mainland's outbreak.



The news agency said that by the end of Sunday, a total of 1,423 cases of new pneumonia had been confirmed in Hubei, with 76 deaths and 221 people in a severe condition.