Wuhan lockdown and virus fears push Chinese to change travel plans

Many are staying put for Lunar New Year or going to different destinations

A masked worker monitors thermal scanners that measure the body temperature of passengers at a security check in Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, China, on Tuesday. © Reuters

NIKKI SUN, Nikkei staff writer

January 23, 2020 14:45 JST

HONG KONG -- On hearing the news that Wuhan was to be placed on lockdown from Thursday morning, Angela Xie tried in vain to get out of the central Chinese city.

All air and rail tickets were either sold out or canceled, and the 26-year-old researcher is concerned she might not be able to return to Beijing for work after the Lunar New Year.