BEIJING -- Silence hung over the streets of Beijing on the last day of the Chinese New Year on Saturday amid the coronavirus outbreak.
People in Beijing would be returning to normal life if this were an ordinary time. The streets, however, are very quiet as the government has restricted the movement of residents returning to the city following their Lunar New Year holidays, due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. In addition, many companies have voluntarily suspended their operations.
Near Beijing Station on Saturday morning, there were remarkably few people on the street, and few cars to pick up arriving travelers.
Days around the last day of the Lunar New Year are normally the peak of the rush of travelers returning home. "I've been working here for about 15 years. It's the first time ever I saw so few people returning here," a station janitor said.
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