The spread of coronavirus in China is further being curbed by banning foreigners from returning to the country.
China plans to drastically reduce its international flight routes and bar entry to returning foreigners based in the country.
The country has not recorded any new domestic COVID-19 case for two consecutive days now but authorities are concerned about imported cases, which have already soared to 500.
The foreign ministry announced in a statement that foreigners living in China with valid visas and resident permits will not be allowed to return to the country after midnight Saturday.
"The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation," it added.
According to the foreign affairs ministry, a majority of the 500 imported infections involved Chinese nationals getting home.
The statement points out that diplomats and the crew of international airlines and vessels can still enter the country.
Flights out of China will be limited to just one route a week to each country. On the other hand, international airlines are allowed to take only one route.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced that the passenger load on flights in and out of China must not go beyond 75 percent. The new flight routes are expected to begin from March 29, it added.
Moreover, all Beijing-bound international flights have been redirected to other urban centres.
Many cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai, have already ordered a compulsory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals coming from different countries.
Data shows that there are 1,100 return international passenger flights scheduled to arrive in China this week.
Coronavirus treatment
As of today, no vaccine has been developed yet.
The new coronavirus, also known as 2019-nCoV, is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, and spread into more than a dozen nations globally. There are 83 confirmed cases outside China, including at least five in the US.
The Chinese government has effectively quarantined approximately 60 million people by placing numerous cities under partial or full lockdown.
