Restrictions ease

RESIDENTS in communities designated as “infection-free” in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city of the novel coronavirus epidemic in China, are now being granted permission in batches to engage in personal activities inside residential blocks, the city’s disease prevention and control task force said on Wednesday.

The document takes effect immediately.

Production resuming

NEARLY half of major industrial enterprises in central China’s Hubei Province have resumed production as of Tuesday, signaling a further recovery of the province hard hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Entry banned

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday all noncitizens and nonresidents would be banned from entering the country from 9 pm Friday.

New Zealand closed its borders to all foreigners from midnight on Thursday, as it stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

Trading floor will close

THE New York Stock Exchange plans to close its trading floor and move to all-electronic trading beginning Monday after 2 people tested positive for COVID-19.