DUE to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the city’s cemeteries will be closed to tomb sweepers over the Qingming Festival period, a traditional time for Chinese to pay respects to their deceased loved ones.

Police will dissuade tomb sweepers at the city’s major cemeteries between Saturday and Monday. As an alternative, the city has created an online memorial service for residents to remember passed family members.

Residents can access the online mourning section through the Shenzhen Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau on the “i深圳” app. The police have called for the public to reduce travel and short trips during the holiday period and to stay at home to avoid overcrowding in hot travel destinations and theme parks so as to reduce the risks of cross infections.

Police estimate traffic congestion is expected to increase tomorrow, the eve of the Qingming Festival holiday. Police will initiate Level III response to the traffic at tourist attractions in the city’s eastern areas.

The weather for the Qingming Festival period is forecasted to be cloudy and rainy, with light mists in the morning and evening. The temperature will range between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius, according to the city’s meteorological observatory. (Han Ximin)