Coronavirus spreads as China puts cities on lockdown and scraps New Year celebrations

(KYMA, KECY, CNN)- Authorities in China have enforced a partial lockdown in the central city of Wuhan, as well as nearby Huanggang and Ezhou, as authorities battle to contain a deadly coronavirus outbreak.

These efforts will disrupt the Lunar New Year travel plans of millions, and authorities in the Chinese capital Beijing have canceled all large-scale celebrations.

The lockdowns come as the Chinese government revealed that seven of the 17 people who have died from the Wuhan coronavirus did not have pre-existing conditions before they contracted the illness.

And the virus spreads more easily from person to person than previously thought, according to David Heymann of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The virus initially appeared to spread only by very close contact that would typically occur within a family, such as hugging, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, Heymann said.

Now, he says evidence is accruing that shows more distant contact could spread the virus, such as if a sick person were to sneeze or cough near someone else's face.

He said there is no evidence at this point that the virus is airborne and could be spread across a room, as happens with the flu or measles.

Mounting evidence suggests the virus is spreading outside mainland China, with various countries reporting their first cases.

In Scotland, four people were tested for suspected coronavirus after traveling from Wuhan.Singapore confirmed its first case of the virus, a 66-year-old Chinese national who had also been in Wuhan.

Hong Kong confirmed two cases and an Indian nurse in Saudi Arabia was also diagnosed with the virus.Wuhan -- ground zero for the pneumonia-like respiratory virus -- "temporarily" closed its airport and railway stations on Thursday for departing passengers.

All public transport services in the city of 11 million people have also been suspended until further notice.

On Thursday afternoon, transport authorities began shutting down some of the main highways leaving Wuhan, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The wearing of face masks is now mandatory in all public places in the city, including hotels, restaurants, parks, cafes, and shopping malls.