Singapore, Jan. 24 -- BEIJING * Wuhan residents woke up yesterday morning to news that the authorities had ordered a ban on all travel out of the beleaguered city in a bid to contain a fast-spreading mystery virus that has killed at least 17 people and sickened hundreds more.
In a sudden midnight announcement, the Wuhan government said that it was putting the central Chinese city on lockdown, prohibiting its 11 million residents from leaving its borders.
Those who had tickets for various modes of transportation found that they could not get on flights, trains, buses and ferries out of the city after 10am.
Some rushed to the airport and railway station with their bags, only to be stopped by rows of policemen in face masks at the gates....