All temporary hospitals in coronavirus epicenter Wuhan now shut down
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Staff members clean up a closed makeshift hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

China has closed all of the temporary hospitals built in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, to house patients who caught the deadly virus, Chinese media has reported.

A photograph published by the China Central Television (CCTV) show medical personnel who worked at one of the facilities celebrating and waving Chinese flags following the closure of their hospital.

The temporary hospital of Jianghan, which was converted from the existing international exhibition center of Wuhan, closed at 3 p.m., bringing the number of closed temporary hospitals to 14.

The impromptu hospitals closed their doors on the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Wuhan, the first time since the coronavirus epidemic began more than two months ago.

Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province was hit hardest by the illness, but infection rates have dropped significantly in recent days. China reported 40 new cases of Covid-19, the lowest since January when reporting began.

Some of the medical facilities were constructed in record time, with one hospital in Wuhan going up in under two weeks.

The move comes as a boost to preventing the outbreak which continues to pose a big threat to the world of sport, prompting Italian government to postpone all sport until April 3.

There have been reports on Monday that the French sports ministry had decided matches in Ligue 1 - the country's top-flight football competition - should be played behind closed doors or in front of no more than 1,000 spectators as a measure to limit the spread of the virus.

Paris St-Germain's Champions League last-16 match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday will be played without fans because of coronavirus. The Bayern Munich v Chelsea return leg tie is also at risk of being played behind the Allianz Arena’s closed doors.

In Rwanda, on the other hand, the City of Kigali has announced a temporary ban on music concerts, expositions and other forms of gatherings that bring together many people as a precaution in the wake of the fast-spreading New Coronavirus (COVID-19).

City hall said the decision to cancel concerts and other gatherings was informed by directives issued by the Prime Minister on March 6 indicating preventive and precautionary measures.

The suspension will stand against the concerts and other large gatherings until further notice.