BEIJING — The municipal government of Beijing announced on Jan 31 that enterprises in the city should make arrangements for employees to work at home before the end of Feb 9 to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Employees of enterprises related to disease control and prevention, the city's operation such as water and electricity supplies, as well as citizens' basic needs should go to their workplaces during the period, the government said.

It asked those enterprises to strengthen body temperature testing and health protection for their employees, and ensure full coverage of the protection against the novel coronavirus.

The government also required that company employees currently in Central China's Hubei province should strictly abide by the measures taken by the local government and should not leave the province without permission.