BEIJING — China has pledged to ensure safe travels for people returning to work after the Spring Festival holidays amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, authorities said.

China's railways are to step up prevention and control of infections during the trips, which now include screening at both entrances and exits of all operating railway stations across the country.

Passengers identified with a fever, one of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection, will be put under isolation on the train and delivered to the next station with an observation ward while the train is sterilized and those in close contact with the suspected cases are recorded.

The country's railways had transported 11,313 tons of epidemic control supplies by Feb 1 evening, with total passenger trips expected at 3 million on Feb 2, down 74.4 percent year-on-year.

Plane trips during the Spring Festival travel rush by Feb 1 are down 17.1 percent year-on-year, hit by the extended holidays and the outbreak.