BEIJING — A total of 1.28 billion passenger trips were made nationwide from Jan 10 to Feb 2, the first 24 days of the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, down 27.5 percent from the previous year, official data showed on Feb 3.

On Feb 2, China saw its passenger trips through railways, roads, waterways and civil aviation slump 86.3 percent year-on-year to 12.62 million, as the country strengthens epidemic prevention and control, according to the Ministry of Transport.

China has extended its seven-day Spring Festival holiday to 10 days amid the coronavirus outbreak, easing pressure for the holiday travel rush.

China has unveiled measures to ensure safe travels for people returning to work after the Spring Festival holiday.

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