BEIJING — China issued a travel alert on March 17 urging its citizens to keep themselves updated about the novel coronavirus epidemic situation abroad and avoid tours to countries hard hit by the virus.

Chinese tourists are advised to raise their safety awareness and fully assess the risk of infection caused by traveling abroad, according to the notice released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

They are told to temporarily refrain from traveling to high-risk countries including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Iran and the Republic of Korea.