The United States told its citizens Thursday night "do not travel" to China, raising its advisory status to the highest level of alert because of the coronavirus epidemic.
The State Department issued a level four warning -- up from urging Americans to "reconsider" travel to China -- and said any nationals in China now "should consider departing using commercial means."
In the travel advisory, the department cited the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision that the "rapidly spreading outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern."
In its advisory, the State Department warned US travelers they should "be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice."