The Ministry of Transport on Sunday asked car-hailing platforms to suspend services leaving Wuhan – the city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak -- or departing Hubei province.

Services that involve traveling in and out of Beijing have also been halted, according to a circular on the ministry's website.

The moves were aimed at stopping people from circumventing the travel restrictions imposed in the capital and across Hubei province to control the epidemic, the circular said.

Platforms could face penalties including removing their apps from app stores if such services led to new infections, it said.

In case of violation of laws, the platforms would be transferred to relevant authorities to bear legal responsibilities.