Immigration service for Chinese citizens in Wuhan city - the epicenter of the pandemic - will be suspended starting Monday to better control the expansion of the novel coronavirus, according to a release by the city's exit and entry administration.

The release by the Exit and Entry Administration of Wuhan Public Security Bureau said that the suspension is supposed to be in effect until Jan 30, while the bureau didn't give an exact date as to when service will be resumed.

Self-help immigration service for Chinese mainland citizens to the regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan is also suspended in Wuhan during the time period.