Over 7,000 people stranded in Hubei return to Beijing

A total of 12 high-speed trains from Central China's Hubei province brought 7,098 travelers back to Beijing, with Beijing West Railway Station welcoming the first batch of passengers on Wednesday.

Another four trains will arrive at the railway station later on Sunday, bringing about 3,000 passengers from cities of Huangshi, Enshi, Shiyan and Jingzhou in Hubei, , Mao Jun, spokesman for the Beijing Major Transport Stations Management Committee, said at a news conference on Sunday.

Mao said residents with Beijing hukou (household registration) or residence permits as well as those living and working in Beijing before the novel coronavirus pneumonia broke out were eligible to return.

People can also drive back to Beijing.

Train passengers are required to fill in the information regarding return to Beijing through a app in WeChat or Alipay program.

After getting approval, passengers can buy tickets of the chartered trains and get on the trains at specified railway stations.

They will be taken to their living communities in Beijing by vehicles sent by the different district governments in the city before being quarantined at home for 14 days.