China's ghost cities: fear of coronavirus leaves streets deserted

Residents say they are trapped in their own homes as the country grapples with the expanding outbreak

Construction workers are putting together the final touches on the Changying coronavirus isolation ward in Beijing, drilling holes in a brick wall for a heavy gate and setting up CCTV cameras trained on each of the units - small rectangular rooms with a bathroom and a window. It took a week to build the facility for at least 40 people, workers said.

It is a hive of activity compared with the neighbourhood that surrounds it, known for its Hui Muslim restaurants and halal butchers. Next to the ward the Changying mosque has been shut, as has a local community centre. A few shoppers are stocking up on meat but many shops are closed.