WUHAN, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The city of Huanggang, hard hit by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in central China's Hubei Province, will put all residential communities and areas on lockdown as the city upgraded virus prevention and control measures.

A notice issued by the municipal epidemic control headquarters said that starting from Friday, all residents will not be allowed to exit and re-enter their communities or residential areas as the city took the strictest and most effective control measures.

Daily necessities for residents will be handed out by the community committees, and purchasing services will be provided for urgently-needed goods.

Vehicles except those for epidemic control and special purposes such as fire engines and police cars will be banned from the roads, the notice said.

The police shall take compulsory measures against anyone who forcibly enters residential communities, breaks quarantine facilities or blockades roads.

Fever patients and close contacts of the confirmed infection cases will be placed under centralized quarantine.

The headquarters said the new measures will be implemented over a 14-day period before it is lifted or continued depending on the development of the situation.