A total of 6,000 taxis have been recruited in Wuhan city — where public transit was suspended because of the new coronavirus — to help residents commute.

The information came via a notice from the command and control center of Wuhan in charge of combating the new pneumonia on Saturday. On Thursday morning, buses, subway and river boats were closed within the city to better control the virus.

The 6,000 taxis are divided into groups of three to five and distributed to communities under the management of local residents' committees. Beginning at noon on Sunday, they will start providing free services to residents. The local committees will also provide services such as delivering meals, vegetables and medicine.