BEIJING -- The Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a notice on Wednesday advising Chinese tourists against scheduling nonessential outbound travel during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday.

It also called on tourists to refrain from visiting domestic destinations with medium and high COVID-19 infection risks and reduce unnecessary trips.

Travelers should also wear masks, wash hands more frequently, avoid gathering, and keep social distancing, it added.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb 12 this year.