China banned most people from leaving a coronavirus-hit region as the fast-spreading “stealth omicron” variant fuels the country’s biggest outbreak since the pandemic started.

Tom Williams is hoping to get his wife, Lauren, who is about 35 weeks pregnant, out of Wuhan.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said her government has declared the outbreak an emergency and will close primary and secondary schools for two more weeks on top of next week’s Lunar New Year holiday. They will re-open Feb. 17.