A resident prepares to eat traditional food to celebrate the Tibetan New Year at his home in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 24, 2020.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
LHASA, Feb. 24, 2020 (Xinhua) -- The Tibetan New Year, a traditional festival of the Tibetan ethnic minority, falls on Monday this year.
China is in a tough battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 2,592 lives and infected 77,150 on the Chinese mainland by the end of Feb. 23.
Though Tibet only reported one confirmed case and has not seen new reports of the novel coronavirus infection for over three weeks, local authorities are still on high alert.
Earlier on Feb. 19, authorities in Tibet called on citizens not to hold or participate in group activities during the Tibetan New Year.
A resident presents a hada scarf to an elder to celebrate the Tibetan New Year in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
A child wearing traditional costumes eats traditional food for the Tibetan New Year in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Children taste traditional food for the Tibetan New Year in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2020 shows offerings for the Tibetan New Year at a local resident's home in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
A resident prepares to taste highland barley wine to celebrate the Tibetan New Year in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 24, 2020.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2020 shows a view of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)■