Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday ordered resolute efforts to curb the spread of a new coronavirus that has infected more than 220 people and resulted in the death of three persons in the country as an expert warned that the virus is contagious between people.
Chinese authorities said a third person died over the weekend from coronavirus infection in Wuhan city where the virus was first reported. As public concerns mounted specially ahead of Chinese New Year festival starting January 24 during which millions travel within and outside the country to avail weeklong public holidays, Xi said the Government and departments at all levels should put the health and safety of the people first.
He said it’s “extremely crucial” to take every possible measure to contain the virus, especially during a time when China is experiencing huge mobility in the Chinese New Year which is also known as the Spring Festival. Xi asked the health officials to take effective measures to stop the spread of the virus, find out its origins and how it has been spreading, official media reported.
So far, a total of 224 cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in China. Of them, 217 had been confirmed and seven remained suspected, state run news agency Xinhua reported on Monday. Reports say two cases of the virus was identified in Beijing, eight in Shanghai and one in Shenzhen. The mysterious virus was first reported in Wuhan City in December 2019, where it originated at a seafood market.
Meanwhile, the virus has reached a third Asian country. One case has been confirmed in Japan, two in Thailand and one in South Korea, Xinhua said.