China virus cases climb to 571 with 17 deaths

Beijing: China has suspended all public transport including flights, trains and busses in and out of Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. The number of confirmed cases climbed to 571, mostly from Wuhan, with 17 deaths so far.

In a statement released by Wuhan City authorities, bus and subway services in the city have been suspended and outbound travel at train stations and airports has been closed from 10am on Jan 23 amid the escalating epidemic of coronavirus. Residents have also been directed to wear facemasks to ensure that the virus does not spread.

Local authorities have been asked to strictly control the number of outbound activities such as conferences, tours and visits, while large public gatherings are banned. Wuhan authorities announced that all local tourism agencies, including their branches outside the city, will suspend business and will not organize tours until February 8.

The disease has spread further across the country as health authorities in Shanxi, Fujian, Gui­zhou and Hebei provinces, as well as the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, confirmed their first infection cases. Hong Kong and Macau are reporting infection cases while Beijing has already reported some cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) during an emergency meeting on Wednesday in Vienna to deal with the global impact of the virus has extended emergency talks till Thursday. The WHO is yet to decide on whether the outbreak in China constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), like the Zika virus, Ebola and Swine flu.

Such a declaration will be seen as an urgent call for coordinated international action in view of fears that millions of Chinese are travelling at home and abroad to visit their families for the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival holidays starting from January 24. The holiday season in China triggers mass migration, clogging roads, rail and air networks every year.

China's National Health Commission has maintained that its staff in China is closely monitoring the situation and is periodically updating the steps being taken to deal with the virus. The Commission said on Thursday morning that a total of 571 confirmed coronavirus cases and 17 deaths in Chinese mainland have been recorded so far.

While a majority of these cases are from Wuhan and its surrounding areas, cases are being reported in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States of America.

China's National Health Commission received reports of one confirmed case in Japan, one in South Korea and three in Thailand by Tuesday midnight. The Commission also confirmed seven new cases of Wuhan Coronavirus in Shanghai. In the United States, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first case in the country in Seattle.

While India has already issued a travel alert, some of the 700 students studying medicine and other courses in around the city stayed in the city while most have left due to the holidays.

China’s vice-minister for the National Heath Commission, Li Bin said on Wednesday, "Human-to-human transmission of the disease has appeared, and the virus is likely to mutate. There are risks of the further spread of the disease," Li said, adding that the traffic during the upcoming Spring Festival has increased the risk of its spreading.

"We must be steadfast and strong to keep the outbreak within Wuhan. We'll urge Hubei province and the city of Wuhan to take the strictest measures for prevention and control", he said.

Such measures include intensifying supervision of open-air markets, minimizing public activities, adopting the strictest measures regarding people with fever and preventing the outbreak from further spreading, he said at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office. The Wuhan city government has directed all people in public places such as hotels, restaurants, cinemas, parks, shopping centres and public transports to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus, according to an announcement on Wednesday night. The rule took effect immediately.

Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, maintained there was no evidence so far showing that a super-spreader, or a highly contagious virus, has emerged. He also added that, based on current evidence, the virus originated from wild animals sold at a seafood market in Wuhan.

Measures will also be taken to prevent the spread of the virus through public transport, and prevent sources of it from entering schools, according to the announcement.

The city government has also called for residents not to leave Wuhan and outsiders not to enter the city if there's no particular need, to reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.