Chinese health officials declared the newly identified Wuhan coronavirus a class-A disease and placed strick precautionary and control measures on affected areas of the country on Wednesday.
In one move, authorities virtually locked down the source city of the virus, Wuhan – a city of 11 million people. Another 8 million live in the greater metropolitan area and are not affected by the lockdown within city limits.
The move followed the confirmation of the death toll reaching 17 on Wednesday. Officials shut down all outbound traffic including buses, subways, ferries, and other long-distance transportation methods, the Guardian reported.
Illegal immigrant accused of assaulting NJ teen could be released under sanctuary policies, ICE warns
Long Island teen who vanished after trip to NYC found dead in Brooklyn waters
Who is Ayman Mohamad Ghazali? Lebanese-born American accused in Jewish synagogue attack
BREAKING: Trump Says New Ayatollah Still Alive ‘In Some Form’
Sen Schmitt reups push for expanding denaturalization after recent acts of violence by naturalized citizens
Doctor denies knowing about rampant LA-area Medicare fraud using his provider number
Mamdani touts landmark court victory against repeat offender landlord in housing enforcement push
California mountain biker dies after month-long hospital stay following rattlesnake bite
Soros-backed DA sparks backlash after blaming Old Dominion shooting on pro-gun lawmakers: ‘F— right off’
Illegal alien’s violent tussle with federal officer leads to multiple charges after suspected Biden-era entry
Trump admin’s push to end controversial policy extended by Biden sparks backlash ahead of crucial deadline
US Military Plane Lost Amid ‘Operation Epic Fury’: US Central Command
Report: Veteran CBS Reporter Quit After Network Refused to Obsess Over Jan. 6 Anniversary
Thune Announces He’s Bringing SAVE America Act to Senate Floor, Forcing Dems to Go on Record Opposing 83 Percent of Americans
Actress Katherine Heigl Fires Back After She’s Criticized for Attending Mar-a-Lago Event
No people in #Wuhan, C China's Hubei will be allowed to leave the city starting 10 a.m. of Jan. 23. Train stations and airport will shut down; the city bus, subway, ferry and long-distance shuttle bus will also be temporarily closed: local authority #WuhanPneumonia #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/8pohJ4Uixo
— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) January 22, 2020
Officials report more than 570 people have been taken to hospitals after developing breathing complications after contracting the virus.
China’s National Health Commission Vice Minister Lin Bin told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday that the virus “may mutate and there is a risk of further spread,” NPR reported Wednesday evening.
“We have ensured management of export channels such as temperature checks at airports, train and bus stations, and ports … And we will reduce as much as possible events with large crowds,” Li told the reporters.
During a meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO), officials split on a two-two decision about whether to declare a “public health emergency.”
LIVE: Press conference on the Emergency Committee meeting on new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) https://t.co/8WOYQk9Scf
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 22, 2020
Illegal immigrant accused of assaulting NJ teen could be released under sanctuary policies, ICE warns
Long Island teen who vanished after trip to NYC found dead in Brooklyn waters
Who is Ayman Mohamad Ghazali? Lebanese-born American accused in Jewish synagogue attack
BREAKING: Trump Says New Ayatollah Still Alive ‘In Some Form’
Sen Schmitt reups push for expanding denaturalization after recent acts of violence by naturalized citizens
Doctor denies knowing about rampant LA-area Medicare fraud using his provider number
Mamdani touts landmark court victory against repeat offender landlord in housing enforcement push
California mountain biker dies after month-long hospital stay following rattlesnake bite
Soros-backed DA sparks backlash after blaming Old Dominion shooting on pro-gun lawmakers: ‘F— right off’
Illegal alien’s violent tussle with federal officer leads to multiple charges after suspected Biden-era entry
Trump admin’s push to end controversial policy extended by Biden sparks backlash ahead of crucial deadline
US Military Plane Lost Amid ‘Operation Epic Fury’: US Central Command
Report: Veteran CBS Reporter Quit After Network Refused to Obsess Over Jan. 6 Anniversary
Thune Announces He’s Bringing SAVE America Act to Senate Floor, Forcing Dems to Go on Record Opposing 83 Percent of Americans
Actress Katherine Heigl Fires Back After She’s Criticized for Attending Mar-a-Lago Event
“This is an evolving and complex situation,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in a press conference following their meeting. “Today there was an excellent discussion but it was also clear that to proceed we need more information.
Reporters asked Dr. Adhanom about the Chinese lockdown of Wuhan. After praising the Chinese government for their “openness in sharing data and information,” the director said, “We need some time to understand the specific measures that have been taken.”
He later expounded on that comment, saying “What they are doing is a very, very strong measure and with full commitment. We stressed to them that by having a strong action not only they will control the outbreak in their country but they will also minimize the chances of this outbreak spreading internationally.”
Chinese officials stressed the rapidly rising number of reported cases does not mean the virus is spreading exponentially. Rather, Director Li said the number is a result of a deeper understanding of the disease and improvements in their screening process.
The city of Wuhan is shutting down all public gatherings as the Lunar New Year celebration is set to begin. One of the events, the annual prayer-giving at the Guiyan Temple, drew 700,000 tourists in 2019, the Guardian reported.
In addition to shutting down outbound transportation networks, Wuhan Mayor Zhou Xianwang said, “If it’s not necessary we suggest that people don’t come to Wuhan.”
Story cited here.
