China has put Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, and neighboring Huanggang, a city of some 7 million people, under lockdown. Authorities have urged citizens in the two cities at the epicenter of a coronavirus outbreak not to leave
Nearby Ezhou shut train stations. Beijing canceled large gatherings, including two Lunar New Year temple fairs, and closed the Forbidden City, the capital’s most famous tourist attraction, to visitors until further notice.The U.S. State Department warned travelers to exercise increased caution in China as airports worldwide were screening passengers arriving from the country.
Some experts believe the virus is not as dangerous as previous coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome . “...It is not SARS. The virus is in a similar family to SARS but this looks different to SARS, and the difference is probably it’s easier to pass between human beings.”
If it does so, it will be the sixth international public health emergency to be declared in the last decade. Its Emergency Committee meeting was under way in Geneva and a news conference is expected after 1800 GMT. To try to stem the outbreak, Wuhan shut all urban transport networks and suspended outgoing flights from 0200 GMT. Domestic media said some airlines were operating after the deadline.
During a visit to Wuhan, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said authorities needed to be open about the virus and efforts to contain it, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
WHO says will decide on Thursday if China virus is a global health emergencyThe World Health Organization (WHO) said it will decide on Thursday whether to d...
Read more »
The 18 Movies We’re Dying to See at SundanceFrom Anne Hathaway running guns in Central America to a Miranda July crime caper Sundance2020
Read more »
Germany bans neo-Nazi group Combat 18Germany is banning the neo-Nazi group Combat 18 Deutschland in what the country's top security official says is a 'clear message' against far-right extremism and anti-Semitism.
Read more »
18 High-Protein Nut-Free Snacks for KidsSkippy's not an option? Here are some of our favorite easy, protein-packed snacks made without peanuts or tree nuts.
Read more »
China virus toll rises to 17 as officials tackle growing epidemicUPDATE: Death toll from the new coronavirus in China rose to 17 from 9 on Wednesday, Chinese state media reported, with some 544 people infected across China.
Read more »