China implemented stricter travel restrictions in two more cities following the confirmation that at least 17 people passed away from the new coronavirus. Aside from Wuhan, Ezhou and Huanggang transport channels are now stricter.
According to the New York Times, Chinese authorities also closed down several public areas and transportation channels in the said cities as the coronavirus mutated and appears to be harder to contain.
As China battles the new virus that has already infected almost 570 people and is making rounds in other Asian countries as well as in the United States, the World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to make a decision on the coronavirus outbreak.
WHOon Wednesday explained that it will delay a decision on potentially declaring China's new coronavirus outbreak as a global health emergency due to the need for additional information on the strain.
According to CNBC, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that health experts still had to look further into the background of the new coronavirus. The move was made following an emergency meeting in Geneva.
While WHO has yet to make an official decision regarding the global health emergency call for the new SARS-like strain, it is expected that physicians and medical experts will meet again on Thursday to discuss the same issue.
The discussions on China's new coronavirus that is believed to have originated from a seafood market in Wuhan indicated that while more data about the strain is necessary to call for a global alert, the new strain has infected more people faster than severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS.
Back in 2003, SARS was among the biggest health concerns for health entities as it infected 456 people in two months. However, the new coronavirus already spread to over 571 people in less than one month, further igniting fears about the strain's capability in terms of people-to-people transmissions.
On Thursday, Beijing decided to lock down Wuhan - a city boasting of 11 million people. Multiple outlets reported that the move was made in a bid to hopefully contain the new coronavirus.
CBS reported that all modes of transportation will be blocked and authorities will be more vigilant in scanning residents of the city. Asian and global airports have also been extra alert in scanning people coming from China.
Experts pointed out that while the WHO is stalling a decision on the coronavirus, China is already working around the clock to keep the virus from spreading further, especially after the confirmation that at least 17 people passed away from the coronavirus.
The quarantine of Wuhan came one day before China begins celebrating the Lunar New Year festivities. It may not have been perfect timing for people planning to travel in and out of the city but Chinese authorities believe the decision will help reduce additional cases.
