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| Coronavirus: Wuhan to shut public transport over outbreak | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Wuhan, a Chinese city of nearly nine million people, is to temporarily shut public transport as it tries to halt the outbreak of a new virus. | Wuhan, a Chinese city of nearly nine million people, is to temporarily shut public transport as it tries to halt the outbreak of a new virus. |
| Those living in the city have been advised not to leave, in a week when millions of Chinese are travelling for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. | Those living in the city have been advised not to leave, in a week when millions of Chinese are travelling for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. |
| The airport and train stations will be closed to outgoing passengers. | The airport and train stations will be closed to outgoing passengers. |
| Bus, subway, ferry, and long-distance transport networks will shut down from 1000 local time on 23 January. | Bus, subway, ferry, and long-distance transport networks will shut down from 1000 local time on 23 January. |
| Those living in Wuhan had already been told to avoid crowds and minimise public gatherings. | Those living in Wuhan had already been told to avoid crowds and minimise public gatherings. |
| Meanwhile, after a day of discussion the World Health Organization's emergency committee has not yet decided whether to declare a "global emergency" over the virus. Discussions will continue on Thursday. | Meanwhile, after a day of discussion the World Health Organization's emergency committee has not yet decided whether to declare a "global emergency" over the virus. Discussions will continue on Thursday. |
| The outbreak has killed 17 people, and there are more than 500 confirmed cases. | The outbreak has killed 17 people, and there are more than 500 confirmed cases. |
| The virus originated in a seafood market that "conducted illegal transactions of wild animals", authorities said. | The virus originated in a seafood market that "conducted illegal transactions of wild animals", authorities said. |
| It has spread from Wuhan to several Chinese provinces, the US, Thailand and South Korea. | It has spread from Wuhan to several Chinese provinces, the US, Thailand and South Korea. |
| Late on Wednesday, Chinese authorities confirmed the number of dead had almost doubled - from nine - in the space of a day. All fatalities so far have been in Hubei, the province around Wuhan. | Late on Wednesday, Chinese authorities confirmed the number of dead had almost doubled - from nine - in the space of a day. All fatalities so far have been in Hubei, the province around Wuhan. |
| Officials in Hong Kong also reported the territory's first two cases. | Officials in Hong Kong also reported the territory's first two cases. |
| Known as 2019-nCoV, the virus is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus not previously been identified in humans. The Sars virus that killed nearly 800 people globally in the early 2000s was also a coronavirus. | Known as 2019-nCoV, the virus is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus not previously been identified in humans. The Sars virus that killed nearly 800 people globally in the early 2000s was also a coronavirus. |
| A global emergency is the highest level of alarm the WHO can sound and has previously been used in response to swine flu, Zika virus and Ebola. | A global emergency is the highest level of alarm the WHO can sound and has previously been used in response to swine flu, Zika virus and Ebola. |
| Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO said more time was needed to reach a decision. "This is a complex and evolving situation," he said. | Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO said more time was needed to reach a decision. "This is a complex and evolving situation," he said. |
| "The decision about whether or not to declare public health emergency of international concern is one I take extremely seriously and one I am only prepared to make with appropriate consideration of all the evidence," he added. | "The decision about whether or not to declare public health emergency of international concern is one I take extremely seriously and one I am only prepared to make with appropriate consideration of all the evidence," he added. |
| Chinese officials said the country was now at the "most critical stage" of prevention and control. | Chinese officials said the country was now at the "most critical stage" of prevention and control. |
| "Basically, do not go to Wuhan. And those in Wuhan please do not leave the city," said National Health Commission vice-minister Li Bin in one of the first public briefings since the beginning of the outbreak. | "Basically, do not go to Wuhan. And those in Wuhan please do not leave the city," said National Health Commission vice-minister Li Bin in one of the first public briefings since the beginning of the outbreak. |
| Earlier this week, China confirmed that human-to-human transmission of the virus had taken place. | Earlier this week, China confirmed that human-to-human transmission of the virus had taken place. |
| Signs of infection with the new virus include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. | Signs of infection with the new virus include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. |
| The first US case was confirmed on Tuesday. President Donald Trump said the situation was "totally under control" and that he trusted the information being provided by Chinese authorities. | The first US case was confirmed on Tuesday. President Donald Trump said the situation was "totally under control" and that he trusted the information being provided by Chinese authorities. |
| 'Imagine shutting down London before Christmas' | |
| By James Gallagher, BBC health and science correspondent | By James Gallagher, BBC health and science correspondent |
| Wuhan is starting to look like a city in quarantine. | Wuhan is starting to look like a city in quarantine. |
| Officials had already warned residents not to leave the city and visitors not to come. | Officials had already warned residents not to leave the city and visitors not to come. |
| Now the reported public transport ban - which includes flights - slams many of the routes in and out of the city shut. | Now the reported public transport ban - which includes flights - slams many of the routes in and out of the city shut. |
| It is a significant attempt to stop the spread of this new virus, which we now know can spread from person to person. | It is a significant attempt to stop the spread of this new virus, which we now know can spread from person to person. |
| Limiting transport will cut the chance of the virus reaching other cities in China and other countries around the world. | Limiting transport will cut the chance of the virus reaching other cities in China and other countries around the world. |
| This all comes just as millions of people are travelling across China for the week-long holiday that is Lunar New Year. | This all comes just as millions of people are travelling across China for the week-long holiday that is Lunar New Year. |
| If you're struggling for context - imaging shutting down London in the week before Christmas. | If you're struggling for context - imaging shutting down London in the week before Christmas. |
| The big question left is the roads - and whether any of Wuhan's 8.9 million inhabitants will be able to simply drive away. | The big question left is the roads - and whether any of Wuhan's 8.9 million inhabitants will be able to simply drive away. |