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| Coronavirus: Wuhan to shut public transport over outbreak | Coronavirus: Wuhan to shut public transport over outbreak |
| (32 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. |
| Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, said it was a "very strong measure" that would "not only control the outbreak, they will minimise spread internationally". | Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, said it was a "very strong measure" that would "not only control the outbreak, they will minimise spread internationally". |
| Meanwhile, after a day of discussion the WHO's emergency committee has not yet decided whether to declare a "global emergency" over the virus. Talks will continue on Thursday. | Meanwhile, after a day of discussion the WHO's emergency committee has not yet decided whether to declare a "global emergency" over the virus. Talks 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. |
| However, calculations by scientists at the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London suggest there are 4,000 people sick with the virus in Wuhan. | However, calculations by scientists at the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London suggest there are 4,000 people sick with the virus in Wuhan. |
| 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. |
| There is also evidence of human to human transmission with the novel virus spreading to family members and healthcare workers. | There is also evidence of human to human transmission with the novel virus spreading to family members and healthcare workers. |
| But understanding how easily and how often the virus spread between people is one of the major outstanding questions in this outbreak. | But understanding how easily and how often the virus spread between people is one of the major outstanding questions in this outbreak. |
| Beyond Wuhan, it has spread to several Chinese provinces, the US, Thailand, Japan and South Korea. | Beyond Wuhan, it has spread to several Chinese provinces, the US, Thailand, Japan 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 for now as 2019-nCoV, the virus is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans. The Sars virus that killed nearly 800 people globally in the early 2000s was also a coronavirus, as is the common cold. | |
| 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. |
| The virus infects the lungs and symptoms start with a fever and cough. It can progress to shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. | The virus infects the lungs and symptoms start with a fever and cough. It can progress to 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' | '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 - imagine shutting down London in the week before Christmas. | If you're struggling for context - imagine 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. |