A decline in Hubei region, the epicentre of the virus, has been accompanied by a rise in the number of infections in other provinces
A man wears a protective mask in Wuhan, China, February 10 2020. Picture: GETTY IMAGESThe World Health Organisation is closely watching other Chinese regions for signs that new infection hotspots are emerging as the deadly coronavirus outbreak spreads beyond the epicentre of Hubei.
The global health agency’s focus on more Chinese provinces highlights the escalating battle against a pathogen that has claimed more lives than SARS in 2003. It has so far killed more than 900 people and infected more than 40,000, mostly in China. As China ostensibly returns to work this week after a Lunar New Year holiday that was extended due to the outbreak, infections are still growing by the thousands everyday.
The declines in one region was accompanied by rise in number of infections in other provinces, despite an ongoing lock down of Hubei. The WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet Sunday that “we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg”, voicing concerns over the spread from people with no travel history to China.“The best sign is when one sees numbers reach a peak and then decline, well beyond the incubation period. We are not in that stage yet,” Galea said.
Despite the WHO’s line, criticism has mounted over China’s transparency and speed in handling the epidemic, especially after the death of a doctor who was censured by authorities after becoming on early whistle-blower on the virus’ spread. This triggered widespread discontent at the Chinese government, stoking anger on social media.
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