Coronavirus: China’s Leader Xi Jinping Warns of ‘Grave Situation’ as Disease Spreads at “Accelerating Spread”

The Chinese government is notoriously (and dangerously) secretive so we cannot know the true number of sick and dying. Whatever numbers are coming out of China, they’re wrong. The MO of the Chinese is cover-up.

Here’s the latest. Previous coverage here.

Coronavirus outbreak closes Shanghai Disneyland and other China tourist destinations. The coronavirus outbreak has forced the closure of tourist destinations across China during the Lunar New Year when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel domestically and internationally.

CORONAVIRUS: Photos of Infected People Dead in Streets in China, Death Toll Spikes

Disturbing new video shows dead bodies piling up in the hallways of a hospital in China, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spiral out of control. (NYP)

The images from inside Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of the deadly viral outbreak, show covered bodies lining corridors as staffers and patients walk about with masks on their face.

Tents have been set up in a hospital car park to treat patients (Image: Twitter)

China’s Coronavirus is Much Worse Than You Think

Disturbing images of Wuhan residents dropping unresponsive to the floor have emerged on Instagram following the diseased Chinese city’s coronavirus lockdown.

In China, 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have now raised their public health alert to level 1, the highest level, according to Global Times. This enables measures such as quarantining.

Sichuan province has announced a ban on group gatherings. Individuals are not allowed to organise gatherings and restaurants are being prevented from hosting them. Anyone who had prior reservations has been told to cancel.

In Hubei province, where the virus originated, all 72 train stations have been closed down.

Updated at 9.24am EST

Chinese tourism continues to be affected by the spread of the virus.

All domestic and foreign tour group operations are to be suspended from Monday. The move follows the closure of Shanghai’s Disneyland, and all tourist sites in the popular Sanya city.

Chinese president warns of ‘grave situation’

The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, has held a special government meeting to address the spread of the virus.

The president warned of a “grave situation” at a meeting with the politburo on the lunar new year public holiday, state television reported. He also said the virus was “accelerating its speed”.

According to the TV report, resources and experts will be channelled to designated hospitals to tackle the virus. Supplies to Hubei province will be guaranteed and cost won’t be a hindrance.

Updated at 8.53am EST

Here’s an overview of the developments so far:

• Forty-one people in China have died from coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, a city in Hubei province.

• At least 17 cities in Hubei have been locked down, and around 28 provinces have issued the highest emergency response ranking possible, which enables measures including quarantines.

• There is virtually no travel being allowed into or out of Wuhan, and Beijing has suspended inter-province travel.

• More than 1,280 cases have been confirmed worldwide, the vast majority in China, and others predominantly across Asia. However, the virus reached Europe yesterday, with three confirmed cases in France, and has also been reported in Australia and the US. In total, 14 countries have been affected.

• In the UK, 14 people were tested and the results were negative. The government is trying to track down 2,000 people who arrived from Wuban in recent weeks.

• The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says more cases in the EU are likely.

• Hong Kong announced this morning that it would raise its response from ‘serious’ to ‘emergency’, the highest ranking. School holidays will be extended for another two weeks, and a marathon has been cancelled.

• The World Health Organization has not declared a crisis, but is monitoring the situation.

• China is building two new hospitals to tackle the crisis, the first in 10 days and another in two weeks.