Strict measures have been taken to prevent and control the spread of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as China strengthens transparency and cooperation with the international community.
WUHAN/BEIJING, Jan. 22 -- China is going all out to fight against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has claimed nine lives and infected hundreds of people.
By the end of Tuesday, 440 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 13 provincial-level regions in the country, said the National Health Commission.
Altogether 149 new confirmed cases were reported Tuesday.
Li Bin (C), deputy director of the National Health Commission, speaks at a press conference on new coronavirus pneumonia in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)
The virus had resulted in nine deaths, all in central China's Hubei Province.
In the province's capital city of Wuhan, the main battlefield, a total of 258 confirmed cases were reported by the end of Monday. Among them, 25 had been cured and discharged from hospitals, while 227 were still being treated in hospitals, including 63 in severe or critical conditions.
The pathogen, first discovered in Wuhan in December, has become a major concern during the ongoing Spring Festival travel rush, when hundreds of millions of people travel in packed buses, trains and planes to celebrate the Spring Festival that falls on Jan. 25 this year.
RESOLUTE EFFORTS TO CONTAIN SPREADING
China is sparing no effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus-related pneumonia, rolling out a host of measures.
Chinese leaders have ordered resolute efforts to curb the spread of the virus, calling for putting people's safety and health as the top priority and taking effective measures to curb the spread of the virus.
The Hubei provincial government activated a level II public health emergency response on Tuesday, the second highest in the country. A headquarters headed by the mayor Zhou Xianwang was established in Wuhan on Monday for the control and treatment of pneumonia.
The city has tightened the control and monitoring of outbound travelers by banning tour groups and conducting spot checks for live poultry or wild animals in vehicles leaving and entering the city, according to the municipal health commission.
Free diagnosis and treatment of cases are being offered in Wuhan.
