Coronavirus contagion in China continues with 106 victims

4,515 The confirmed cases, almost 7 thousand await confirmation.  In just 24 hours, 1,680 more people contract the lung infection.  Another 6,000 medical staff members have been mobilized to combat the spread of the virus in Hubei province.  Foreign governments devise ways to extract their citizens from the capital of Wuhan.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Chinese health authorities are revising upwards the death toll from the coronavirus that is spreading across the country: to date, 106 deaths have risen sharply compared to 81 yesterday.  Regarding the number of total infections, the National Health Commission reports that there are 4,515 confirmed cases.  In just 24 hours, 1,680 more people contracted lung infection.  According to the government agency, there are almost 7 thousand other suspected cases and awaiting clinical confirmation.

This morning because of the epidemic, Beijing postponed the beginning of the spring semester for schools and universities across the country.  At the moment, students are on vacation for the Chinese New Year and the Ministry of Education has not made public a date for the resumption of lessons.  School leaders are required to "ask students not to go out, gather together, hold or participate in centralized activities," reads a government note.

At today's meeting, the National Health Commission announced that another 6,000 medical staff members have been mobilized to combat the spread of the virus in the epicenter of the epidemic - Hubei province.  To limit population flows and facilitate checks, yesterday the communist regime decided to extend the holidays by three days. They should originally have ended on January 30th.

The virus, which first appeared in the city of Wuhan, has been identified in more than a dozen other countries.  Last week Beijing isolated Hubei province in the largest registered quarantine operation and is building two new hospitals to treat patients with the virus.  The government plans to finish building the structures in 10 days.  President Xi Jinping created a special committee to deal with the epidemic.

Meanwhile, foreign governments are devising ways to safely get their citizens out of Wuhan.  The United States, France and Japan have announced plans for air bridges, but evacuations have yet to take place almost a week after the blockade.  Today a charter flight was scheduled for the US that would take consular staff and some American citizens away.  But the US State Department reports that the operation is postponed until tomorrow, without giving a reason.

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