The National Health Commission of China announced on Thursday that cases of pneumonia caused by the new type of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) are estimated at 571, spread across 25 regions of the country, and that 393 cases are suspected.
The new coronavirus, first diagnosed in Wuhan City, has killed 17 people, all in the central Chinese province of Hubei.
So far, the virus has spread to the regions of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea, where in all of them a case has been diagnosed. For its part, Thailand has confirmed three cases.
On the other hand, a total of 5,897 people who have had direct contact with those affected have been recognized, according to the commission figures. Of these, 4,928 are under medical observation, while another 969 have been discharged.
In this context, the authorities of the epicenter of the coronavirus, Wuhan, announced on Wednesday the closure of public transport as a measure to contain the disease. The Government has asked those living in the city not to leave the area and reported that the train stations and the airport will be closed.
Coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to the Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The clinical signs and symptoms of the patients reported in this group are mainly fever, with some having difficulty breathing and chest radiographs showing bilateral pulmonary infiltrates.
According to current knowledge of the new coronavirus, the incubation period can be extended up to about 14 days, according to a prevention and control plan published on Wednesday by the Chinese health authorities.
