Death toll in China's coronavirus climbs to 25 with 830 confirmed cases

Chinese health authorities have confirmed 25 deaths and 830 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. Infections have been reported in 29 provincial-level regions in the country by the end of Thursday. 

China’s National Health Commission has said that a total of 1,072 new suspected cases have been reported in 20 provincial-level regions. Out of 25 deaths, 24 are in central China's Hubei Province and one in north China's Hebei Province. Five cities in China have put travel restrictions to contains the spread of the virus. Overseas, three cases had been confirmed in Thailand, with two of them already cured. One case was cured in Japan. The Republic of Korea, the United States and Singapore had confirmed one case each, with Vietnam confirming two. The commission said that a total of 9,507 close contacts have been traced, out of which 8,420 are under medical observation while 1,087 others have been discharged.

Meanwhile, The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that it was too early to declare the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in



China a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, after the meeting which prolonged to second day on Thursday, said that that WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally adding that China has taken appropriate measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in Wuhan.

Beijing city has canceled large-scale activities, including temple fairs, in an effort to prevent and control a novel coronavirus. The municipal bureau of culture and tourism said the move is aimed to minimize large gatherings of people in the capital. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan 25 this year. A string of events and activities, such as temple fairs, winter sports and exhibitions, are usually held in Beijing during the holiday. 

Last year, Beijing's 11 municipal parks and the Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture received 2.32 million visitors during the holiday.