BEIJING: China may postpone its annual parliament session, state media said on Monday, as the country battles to control the outbreak of the new coronavirus. China’s ruling council will “deliberate a draft decision” over postponing the ten-day National People’s Congress (NPC), ahead of the meeting due to start on March 5. It will also review a decision on banning the “illegal wildlife trade and eliminating the bad habits of eating wild animals to guarantee people’s lives, health and safety”, Xinhua said. More than 70,000 people have been infected by the epidemic in mainland China, which started in central Hubei province and has spread across China and to other countries. It has claimed 1,770 lives and prompted the closure of many schools, entertainment venues and large-scale events across China.

Source: Manila Times February 17, 2020 07:30 UTC