China virus toll spikes despite massive lockdownPeople across China have been wearing face masks in a bid to protect themselves and stop the spread of the deadly virusWUHAN, China: The toll from China's viral epidemic spiked on Monday to 80 dead with hundreds of new infections despite unprecedented quarantines and travel lockdowns, as foreign governments scrambled to help their trapped citizens. With the coronavirus also expanding globally, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus headed to Beijing to meet with government officials on the crisis. The new additions to China's death toll came entirely from the epicentre province of Hubei, which on Monday reported 24 fresh fatalities. Wuhan has been under virtual lockdown for days, with transport halted and citizens told to stay at home. The Wuhan meat market at the epicentre sold a vast range of unusual dinner fare including rats, snakes and hedgehogs.

Source: Bangkok Post January 27, 2020 02:03 UTC