(REUTERS)BEIJING: The death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak surged past 1,000 in China as the World Health Organization warned that the epidemic poses a “very grave” global threat. Another 108 deaths were reported today – the first triple-digit daily rise since the virus emerged in late December. The death toll has now reached 1,016, although the mortality rate remains relatively low at 2.4 percent. The death of a whistleblowing doctor from Wuhan has sparked calls for political reform in China. He called the situation in Hubei “still very grave” and urged “more decisive measures” to contain the spread of the virus.

Source: New Strait Times February 11, 2020 12:00 UTC