China coronavirus: Beijing and Hong Kong cancel some major Lunar New Year festivities

AKIPRESS.COM - China is battling to contain a deadly coronavirus in Hubei province, as hundreds of millions of Chinese prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Beijing and Hong Kong have cancelled some major festivities to prevent large crowds gathering, BBC reports.
Wuhan and other cities in Hubei have seen far more draconian measures, with public transport suspended.
On Friday, Chinese authorities said the death toll had risen to 25, with 830 confirmed cases.
Of the confirmed cases, 177 were in a serious condition and 34 have been "cured and discharged", the National Health Commission said.
There are also 1,072 suspected cases, it added. Almost all of the deaths have been in Hubei - the virus emerged in the province's capital, Wuhan.
The World Health Organization has not classed the virus as an "international emergency", partly because of the low number of overseas cases - currently 13.
"It may yet become one," said the WHO's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The US said on Thursday it was investigating its second suspected case.