China death toll spikes to 80, over 2,700 cases confirmed

This photo taken on January 26, 2020 shows a medical staff member (R) wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, talking on her phone as she organises transferring patients in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • The previously unknown contagion has caused global concern because of its similarity to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
  • Drastic travel restrictions have been imposed outside the epicentre
  • The move will affect millions of people travelling over the Lunar New Year holiday

China said on Monday that the death toll from a deadly viral outbreak spiked to 80 as the hard-hit epicentre province of Hubei suffered 24 new fatalities, while total confirmed cases nationwide rose sharply to 2,744.

While there were no new deaths confirmed outside of Hubei, the national tally of verified infections rose by 769, around half of them in Hubei, the National Health Commission said. It said 461 of those infected were in serious condition.

China has locked down Hubei in the country's centre, an unprecedented operation affecting tens of millions of people and intended to slow transmission of the respiratory virus.

UNKNOWN

The previously unknown contagion has caused global concern because of its similarity to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) pathogen, which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

Drastic travel restrictions have been imposed outside the epicentre, with Shandong province and four cities -- Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Tianjin -- announcing bans on long-distance buses entering or leaving.

The move will affect millions of people travelling over the Lunar New Year holiday, which authorities said would be extended while the government works to contain the virus.

The populous southern province of Guangdong, Jiangxi in central China, and three cities made it mandatory for residents to wear face masks in public.

Originating in Hubei's capital of Wuhan, the virus has spread throughout China and across the world -- with cases confirmed in around a dozen countries including as far away as the United States.