[caption id="attachment_206017" align="aligncenter" width="900"]
The total number of confirmed cases in China alone has climbed to almost 4,500. — Picture by AFP[/caption]
SHAH ALAM, Jan 28 — Chinese authorities have confirmed the death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak in China to have increased to 106 this morning, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported today.
The number of confirmed cases has soared to almost 4,500 in China alone and most deaths were recorded in the Hubei province where the outbreak is centred at.
SCMP cited China’s National Health Commission (NHC) to have confirmed that the virus can be spread through air transmission as well as physical contact.
The NHC said the incubation period of the new virus is on average three to seven days and can go to a maximum of 14 days, adding that the coronavirus strain is 85 per cent similar to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which was first reported in Asia in February 2003
It was reported that the virus can infect children and infants, but their symptoms have been relatively mild.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the US State Department had advised its citizens to reconsider travels to China following the spread of the virus to other major cities, including Singapore and Paris, France.
It was also reported yesterday that American companies have also restricted employee travel to China. According to Bloomberg, the limits were effective Monday, which halts non-essential travel to China by employees. Those who must visit the country would require specific approval.
Facebook staff based in China, as well as those who recently returned from trips to the country, were told to work from home.
