China

At a time when people would normally be enjoying New Year festivities, China is experiencing a coronavirus outbreak. In the six weeks since the outbreak began in the central city of Wuhan, 26 people have died and 830 people have fallen ill in mainland China from the virus, which is similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). … [Read more...] about Lunar New Year means everything in China. Canceling celebrations is a massive deal

HOW IT'S ENFORCED: Most residents appear to be cooperating following official appeals to stay home and avoid spreading the virus. If that fails, the Communist Party has one of the world’s most extensive systems of surveillance and social controls. Cities are blanketed with video cameras and the ruling party has, with the help of Western tech companies, developed computerized systems to track the public, monitor and censor internet use and suppress protests and dissent. Facilities already in place to control movement at train stations and airports and on expressways can be pressed into use to block travel. … [Read more...] about Social controls, SARS experience help China close off cities

We now know that the coronavirus can be transmitted from human hosts to other humans, and that infection can lead to complications that result in death. We also know that about one quarter of people who have been infected develop severe symptoms. But scientists are still trying to identify its other key characteristics. For now, it is unclear just how infectious the virus is, or, critically, at what stage of infection a person begins to spread it to new potential hosts.  … [Read more...] about China’s Coronavirus Keeps Spreading But the WHO Still Won’t Declare a Global Emergency

Initial symptoms of the virus can mirror those of the cold and flu, including cough, fever, chest tightening and shortness of breath, but can worsen to pneumonia. The coronavirus family includes the common cold as well as viruses that cause more serious illnesses, such as SARS and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, or MERS, which is thought to have originated from camels. The Wuhan outbreak is suspected to have begun from wild animals sold at a food market in the city. The market is closed for investigation. … [Read more...] about China building a hospital to treat virus, expands lockdowns

Hundreds of cases of a new viral respiratory illness have been confirmed in China and elsewhere since an outbreak began last month in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Scientists have identified the illness as a new kind of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which cause the common cold. Others have evolved into more severe illnesses, such as SARS and MERS, although so far the new virus does not appear to be nearly as deadly or contagious. … [Read more...] about What’s new in the China virus outbreak