Kathmandu, January 26

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday makes dire warning as the government took further steps to battle the deadly noval coronavirus that has infected nearly 2,000 and killed 56.

China on Sunday reported that the deaths from the coronavirus had risen to 56, while confirmed cases of the virus rose to 1,975.

The Street reported that the China's President Xi warned of a 'grave situation' as the government took additional measures to prevent what Xi himself called the “accelerating spread” of the deadly coronavirus.

President Xi convened a meeting of the Communist Party leadership on Saturday to kickstart efforts to contain the outbreak, assist the ill and speed up supplies to locked-down cities and regions.

On Thursday, Chinese authorities closed off Wuhan, a city of more than 11 million residents where the virus originated, and canceled all planes and trains leaving the city and shut down public transport inside. The authorities also suspended tours abroad and cancelled planned public gatherings celebrating the lunar New Year.

On the other hand, there is no sign of mutation in the Wuhan coronavirus so far, the Director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, said at a press briefing by China’s National Health Commission on Sunday.

The CNN reported that Fu said the virus has shown little change since its discovery, adding that scientists will need more time to detect minute alterations if they occur.

The Health Commission also announced that a daily press briefing will be made every morning (local time), starting this Monday, January 27.

Meanwhile, a third case of the Wuhan coronavirus has been confirmed in the United States, while health authorities in Macao informed Sunday that three more cases of the Wuhan coronavirus have been confirmed.

Hamro Doctor