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Coronavirus pandemic
ChinaPeople & Culture

WHO chief arrives in China for talks on coronavirus crisis as death toll jumps

  • World Health Organisation’s director general to gather information and discuss control measures as death toll jumps sharply
  • Cases identified in 11 countries including US, France, Japan and Australia

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An ambulance crew and their vehicle undergo disinfection procedures in the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in central China. Photo: EPA-EFE
Lee Jeong-ho

The head of the World Health Organisation arrives in Beijing on Monday to discuss ways of slowing the spread of the new coronavirus, just as the death toll from the disease in mainland China jumped sharply to 80, with more than 2,800 people infected so far.

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WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will meet Chinese health officials to collect further information on the outbreak which originated in Wuhan, in the central province of Hebei, one day after it was revealed that 5 million residents left the city before it was locked down ahead of the Spring Festival holiday last week.

“I am on my way to Beijing, to meet with the government and health experts supporting the coronavirus response,” Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “My WHO colleagues and I would like to understand the latest developments and strengthen our partnership with China in providing further protection against the outbreak.”

The WHO is yet to declare a global health emergency in response to the crisis, although cases have been identified across the world – including in the United States, France, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, Nepal and Australia.

“We are working 24/7 to support China and its people during this difficult time and remain in close contact with affected countries, with our regional & country offices deeply involved,” Ghebreyesus said in a follow-up tweet. “WHO is updating all countries on the situation and providing specific guidance on what to do to respond.”

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