“The epidemic is a demon and we cannot keep that demon hidden,” said Xi during a meeting with officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), according to state media.
“The Chinese government has always had an open, transparent and responsible attitude when it comes to disseminating information to our citizens and to other countries,” he added.
Detected at the end of the year in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province (central China), the virus has already killed at least 106 dead and more than 4,000 infected.
Beijing authorities confirmed the first death in the Chinese capital of a person infected with the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a 50-year-old man who was in the city of Wuhan on January 8.
A first confirmed case of contamination with this virus was registered in Germany this Monday, the second affected country in Europe, after France.
In addition to mainland China, cases of infection have also been reported in Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, United States, Singapore, Vietnam, Nepal, Malaysia, France, Germany, Australia and Canada.
Chinese officials have admitted that the virus’s ability to spread has been strengthened.
Infected people can transmit the disease during the incubation period, which takes between one day and two weeks, without the virus being detected.
The Chinese government has decided to extend the Lunar New Year holiday period, which was due to end on Thursday, to try to limit population movement.
The Wuhan region is under quarantine, a situation that affects 56 million people. In that city, two new hospitals are already under construction to house the infected
Some countries, such as the United States, Japan, France, Germany and Portugal, are preparing with the Chinese authorities to withdraw their citizens from Wuhan, where there are also two dozen Portuguese.
Asian stocks fell for the second day in a row, driven by concerns about the global economic impact of the virus.
The increasingly drastic efforts to contain the coronovirus in China began with the suspension of plane, train and bus connections to Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, but restrictions have expanded to 17 cities, with more than 50 million of people.
Mongolia also its vast border with China and North Korea said it was strengthening quarantine measures.
Hong Kong and Malaysia are blocking visitors from Hubei and Chinese travel agencies have been forced to cancel all group tours in the country.
The Chinese government has sent 6,000 doctors to Wuhan, including 1,800 who are due to arrive today.
Video explains how airports are halting virus proliferation
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