As the clock struck midnight, millions of Chinese people around the world ushered in the Lunar New Year, marking the start of the Year of the Rat.Celebrations rang out from Los Angeles to Pyongyang, but in China itself streets remained on lockdown.It comes after Beijing officials announced major events will be cancelled in a bid to control the spread of the killer coronavirus. The death toll in China rose to 41 today from 26 a day earlier and more than 1,300 people have been infected globally with a virus traced to a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife. Wuhan, a city of 11 million, has been in virtual lockdown since Thursday, with nearly all flights at the airport cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town. Share this article Share Some 56 million people are now subject to restrictions on their movement as authorities expand travel bans in central Hubei province, now affecting 18 cities. The 2020 Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, will start from today and ring in the year of the rat, the first of the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese calendar. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE CORONAVIRUS? Once someone has caught the virus it may take between two and 14 days for them to show any symptoms.If and when they do, typical signs include:a runny nosea coughsore throatfever (high temperature)The vast majority of patients – at least 97 per cent, based on available data – will recover from these without any issues or medical help.In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. But as the country's citizens are poised to celebrate their most important holiday of the year, temples have locked their doors, major tourist destinations have announced emergency closures and restaurant reservations are being cancelled.Shanghai Disney Resort posted on its website: 'In response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety of our guests and cast, Shanghai Disney Resort is temporarily closing Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown.'We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and... announce the reopening date upon confirmation.' A section of the Great Wall known as the Badaling section – one of the most visited parts – has been closed to tourists, Al Jazeera reports.Beijing's Forbidden Palace, which hosts the Palace Museum, will be closed to visitors from Saturday.China's National Health Commission has announced it had formed six medical teams totalling 1,230 medical staff to help Wuhan. Three of the six teams, from Shanghai, Guangdong and military hospitals have arrived in Wuhan.Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has declared a virus emergency in th
Millions usher in the Chinese New Year of the Rat - except in China
As the clock struck midnight, millions of Chinese people around the world ushered in the Lunar New Year, marking the start of the Year of the Rat.Celebrations rang out from Los Angeles to Pyongyang, but in China itself streets remained on lockdown.It comes after Beijing officials announced major events will be cancelled in a bid to control the spread of the killer coronavirus. The death toll in China rose to 41 today from 26 a day earlier and more than 1,300 people have been infected globally with a virus traced to a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife. Wuhan, a city of 11 million, has been in virtual lockdown since Thursday, with nearly all flights at the airport cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town. Share this article Share Some 56 million people are now subject to restrictions on their movement as authorities expand travel bans in central Hubei province, now affecting 18 cities. The 2020 Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, will start from today and ring in the year of the rat, the first of the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese calendar. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE CORONAVIRUS? Once someone has caught the virus it may take between two and 14 days for them to show any symptoms.If and when they do, typical signs include:a runny nosea coughsore throatfever (high temperature)The vast majority of patients – at least 97 per cent, based on available data – will recover from these without any issues or medical help.In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. But as the country's citizens are poised to celebrate their most important holiday of the year, temples have locked their doors, major tourist destinations have announced emergency closures and restaurant reservations are being cancelled.Shanghai Disney Resort posted on its website: 'In response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety of our guests and cast, Shanghai Disney Resort is temporarily closing Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown.'We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and... announce the reopening date upon confirmation.' A section of the Great Wall known as the Badaling section – one of the most visited parts – has been closed to tourists, Al Jazeera reports.Beijing's Forbidden Palace, which hosts the Palace Museum, will be closed to visitors from Saturday.China's National Health Commission has announced it had formed six medical teams totalling 1,230 medical staff to help Wuhan. Three of the six teams, from Shanghai, Guangdong and military hospitals have arrived in Wuhan.Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has declared a virus emergency in th
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