China bans animal trafficking to stop the spread of the virus

Authorities have announced the ban on markets, restaurants and commercial sites due to concerns that the source of the Corona virus is from wildlife. The number of victims has risen to 56, traffic restrictions within China continue to expand, and Beijing authorities urge residents not to shake hands

China bans animal trafficking to stop the spread of the virus

China announced on Sunday it bans wildlife trade in markets, supermarkets, restaurants and the network because of the corona virus outbreak - the Enforcement Authority announced to the markets, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Forestry Bureau in a joint statement. According to the statement, the entire area of ​​the wildlife breeder should be isolated, and the transport of wildlife by means of transport is prohibited. The ban will take effect today.

So far, more than 2,000 people have been infected with the virus, and 56 have died in China. China's Health Minister Mahi Yaoi said today that the virus's ability to spread is increasing and that the number of infections may continue to rise. What, speaking at a press conference, said that the authorities' knowledge of the virus is limited and that they are uncertain about the risks that may arise from the mutations that may occur.

The origin of the virus, from the SARS family, is probably at the seafood market in Wuhan city, the focus of the virus outbreak. Tonight, the United States announced that it was evicting some of its citizens in the city, which is being quarantined. Wild animals, sometimes those illegally hunted, are sold in markets in China and are sometimes surrogates for viruses that cross the species barrier and pass on to humans. The Alibaba-powered Taobao sales site sells snakes, peacocks, alligators and other species.

All updates on the mysterious virus

There is no going out and no coming. Residents with masks in Wuhan city today (Photo: Reuters)

Defenders of the Corona Virus in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China January 26, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

The virus has already spread to other major cities in the country, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as the United States, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and other countries. The U.S. State Department has announced it will remove its people from the Consulate in Wuhan and return them to the United States, offering a limited number of seats for private U.S. citizens on a flight departing Tuesday for San Francisco.

Despite concerns about a global epidemic, the World Health Organization last week did not define the outbreak as a global medical emergency after a special hearing. However, some experts are questioning China's ability to curb the spread of the virus, which has no cure or vaccine at this time. Yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping admitted to the Communist Party Executive Committee that "the situation is serious."

"No one leaves": Residents of the virus center in China store masks and medicines

It is unclear if the virus can be spread. Mother and son wearing mask in Seoul (Photo: Reuters)

Mother and son wearing mask to protect against corona virus in Seoul, South Korea January 26, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

The outbreak of the virus has led to widespread restrictions on traffic within China. Wuhan is, in fact, under curfew when there is no going out, except for emergencies. In Beijing, emergency authorities have urged residents not to shake hands, and instead use a traditional gesture of peace. The recommendation was sent this morning in cell phone messengers.

The outbreak also disrupted the Chinese New Year celebrations. Public events were canceled and many tourist sites were closed, including the Forbidden City of Beijing and parts of the Wall. Many on social networks have called for an extension to prevent the virus from spreading. WeChat, the Chinese messaging app, has warned that it has nine users spreading rumors.

China was called on to conduct transparency in the current crisis, after the flare-up of the SARS virus in 2002 and 2003 eroded public confidence, but residents criticized the authorities in Wuhan. "People in my town suspect the number of patients given by the authorities," said Violet Lee, who lives in a district in the city where the same seafood market is located. "I go out with a mask twice a day to walk the dog. It's the only activity I do outdoors," she said in a message sent to Reuters.

Many questions around the virus

The new Corona virus is worrying because there are still many variables to it, such as how dangerous it is and how quickly it spreads between humans. It can cause pneumonia, which in some cases has resulted in death. The concern is that the infection will accelerate in the light of the New Year's holiday, during which hundreds of millions of people are traveling across the country, though many have canceled their plans and airlines and trains have promised to compensate them for the tickets.

Worldwide, airports have increased passenger check-in from China, although it is unclear how effective it is - two of the three Chinese citizens diagnosed with the virus in France have arrived in the country without showing any symptoms.

According to experts from the Imperial College in London, the outbreak "poses a clear and persistent global health threat". According to a report from infectious disease experts, "it is unclear at this time whether the spread of the epidemic can be stopped within China."

Hong Kong residents wear mask for protection against infection today (Photo: Reuters)

Worshipers wearing mask to defend Hong Kong Corona virus January 26, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)