The new strain of coronavirus can spread through human to human transmission, Chinese health officials confirmed Tuesday.
Zhong Nanshan, head of the Chinese government expert team, revealed that the virus has infected patients without having contact from the seafood market in the central city of Wuhan where the virus believed to have emerged.
Two people in the southern province of Guangdong contracted the new strain of coronavirus through their relatives who traveled in Wuhan, The Independent reported.
The death toll has climbed to 4 and around 218 people were infected, according to the latest report from Chinese authorities.
Chinese state media, CCTV, reported Monday that President Xi Jinping assured a stable and peaceful Lunar New Year.
The state broadcaster added that Xi stressed the safeguarding people’s lives is the “top priority” and the outbreak of the disease “should be resolutely contained.”
The SARS-like disease has spread to four provinces of China, including the city of Shanghai, Shenzen and the capital Beijing.
Meanwhile, 170 people are still being quarantined and treated, nine of which were under critical condition, according to the Wuhan health commission.
