China coronavirus: Wuhan city imposes transport lockdown as death toll rises to seventeen and number of cases rise to 571

Authorities in China's Wuhan city have imposed transport lockdown on all in and out public transport including flights from Wuhan as cases of the new coronavirus disease rose to 571.

The death toll in the SARS-like virus has risen to seventeen in the country's territory.

Also Read: US confirms first case of coronavirus, death toll reaches nine

Vacation destinations and lodgings in the city had been advised to suspend huge scale exercises while libraries, historical centers and theaters were dropping displays and exhibitions. 

A Lunar New Year supplication giving service at the city's Guiyuan Temple, which pulled in more than 6-7 lakhs individuals a year ago, has also been cancelled.

China's health authorities said the nation was currently at the 'most critical stage' of prevention and control.

Meanwhile, the WHO Emergency Committee also held a discussion on Wednesday over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, but it did not come to a concrete decision whether to declare a global state of emergency.

Also Read: Australia to begin screening passengers from China

The committee is reconvening on Thursday to consider further steps.

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Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Tedros said on Wednesday that the organisation needs more information to decide if the Emergency Committee should declare a public health emergency, adding that the decision is very serious.

(With inputs from agencies)