KATHMANDU: The death toll from coronavirus has reached 636 while 31,161 people have been infected as of Friday morning in mainland China.
The whistleblower of the novel virus Dr Li Wenliang, 34, succumbed to the novel virus while undergoing treatment. He had contracted the virus while treating corona patients.
Last December he sent a message to fellow medics warning of a virus he thought looked like Sars – another deadly coronavrius.
He was told by police to “stop making false comments” and was investigated for “spreading rumors”.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump that China is “fully confident and capable of defeating the epidemic”.
China has introduced more restrictive measures to try to control the outbreak.
It has banned group dining for events such as birthdays in the capital city Beijing. Likewise, cities including Hangzhou and Nanchang are limiting how many family members can leave home each day.
There are confirmed cases of the infection in some 25 nations. There have so far been only two deaths outside mainland China – one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Comment