LONDON — The rapid spread of a new kind of coronavirus in China is causing global fear, and it could not have happened at a worse time: Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year and Spring Festival, starts on Saturday and involves airline travel, family visits and billions of trips, which could trigger an acceleration of the disease across the country.
The spread of the virus, which can be transmitted between humans by as little as a sneeze or cough, has already dampened the usual celebratory mood this time of year.
Shou Deng, a resident in Wuhan where the virus was thought to have originated in a food market, said her family has canceled the Chinese New Year’s eve dinner on Jan. 24, and she will not go out until the New Year holiday ends. Many of her friends also have canceled travel plans and decided to stay in Wuhan.
She said fewer people are on the street in the central Chinese city, although major shopping areas such as Huayuandao, Hanjiang Road and Wuhan Plaza are still packed with shoppers.
As of Jan. 22 there were 543 confirmed cases of the virus, according to China’s National Health Commission. In three weeks, the virus has spread from
The spread of the virus, which can be transmitted between humans by as little as a sneeze or cough, has already dampened the usual celebratory mood this time of year.
Shou Deng, a resident in Wuhan where the virus was thought to have originated in a food market, said her family has canceled the Chinese New Year’s eve dinner on Jan. 24, and she will not go out until the New Year holiday ends. Many of her friends also have canceled travel plans and decided to stay in Wuhan.
She said fewer people are on the street in the central Chinese city, although major shopping areas such as Huayuandao, Hanjiang Road and Wuhan Plaza are still packed with shoppers.
As of Jan. 22 there were 543 confirmed cases of the virus, according to China’s National Health Commission. In three weeks, the virus has spread from
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