China: Knowledge of coronavirus remains 'very limited' as death toll reaches 56 - National Health Commission

W/S Director of China's National Health Commission Ma Xiaowei, Deputy Director of China's National Health Commission Li Bin and China's Deputy Minister of Transport Liu Xiaoming arriving for press conference, Beijing
SOT, Ma Xiaowei, Director of China's National Health Commission (Mandarin): "We are at a crucial period to prevent and control the epidemic. Experts believe that the one-week Spring Festival holiday is the best time to allow massive isolation and disinfection to take effect, and it is also a key period to contain the epidemic outside Wuhan."
M/S Journalist wearing face mask *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Li Bin, Deputy Director of China's National Health Commission (Mandarin): "By the end of January 25th, we have received reports from the Hubei Health Commission. Wuhan reported about 618 confirmed [coronavirus] cases. Among them, 533 are hospitalised. 45 deaths were reported. There are 112 suspected cases at the moment in Wuhan."
W/S Journalists wearing face masks *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Ma Xiaowei, Director of China's National Health Commission (Mandarin): "From the cognitive perspective, the main transmission channel is the respiratory tract. But the knowledge about new coronavirus is still very limited. The infection source has not been found yet. And we are not clear about the risk of mutation. In other words, since it’s a new infectious decease, virus changes, infections could continue to rise."
M/S Journalist wearing face mask *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Ma Xiaowei, Director of China's National Health Commission (Mandarin): "More than 900 medical staff in seven teams have been sent to Hubei to rush Wuhan’s rescue. A rotation team is also on standby. The military also sent a 450-strong medical team."
M/S Journalist wearing face mask *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Liu Xiaoming, China's Deputy Minister of Transport (Mandarin): "Especially transportation is a way to spread the virus. Therefore, the restrictions on transportation have been implemented in some cities. So we can effectively block the virus infection channel. I think journalists may pay attention to this. For example, yesterday Beijing suspended inter-province long-distance passenger transport."
W/S Press conference
SCRIPT
Chinese authorities’ knowledge of the new coronavirus virus remains "very limited," meaning the number of infections could continue to rise, Director of China's National Health Commission Ma Xiaowei said in Beijing on Sunday.
Speaking at a news conference on the joint prevention and control of the outbreak of the virus, Xiaowei confirmed 618 coronavirus cases in in Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province.
The Chinese National Health Commission reported a jump in the number of people infected with coronavirus to more than 1,975 on Sunday, with 56 deaths. An outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by the newly emerging coronavirus - also known as 2019-nCoV - was reported in Wuhan, in December 2019.
The virus has also spread to other countries, including the US, Australia, France, Japan, Singapore and Thailand, despite stringent efforts by Chinese authorities to contain the disease.