WHO Team to Probe Covid-19 Origins in China

New Hebei outbreak

The virus’ origins have been the source of intense speculation, much of it cantered around the likelihood that it was carried by bats and passed to humans through an intermediary species sold as food or medicine in traditional Chinese wet markets.

China has largely stemmed new cases of domestic transmission, but said Monday scores of people had tested positive for coronavirus in Hebei province, bordering Beijing.

That outbreak comes amid measures to curb the further spread of the virus during next month’s Lunar New Year holiday.

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Authorities have called on citizens not to travel, ordered schools closed a week early and conducted testing on a massive scale.

China has recorded 87,536 total cases of the virus, including 4,634 deaths.

Hospitals are currently treating 673 people for Covid-19, while 506 others are in isolation and under observation after testing positive without showing symptoms, officials said.

The Hebei outbreak has raised particular concern because of the province’s proximity to Beijing.

Parts of the province are under lockdown and interprovincial travel has been largely cut off, with those entering Beijing to work having to show proof of employment and a clean bill of health.

Beijing has also seen a handful of new cases, prompting authorities to lock down some suburban communities and require residents to show negative test results to access grocery stores and other public spaces.