- China's coronavirus expert said she was 'very worried' about a second outbreak
- She warned surging number of imported cases could trigger another epidemic
- Guangzhou yesterday reported a domestic case in relation to an imported case
- The man fell ill after having close contact with a woman returning from Turkey
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
One of China's top coronavirus experts has warned that the nation is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of infections detected among new arrivals from abroad.
Professor Li Lanjuan, a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country'.
Her comment came after health officials reported the country's first case of someone who is believed to have contracted the disease, known as COVID-19, from another person returning from abroad.
It also came as life in former epicentre Wuhan is slowly returning to normal following a two-month draconian lockdown.
Professor Li Lanjuan (pictured), a member of Beijing's expert team on the virus, said she was 'very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country'
Her comment comes after the city of Guangzhou reported the country's first native coronavirus case 'related to an imported case' yesterday. The above picture shows medical staff treating COVID-19 coronavirus patients at a hospital in Wuhan on March 19
Prof Li, 73, told China News today that the control and prevention of imported cases was an 'arduous' task for medical workers.
She said: 'This requires us to continue to intensify our efforts and work tirelessly to prevent the coronavirus pneumonia epidemic from spreading in other cities.'
Prof Li has led her medical team to fight the virus in Wuhan for more than 50 days.
She told state newspaper People's Daily in Wuhan: 'The mission in Wuhan has not been accomplished, and there are still many critical patients. Furthermore, I think the current situation in our country is very tough.
'[I am] very worried that imported cases could trigger another large-scale epidemic in our country.
'Can we make every effort to guard our country and prevent another epidemic from happening? This is a tough challenge.'
She also demanded officials identify those who were struck down by the virus but have not been officially diagnosed. She warned that they could re-ignite the epidemic.
Doctors in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, have diagnosed a coronavirus patient who fell ill after having close contact with a person entering China from Turkey.
This is the first coronavirus case in the country with a direct link to an imported case. The Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission called it 'a case related to an imported case' in a statement yesterday.
Doctors in Guangzhou have diagnosed a coronavirus patient who fell ill after having close contact with a person entering China from Turkey. Pictured, a man wearing a protective mask sits in his shop selling traditional Chinese medicine supplies in Guangzhou on March 17
The 54-year-old man, known by his surname Jin, experienced muscle pain and a lack of strength on March 17. He was hospitalised on March 20 with a slight fever and tested positive the next day.
Mr Jin was a close contact with another confirmed case, 34-year-old Ms Lin, who stayed in Istanbul from January 22 to March 8 on a business trip.
Ms Lin flew back to Guangzhou on March 9 via Bangkok. She did not show any symptoms upon entering the country and stayed at home most of the time afterwards.
She was diagnosed on March 21 after the city's infectious disease authority gave her a test.
People's Daily, the mouthpiece of China's Communist Party, warned of the emergence of Mr Jin's case.
In explaining its significance, the newspaper
quoted health experts from Guangzhou and said: 'Cases related to imported cases are the second-generation cases brought in from abroad. It means the close contacts of [the imported cases] have been transmitted and fallen ill.'
China reported no new local cases today but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas. Pictured, people wear masks as they walk at Ritan Park in Beijing on March 22
The official outlet urged all cities to put those arriving from virus-hit countries under 14-day mandatory quarantine even if they don't show symptoms. Those arriving from other countries should self-isolate for two weeks, the paper said.
Chinese health officials today reported no new local cases of the deadly virus but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas.
Worldwide, more than 14,740 people have been killed by the contagion and over 340,000 people have been infected.
Former epicentre Wuhan slowly returns to normal after a two-month lockdown
Wuhan residents considered healthy are allowed to move around the Chinese city and take the bus or metro so long as they show ID
People in central China where the coronavirus was first detected are allowed to go back to work and public transport is restarting, as some normality slowly returns after a two-month lockdown.
The easing of restrictions in Wuhan city comes as Chinese health officials reported Monday no new local cases of the deadly virus, but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas.
Wuhan residents considered healthy can move around the city and take the bus or metro so long as they show ID, officials said.
They can also go back to work if they have a permit from their employer, and leave the city for other parts of the surrounding Hubei province after being tested for the virus and receiving a health certificate.
The virus, which emerged in a market that sold wild animals in December, sparked a dramatic lockdown of the city on January 23 that was then widened to the rest of the province of nearly 60 million people.
Since then infections have slowed dramatically and for five straight days there have been no new cases in Hubei.
Another nine people died in Wuhan, the National Health Commission said Monday in its latest update.
The easing of restrictions follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the city earlier this month -- his first since the crisis erupted.
As the rate of infection slows in China, the rest of the world has stepped up measures to try and battle the raging pandemic.
China is anxious about an influx of infections brought in from other countries, with the number of imported cases climbing steadily in recent weeks to pass 350.
Of the 39 new cases reported Monday, 10 were in Shanghai and 10 were in Beijing.
Many cities have brought in tough rules to quarantine new arrivals.
Authorities have said all Beijing-bound international flights will be diverted to other cities where they will be screened for the virus to help make the process more efficient.
Those who get the all-clear will be allowed to continue to Beijing where they will still be sent to quarantine facilities.
There have now been over 81,000 cases in China, and the death toll has reached 3,270.