The Chinese government has accused the United States of causing “panic” in its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The accusation comes after the US declared a public health emergency on Friday and said it would deny entry to foreign nationals who had visited China in the past two weeks.
Chinese Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the US actions “could only create and spread fear”.
There have been more than 17,000 confirmed cases of the virus in China.
What else did China say?
In a news briefing on Monday, Ms Hua accused the US of spreading fear instead of offering assistance – saying it was the first country to impose a travel ban on Chinese travellers and the first to suggest a partial withdrawal of its embassy staff.
“It is precisely developed countries like the US with strong epidemic prevention capabilities… that have taken the lead in imposing excessive restrictions contrary to WHO recommendations,” she said, according to a Reuters report.
A handful of countries like Australia also imposed an entry ban on Chinese travellers shortly after the US ban.
The WHO has actually warned that closing borders could accelerate the spread of the virus, if travellers enter countries unofficially.
Some 361 people have died of the virus in mainland China alone.
Outside China, there are more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus – and one death, in the Philippines.
What measures has the US taken?
On 23 January, the US ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members from Wuhan in Hubei province, where the virus originated.
Less than a week later, it allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and relatives of US government employees from China.
On 30th January the World Health Organisation declared a global health emergency over the new virus. Following this, the US ordered the departure of all US personnel family members under the age of 21 in China.
Any US citizen who has been in Hubei province will be subject to 14 days’ quarantine upon returning to the US.
What are other countries doing to stem the outbreak?
Various countries have imposed travel restrictions to a varying degree.
- Denying entry to all foreign visitors who have recently been to China: US, Australia, Singapore
- Denying entry to foreigners travelling from mainland China: New Zealand, Israel
- Denying entry to foreigners who have visited Hubei province: Japan, South Korea
Other countries have seen their national carriers temporarily suspend all flights to mainland China. These include Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, the UK, and Italy amongst others.
