China's isolation grows as virus toll reaches 259

An asian tourist wearing a protective mask in light of the coronavirus outbreak in China as she walks at the Trocadero esplanade in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on Saturday (Feb 1). China faced deepening isolation over its coronavirus epidemic on Saturday (Feb 1) as the death toll soared to 259, with the United States and Australia leading a growing list of nations to impose extraordinary Chinese travel bans. - Reuters

BEIJING: China faced deepening isolation over its coronavirus epidemic on Saturday (Feb 1) as the death toll soared to 259, with the United States and Australia leading a growing list of nations to impose extraordinary Chinese travel bans.

With Britain, Russia and Sweden among the countries confirming their first infections, the virus has now spread to more than two dozen nations, sending governments scurrying to limit their exposure.