Hundreds infected in Chinese prisons as coronavirus cases jump beyond epicentre


By Pei LiSe Young Lee
  • World
  • Friday, 21 Feb 2020

A resident wears a makeshift protective face shield at a residential compound in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Hubei province, China February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Stringer CHINA OUT.

BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - The new coronavirus has infected hundreds of people in Chinese prisons, authorities said on Friday, contributing to a jump in reported cases beyond the epidemic's epicentre in Hubei province, including 100 more in South Korea.

The 234 infections among prisoners outside Hubei ended 16 straight days of declines in new mainland cases excluding that province, where the virus first emerged in December in its now locked-down capital, Wuhan.

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Sophie Kinsella, author of Shopaholic book series, dies aged 55
Indigenous Guard across the Amazon unite forces to protect their territories
Chile set to elect its most right-wing president since Pinochet
Exclusive-Colombia's ELN rebels willing to resume talks, leader says
Broad slice of Americans oppose Venezuela boat strikes, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
UN human rights office in "survival mode" amid major funding cuts
Analysis-Thailand–Cambodia border clash tests Trump's tariff diplomacy
Poland could give Ukraine MiG jets in swap for drone tech
Hungary's Orban government moves to stem fallout from juvenile centre abuse case
At least 22 killed in collapse of two buildings in Moroccan city of Fez

Others Also Read