Novel coronavirus outbreak may reach its peak in one week or about 10 days: expert

"It is very difficult to definitely estimate when the outbreak reaches its peak. But I think in one week or about 10 days, it will reach the climax and then there will be no large-scale increases," Zhong said.

Zhong is the head of a national team of experts set up for the control and prevention of the novel coronavirus-caused pneumonia and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

"There are two keys to tackling the epidemic: early detection and early isolation. They are the most primitive and most effective methods," he said.

Zhong said fever is still the typical symptom of the novel coronavirus infection.

Ten to 14 days is a sound period for isolation and observation: When the incubation period ends, those who fall sick will get timely treatment and those who do not will be just fine. "Mass infection will not emerge because of Spring Festival holiday return trips, but screening and detection measures must continue," Zhong said.

He suggested that hospitals should be staffed with not only infectious disease specialists, but also specialists in treating severe cases to better save patients.

* Chinese health authorities announced Wednesday (January 29) that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by the end of Tuesday. A total of 132 people have died of the disease.

* Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China has full confidence and capability to win the battle against the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Meeting with visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi said the safety of people's lives and their health always come first, and thus the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak is the country's most important work for now.

The WHO is welcome to participate in the epidemic prevention and control, Xi said, stressing that China is ready to work with the WHO as well as the international community to safeguard regional and global public health security.

* The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that it will send international experts to China as soon as possible to increase understanding of the novel coronavirus outbreak situation and guide the global counter-epidemic efforts. The announcement came after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with the Chinese leaders in Beijing earlier in the day.

The two sides agreed that the WHO will send international experts to China to work with its Chinese counterparts to enhance understanding of the epidemic and guide the global counter-epidemic efforts, the WHO said in a statement.

* The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has issued a circular on strengthening Party leadership and providing strong political support for battling the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Issued to all Party committees and leading Party members groups, the circular specified their work during the fight against the ongoing epidemic.

* The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has established a coordination mechanism with the Red Cross Society of China to ensure smooth channels for receiving, procuring and allocating the supplies for pneumonia prevention.

* China will enhance cooperation with the international community over the battle against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in an open, transparent and responsible manner, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday in a phone talk with the Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.