A top Chinese health official said Sunday that a new deadly virus that has infected nearly 2,000 people and killed dozens in China is "not as powerful as SARS". But Chinese officials told reporters that the new disease was less powerful than SARS -- though it was becoming more contagious. "From what we see now, this disease is true...not as powerful as SARS," said Gao Fu, head of China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, at a press briefing in Beijing. However, it also appears that the "spreading ability of the virus is getting stronger," added Ma Xiaowei, head of China's National Health Commission. At Sunday's press briefing, Chinese health officials said the Lunar New Year holiday was the "best window" of time to contain the epidemic.

Source: Punch January 26, 2020 13:07 UTC