In Pictures

In Pictures: Coronavirus outbreak in China

China expands drastic travel restrictions to contain epidemic that has killed 81 people and infected nearly 3,000.

A cleaner walks past the Sihui Long Distance Bus Station in Beijing after the city has stoped inter-province buses services as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, January 26, 202 — A cleaner walks past Sihui Long-Distance Bus Station in Beijing after the city halted the operation of interprovincial buses following the outbreak of the new coronavirus. [Thomas Peter/Reuters]

The coronavirus outbreak that began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has killed 106 people in China and infected more than 4,520 globally, most of them in China.

The virus has caused alarm because it is still too early to know how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. And because it is new, humans have not been able to build any immunity to it.

The virus, believed to have originated late last year in a seafood market in Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife, has spread to bigger cities including Beijing and Shanghai.

Tourist access to Beijing’s Forbidden City and part of the Great Wall have been closed off and large gatherings cancelled, including two Lunar New Year temple fairs.

The Lunar New Year holiday, traditionally celebrated by hundreds of millions of Chinese travelling around the country and abroad, began on Friday but has been severely disrupted by the outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak was not yet a global health emergency.

Hong Kong has six confirmed cases, Taiwan and the United States have four, while three cases have been confirmed in France.

Medical staff transfer a patient of a highly suspected case of a new coronavirus at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong, China January 22, 2020. Picture taken January 22, 2020. cnsphoto via REUT — Medical staff transfer a patient suspected of carrying the coronavirus at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong. [CNS Photo/Reuters]

A woman wearing a face mask travels in the subway, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Beijing, China January 26, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins - RC2MNE9M6MFZ — A Chinese woman wearing a face mask travels in the subway in Beijing as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus. [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]

People line up outside a drugstore to buy masks in Shanghai, China January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC28ME90TCU0 — People line up outside a drugstore to buy face masks in Shanghai. [Aly Song/Reuters]

A worker wearing a hazardous materials suit takes the temperature of a passenger at the entrance to a subway station in Beijing, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. The new virus accelerated its spread in China, a — A worker wearing a hazardous materials suit takes the temperature of a passenger at the entrance to a subway station in Beijing. [Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo]

Workers dismantle decorations after the temple fair for the Chinese Lunar New Year in Ditan Park was canceled in Beijing, China January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins TPX IMAGES OF THE DA — Workers dismantle decorations after the temple fair for the Chinese Lunar New Year in Ditan Park was cancelled in Beijing. [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]

A girl wears a mask inside a bus in Hong Kong, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. China''s most festive holiday began in the shadow of a worrying new virus Saturday as the death toll surpassed 40, an unprecedent — A girl wears a mask inside a bus in Hong Kong. China's most festive holiday began in the shadow of the worrying new virus outbreak as an unprecedented lockdown prevented 36 million people from travelling. [Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo]

In this photo released by China''s Xinhua News Agency, people shop for vegetables at a market in Wuhan in central China''s Hubei Province, early Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. China closed off a city of more — People shop for vegetables at a market in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province. China closed off the city of more than 11 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain the deadly new virus. [Xiao Yijiu/Xinhua/AP Photo]

People pose for pictures in front of an entrance to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, which is closed to visitors, according to a notice in its tickets office for the safety concern following — People pose for pictures in front of the entrance to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall. Parts of the tourist attraction are now closed to visitors, according to a notice in its tickets office, over safety concerns following the outbreak of the new coronavirus, near Beijing. [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]

Travelers wear face masks as they stand in the arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. China closed off a city of more than 11 million people Thursd — Travellers wear face masks as they stand in the arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Airport. [Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo]