China’s top medic DENIES ‘irresponsible’ claims coronavirus started in Wuhan
CHINA'S top medic has blasted "irresponsible" claims coronavirus originated in the city of Wuhan, once the disease's epicentre.
Coronavirus expert Dr Zhong Nanshan leads a top team of doctors spearheading China's battle against COVID-19.
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Hubei Province, whose capital city is Wuhan, was coronavirus ground zero when the epidemic exploded in January, with 3,130 of the world's 9,842 deaths taking place there.
But today it registered no new cases for the first time since the deadly outbreak began at the end of December.
Donald Trump has sparked anger by branding coronavirus "Chinese flu" and accused Beijing of a cover-up.
But Dr Zhang insists it's wrong to pin the blame on Wuhan, a city of 11 million people.
Dr Zhong, 83, said: "The epidemic of the novel coronavirus pneumonia indeed took place in China, in Wuhan… but it does not mean its source is in Wuhan.
"It is a scientific problem. I think it is irresponsible to conclude lightly before [the matter] is clarified."
TRUMP DENIES 'RACIST' CLAIM
A Beijing spokesman tweeted last week that the deadly virus may have have been brought to Wuhan by the US military.
But experts believe the virus source was wild animals sold at a seafood market in Wuhan.
Donald Trump has labelled coronavirus Chinese Flu during his daily press conferences and in furious Twitter broadsides.
He told reporters this week: "It comes from China. It’s not racist at all.
"I want to be accurate.China tried to say at one point, maybe they have stopped now, that it was caused by American soldiers.
"That can’t happen. That’s not going to happen.
"Not as long as I’m President."
China and Wuhan celebrated today after no new cases were reported for the first time since the killer bug swept across the country in late December.
Residents who had been in quarantine for weeks were filmed going outside as travel restrictions were relaxed.
But there are strict 14-day quarantine regulations in place for anyone arriving into China, with fears people from overseas could bring the virus with them.
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It came on the day the number of coronavirus deaths in Italy overtook China's toll.
In just one day, 427 died from the virus in Italy, pushing the number of fatalities there to 3,405.
Italy has an older population than China's and medical experts say the new virus is killing people over 65 at a much higher rate than other age groups.
