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Wuhan coronavirus: US tourist's video of chilling Chinese 'ghost city' goes viral

An American tourist posts pictures of the city's deserted look even as authorities try their best to prevent the virus from affecting more people. At least 106 people have died in China so far

Wuhan is one of China’s most densely populated cities but following the outbreak of the coronavirus, which has claimed at least 106 lives in the country besides leaving several thousands affected, it has become a ‘dead city’.

An American tourist captured footage of the city, the epicenter of the deadly virus, on Sunday, January 26, and it showed its deserted look as its 11 million residents have been put on lockdown. 

The footage she took showed shut bus and taxi stands and racks of unused rental bicycles. Major junctions in the city were also shown without a single vehicle in sight. Only medicine business was seen to be running and she said it was understandable as people have hit the panic button.

The outbreak reportedly originated from a snake in one of Wuhan’s major wet markets and it has now affected people worldwide, including the US. The authorities have cordoned off a number of cities, including Wuhan, to stop the infection from spreading further. Wuhan is also a major transportation hub and that has made the task of arresting the outbreak more challenging.

According to a report in Daily Mail, it was not confirmed what the woman tourist was doing in Wuhan, although the city is home to many foreigners as many go there for education.

350k people could be affected

China, meanwhile, extended its New Year holiday to fight the coronavirus outbreak, which has affected 2,800 people across the planet. Unofficial sources said the number of affected people could be as high as 350,000. 

Chinese Health Minister Ma Xiaowei feared that the ability of the virus to spread was getting stronger and it could affect more people even before the symptoms appeared.

Meanwhile, the army was also called in to facilitate the medical effort, including delivering some 14,000 hazmat suits over the weekend and helping in setting up two makeshift hospitals with 1,000 beds each.

China is constructing at least four hospitals in a few days to curb the spread of the deadly disease.