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Coronavirus: 10 new cases confirmed, 30 more suspected in Wuhan after thousands attend Lunar New Year banquet
- 57 buildings in residential community of 130,000 people get ‘fever’ tag after mass feast on January 19
- In Fujian province, 4,000 people put in isolation after man infected with virus lies so he can attend banquet, wedding reception
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At least 10 people contracted the new coronavirus after attending a Lunar New Year banquet in the central Chinese city of Wuhan last month, while more than 30 other guests are suspected of being infected, according to local news reports.
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The Thousands Households Banquet was held on January 19 in the city’s Baibuting neighbourhood, which is home to about 130,000 people, The Economic Observer reported on Wednesday.
Despite the coronavirus outbreak already being in full swing – and the first deaths reported – officials gave the go-ahead for tens of thousands to attend the annual feast, which is prepared by the families themselves, with each contributing and sharing dishes.
The mayor of Wuhan said on state television just days later that the threat posed by the coronavirus had been underestimated.
People began falling sick soon after attending the banquet and as a result 57 residential blocks within the community – each home to about 14 families – were subsequently designated “fever” buildings, business news outlet Caixin said on its website.
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