Guangdong confirms 13 new cases of virus

Thirteen news cases of pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus were confirmed in Guangdong on Monday, bringing the number of such cases to 14 in the province.

Six of the new cases were reported in Shenzhen, three in Zhuhai, one in Zhanjiang and one in Huizhou, according to provincial health commission.

Eight of the latest patients were male. Eight were aged above 60 and one was a child.

Eleven of the patients had lived or travelled in Wuhan, Hubei province, where the first case was reported, while the other two had close contact with one of those patients.

Four of the 13 patients were in serious condition and two in highly critical condition.

People who had close contact with the patients were checked and did not display any abnormal symptoms.

With the massive Spring Festival travel rush underway, the contagion of the virus may continue to heighten, according to the commission.

The provincial and city governments in Guangdong have established leading teams and expert teams to control the contagion.