WUHAN, China (CNA) — As the deadly coronavirus continued to spread in China, church services in some areas were canceled for the past weekend.
Churches in Hubei, the epicenter of the virus, were shut as of January 26. The following week, two more provinces announced a ban on church services.
In December, an outbreak of 2019-nCoV was reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Believed to be a new strain within the coronavirus family, the virus can cause fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. In some cases, it can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The virus was first reported in Wuhan, where it is believed to have originated at a seafood market. Highly contagious, it quickly spread, and with thousands of infections reported.
With the infection rate continuing to grow, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency on January 30.
At least ten Chinese cities have been placed on lockdown. Wuhan, Ezhou, Huanggang, and other affected cities have announced severe travel restrictions, affecting around 60 million people, CNN reported.
Human rights groups have criticized the Chinese government for censoring information from the public, downplaying the contagious nature of the virus, and denying infection rates.
A report from Human Rights Watch said that “authorities have detained people for ‘rumor-mongering,’ censored online discussions of the epidemic, curbed media reporting, and failed to ensure appropriate access to medical care for those with virus symptoms and others with medical needs,” according to UCA News.
During his angelus address on January 26, Pope Francis prayed for the victims of coronavirus.
“May the Lord welcome the deceased in his peace, comfort families and support the great commitment of the Chinese community, already put in place to fight the epidemic,” he said.
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