Coronavirus death toll spikes by 25 in China according to reports

The coronavirus has claimed 25 more lives in China according to reports out of Beijing, spiking the total number of deaths to over 100.

China has reported that the deadly coronavirus has claimed 25 more lives.

The spike in reported deaths takes the number of those killed by the deadly and spreading virus in China to at least 106.

As of Tuesday, more than 4,000 people have been infected across China, the bulk of them in and around Wuhan, the epicentre and newly pinpointed source of the outbreak of the virus.

Most of the 106 who have died were in that region, but officials have confirmed multiple deaths elsewhere, including the first in the capital Beijing.

So far five cases of the virus have been confirmed in Australia — all those diagnosed arrived in the country from Wuhan. The patients are being treated in hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne.

Macau, a gambling hub hugely popular with mainland tourists, has confirmed six cases as of Tuesday.

In Hong Kong, eight people are known to have the disease. Of those, six arrived via a newly built high-speed train terminal that connects the city to the mainland.

A patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan on January 25. Picture: Hector Retamal/AFP

Medical staff in protective clothing at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital on January 25. Picture: Hector Retamal/AFP

Passengers in masks at Brisbane International airport. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A woman walks on an empty road in Wuhan, China. Picture: Getty Images

The US Consulate in Wuhan, where authorities cut off most access January 22 in an effort to contain the disease, is now preparing to fly its diplomats and some other Americans out of the city.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the Australian Government is “exploring all opportunities” to help with evacuation of a number of Australians reportedly in Wuhan, according to AP. She didn’t elaborate. Australia doesn’t have a consular presence in Wuhan.

Japan, France, Mongolia and other governments also were preparing evacuations.

China had expanded its already sweeping disease-control efforts by extending the end of this week’s Lunar New Year holiday, the country’s busiest travel season, by three days to Sunday to keep the public at home and reduce the risk infection will spread.

Mongolia has closed its vast border with China and Hong Kong and Malaysia announced they were barring entry to visitors from Hubei province. Chinese travel agencies were ordered to cancel group tours nationwide.

Wuhan is building two hospitals, one with 1500 beds and another with 1000, for the growing number of infected patients. The first is scheduled to be finished next week. The virus is from the coronavirus family that includes the common cold but also more severe illnesses like SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The new virus causes cold and flu-like symptoms, including cough and fever, and in more severe cases, shortness of breath and pneumonia.

The virus is thought to have spread to people from wild animals sold at a market in Wuhan. On Sunday, authorities banned trade in wild animals and urged people to stop eating meat from them.