China virus expert says earlier action would have reduced infections

China would have seen far fewer infections from new coronavirus if it h been quicker to opt strict control measures, a top Chinese scientist said Thursday, in apparent criticism of way outbreak was handled.

government has been slammed for t acting fast eugh and for reprimanding those who tried to warn early on about epidemic, which has killed more than 2,700 people and infected over 78,000 in mainland China. Wuhan, central city where contagion was first detected in December, has been under lockdown since January 23.

But whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang, who died earlier this month from virus, was punished for trying to sound alarm on outbreak in December.

"If we could have taken strict preventive measures in early December or even early January, we would have greatly reduced number of patients," said Zhong Nanshan, who les an expert group in virus fight at China's National Health Commission.

About 11 million people in Wuhan have been largely confined to ir homes for a month, with transport in and out of city suspended -- but t before many h left for Lunar New Year holiday.

H government tarried any longer situation would have been much worse, Zhong told a news conference, describing epidemic as "an incredibly big lesson".

RE | China Virus Outbreak Chilling Recovery For Asian Ecomies

Zhong estimates number of patients would have "risen to over a hundred thousand" if authorities waited even a few more days to impose a lockdown on virus epicentre. Or cities in Hubei province followed with similar quarantine measures, isolating millions more and causing huge disruptions to business.

Zhong said he expected epidemic to be under control by end of April, with a peak happening this month. World Health Organization has said epidemic in China has alrey peaked and been declining since early February.

Zhong said one drug used in clinical trials to treat patients -- chloroquine phosphate, which is used against malaria -- was having a positive impact, with patients generally testing negative after around four days. But re are or concerns about patients who have recovered from coronavirus.

About 14 per cent of discharged patients tested positive for virus again in Guangdong province, reported Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily on Wednesday.

When asked about report, Zhong said re is a "very low possibility" that someone who has recovered contracts virus again.

RE | China Virus Cases Rise Again, 66 More On Ship In Japan

RE | Mainland China Virus Cases Rise Again After Earlier Decline