The BBC’s online health editor on what we know about the virus China’s top leadership has admitted “shortcomings and deficiencies” in the country’s response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The rare admission came from the Politburo Standing Committee, which called for an improvement in China’s emergency management system. It also ordered a “severe” crackdown on illegal wildlife markets – where the virus is thought to have emerged. The death toll has risen to 425, with more than 20,000 confirmed cases. “In response to the shortcomings and deficiencies… we must improve our national emergency management system and improve our abilities in handling urgent and dangerous tasks,” the report said. “It is necessary to strengthen market supervision, resolutely ban and severely crack down on illegal wildlife markets and trade.” ‘Make coronavirus wildlife trade ban permanent’ Why are we catching more diseases from animals? How worried should we be? Coronavirus: A visual […]