Such a conclusion was made by a team of experts after a series of tests, the official China Central Television reported.
Local authorities in Wuhan confirmed on Sunday that the city had been dealing with 59 cases of patients exhibiting pneumonia symptoms since December 31, 2019, with seven in critical condition. All of the affected patients were receiving treatment while being quarantined, the local health commission in Wuhan said in a statement. None of the patients has died, the statement added.
The infected individuals reportedly display symptoms typical of pneumonia and other acute respiratory diseases. It prompted fears on the Internet that the nation might be experiencing a return of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, an epidemic that had claimed more than 600 lives in China throughout 2002-2003.