Washington, Jan 31 (AFP/APP): The United States told its citizens Thursday night “do not travel” to China, raising its advisory status to the highest level of alert because of the coronavirus epidemic. The State Department issued a level four warning — up from urging Americans to “reconsider” travel to China — and said any nationals in China now “should consider departing using commercial means.” In the travel advisory, the department cited the World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision that the “rapidly spreading outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” The WHO declared the global emergency earlier Thursday over the new coronavirus, which originated in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, as China reported the death toll had climbed to 213 with nearly 10,000 infections. The UN health agency based in Geneva had initially downplayed the threat posed by the disease, but revised its risk assessment after crisis talks. In the updated travel advisory, the State Department recalled that last week it had ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members from Wuhan. “The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Hubei province,” the advisory said. The US reported … Continue reading US tells Americans ‘do not travel’ to China because of coronavirus