'Everything is going on normally'- Wuhan's curious nonchalance to virus outbreak

Many Wuhan residents remain nonchalant even as site of virus outbreak remains shuttered while probe continues

A health worker in protective clothing at the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market to collect samples. Chinese state media has reported the flu-like disease as a new coronavirus.
The inner courtyard of the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, believed to be the centre of the mysterious pneumonia outbreak. The usually bustling market has been shuttered for disinfection since New Year’s Day after workers at the site were affected. The virus has killed a 61-year-old man and left many others ill, seven critically so. ST PHOTOS: JET CHEN FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
The inner courtyard of the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, believed to be the centre of the mysterious pneumonia outbreak. The usually bustling market has been shuttered for disinfection since New Year's Day after workers at the site were affe
A health worker in protective clothing at the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market to collect samples. Chinese state media has reported the flu-like disease as a new coronavirus.ST PHOTOS: JET CHEN FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Elizabeth Law China Correspondent In Wuhan
  • Published
    Jan 12, 2020, 5:00 am SGT
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With less than two weeks to go to the Chinese New Year, the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market should be busy, but on Friday, the metal shutters were pulled down, with bubbling but empty fish tanks standing guard at corners.

Spread across two complexes and divided by a road, the usually bustling market has been shuttered for disinfection since New Year's Day, after a mysterious pneumonia outbreak affected workers at the site.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 12, 2020, with the headline ''Everything is going on normally''. Subscribe
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