The lockdown in Wuhan has possibly led to more people contracting the coronavirus because of people being in proximity with each other, said a top epidemiologist yesterday, warning that cases could spike later this month as more people return to work and school in China.

Dr Ian Lipkin, who is also advising the Chinese government on handling the outbreak, said there are concerns the virus, which is highly contagious, could recur seasonally like the flu, warning that a "worst-case scenario" could see a third of the world's population being infected.