BEIJING -- China expects 160 million people to travel between Tuesday and Feb. 18 as the Lunar New Year holiday season ends, giving the coronavirus outbreak more opportunities to spread just as the rate of new infections has begun to decline.
A total of 2,478 new cases were confirmed in mainland China on Monday, according to the National Health Commission, bringing the cumulative total to 42,638. This was 584 fewer new cases than on Sunday and the smallest increase since Jan. 31. But the upcoming travel rush risks reversing the slowing trend.
