CHINA has been accused of trying to cover up the coronavirus after reportedly arresting people for talking about the deadly outbreak online.

Officials were quick to notify world health authorities of the danger, but appear to have tried to stop the news spreading within the country.

8 Authorities in China have been accused of trying to cover up the coronavirus by arresting people discussing it online Credit: Alamy Live News

8 The outbreak began in mid-December in the eastern city of China Credit: EPA

8 Travellers are being monitored for signs of the virus in a number of cities around China Credit: EPA

The outbreak, which has so far killed 41, is thought to have begun in mid-December in the eastern city of Wuhan, but was initially identified as a known strain of pneumonia.

Authorities later ruled out a variety of respiratory conditions and launched an investigation, but are reported to have arrested eight people for "publishing or forwarding false information" about the outbreak on the internet without verification.

Those people are thought to have drawn comparisons between the current epidemic and Sars, a virus that causes severe respiratory difficulties and which killed more than 700 people in 17 countries in 2002-3.

The new outbreak was later found to be a type of virus from the same family - known as coronaviruses - as Sars.

Authorities had not ruled out a form of coronavirus when the eight people were arrested for making the comparisons.

At least 41 people have so far died in China while more than 1,200 cases have been confirmed globally, three of which are in France.

A number of journalists, including some from Hong Kong, have also said they were detained while trying to report on the story.

As late as January 14, one team who had been filming at a hospital had all their footage and photographs confiscated and destroyed by authorities.

It is only this week that the largest paper in Wuhan, which yesterday was put in lockdown, featured any coverage of the epidemic.

The city's railway station also deleted a social media post declaring that 300,000 people had left on Wednesday ahead of a travel ban.

Claims are now mounting that such posts are being removed by authorities to hide the true impact of the outbreak from the public.

Around 41 million people are currently under quarantine in 14 cities around China.

This Saturday, China is celebrating Lunar New Year, a holiday which has been dubbed the "world's largest migration" and which sees billions travelling within China.

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There are concerns the event could exacerbate the spread of the virus.

Wuhan announced its ban at 2.30am local time on Thursday, while most residents were asleep, a move which has been interpreted as a sign of panic among health authorities.

8 A staff member disinfects the Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan on Wednesday morning Credit: AFP or licensors

8 A patient with suspected coronavirus at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong Credit: Reuters

8 Medical staff tending to a patient at the The Central Hospital Of Wuhan Credit: Reuters

8 Wuhan residents wearing masks as they stockpile on food amid the virus outbreak Credit: Getty Images - Getty

8 Roadblocks have been put in place in Wuhan to stop people from leaving the city Credit: Twitter

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