近期，湖北省武漢市等多個地區發生新型冠狀病毒感染的肺炎疫情。

As of 6 pm Monday, a total of 224 cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in China. Of them, 217 had been confirmed and 7 remained suspected.
截至1月20日18時，境內累計報告新型冠狀病毒感染的肺炎病例224例，其中確診病例217例；疑似病例7例。

Overseas, one case has been confirmed in Japan, two in Thailand, and one in the Republic of Korea.
境外方面，日本通報確診病例1例，泰國通報確診病例2例，韓國通報確診病例1例。

【知識點】

冠狀病毒（coronavirus）是一類主要引起呼吸道、腸道疾病（respiratory and intestinal diseases）的病原體。這類病毒顆粒的表面有許多規則排列的突起（a fringe of bulbous surface projections ），整個病毒顆粒就像一頂帝王的皇冠（royal crown），因此得名“冠狀病毒”。冠狀病毒除人類以外，還可感染豬、牛、貓、犬、貂、駱駝、蝙蝠、老鼠、刺猬等多種哺乳動物以及多種鳥類（mammals and birds）。

【關于新型冠狀病毒】

2019-nCoV, as it's been labelled, is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans.
這種新型冠狀病毒（2019-nCoV）此前未在人類身上發現過。

Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses, but only six (the new one would make it seven) are known to infect people.
冠狀病毒是一個龐大的病毒家族，目前已知會感染人類的有六種（新發現的這種是第七種）。

Scientists believe an animal source is "the most likely primary source" but that some human-to-human transmission has occurred.
科學家認為動物是“最有可能的初始感染源”，不過，也有一些人傳人的病例。

Signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
感染癥狀包括：呼吸道癥狀，發燒，咳嗽，呼吸短促，呼吸困難等。

（以上信息來源于世界衛生組織）

疫情發生后，黨中央、國務院高度重視。

中共中央總書記、國家主席、中央軍委主席習近平作出重要指示，湖北武漢市等地近期陸續發生新型冠狀病毒感染的肺炎疫情，必須引起高度重視，全力做好防控工作。

The prevention and control work is crucial at the moment due to the large passenger flows during the Spring Festival holiday, Xi said.
目前正值春節期間，人員大范圍密集流動，做好疫情防控工作十分緊要。

The Party committees and governments at all levels must put people's safety and health as the top priority and take effective measures to curb the spread of the virus, he said.
各級黨委和政府及有關部門要把人民群眾生命安全和身體健康放在第一位，采取切實有效措施，堅決遏制疫情蔓延勢頭。

Xi ordered all-out efforts to treat patients, identify the causes of the virus infection and spread at an earlier date, strengthen monitoring and standardize treatment procedures.
要全力救治患者，盡快查明病毒感染和傳播原因，加強病例監測，規范處置流程。

Xi spoke of the need for the timely release of information and the deepening of international cooperation.
要及時發布疫情信息，深化國際合作。

He also stressed the necessity of informing the public of relevant policies to safeguard social stability and ensure people have a peaceful and auspicious Chinese New Year festival.
要加強有關政策措施宣傳解讀工作，堅決維護社會大局穩定，確保人民群眾度過一個安定祥和的新春佳節。

中共中央政治局常委、國務院總理李克強作出批示，

Li instructed related government departments and localities to improve response plans and spare no effort in prevention and control in this regard.
各相關部門和地方要完善應對方案，全力以赴做好防控工作。

He also demanded better communication and coordination with the World Health Organization, related countries, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to join efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
做好與世界衛生組織、有關國家和港澳臺地區的溝通協調，密切協作形成合力，堅決防止疫情擴散蔓延。

【我們如何做好防護】

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）