By Gaggan Sabherwal
BBC South Asia Diaspora Reporter, London
24 January 2020
At least 10 Chinese cities are in lockdown in a bid to manage the spread of a new strain of coronavirus but what's it like for those in the quarantine zone?
(Picture Credit : GETTY IMAGES)
The country's death toll has so far risen to 41 and authorities have put in place travel restrictions in Hubei province.
Authorities say this new virus started in a seafood market in Wuhan which "conducted illegal transactions of wild animals".
Currently known as 2019-nCoV, this particular strain has not been previously identified in humans.
Chongthan Pepe Bifhowjit an Indian student at the Wuhan University of Technology spoke to the BBC's Gaggan Sabherwal.
"Last week the situation was stable but things have drastically changed - this has made me very scared. I have never faced a situation like this before.
"But the university and authorities are very good. They are looking after us well.
"My university is checking every student's body temperature every day and are offering free masks. It also has its own hospital and ambulance.
"We have been advised to wash our hands every hour, avoid eating outside and wear our masks every time we come out of our rooms.
"We are all staying in our rooms and only visit our friends in rooms that are close to ours."
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