China’s coronavirus death toll tops 425

Bloomberg

The US said it’s preparing for a possible pandemic and Hong Kong closed more checkpoints with mainland China, as the death toll from the coronavirus rose to at least 425.
As Beijing tries to contain the damage from the worsening crisis, officials are evaluating whether the target for economic growth this year should be softened. China is hoping the US will agree to some flexibility on pledges in their phase-one trade deal, people familiar with the situation said.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing as if the outbreak in China will eventually spread to the US.
Scientists are increasingly focusing on bats in their search for an origin of the Sars-like pathogen.
The death toll from the virus in China rose to at least 425 as Hubei province reported an additional 64 deaths as of February 3.
It reported 2,345 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total in the province to 13,522.
Almost 11,000 patients are being treated in the hospital.
Scientists increasingly believe the coronavirus originated in bats, which can harbor hundreds of diseases. As people and wild animals come into increasing contact because of human expansion, future outbreaks are likely.