Wuhan residents remember virus victims

China held a three-minute nationwide moment of reflection on Saturday to honour those who died during the outbreak of the new virus.

During the reflection in Wuhan, known as the epicentre of the new strain of coronavirus, air raid sirens blared, traffic stopped, and national flags were held at half-mast, to honour what the country calls "martyrs" who died fighting the global pandemic.

Commemorations took place at 10 a.m. in all major cities, where the horns of automobiles, trains and ships joined in what the official Xinhua News Agency called a "wail in grief" for three minutes.

More than 3,000 health care workers contracted the new virus, and the government says 14 died of the COVID-19 disease.

Among them was doctor Li Wenliang, who was threatened with punishment by police after publicising news of the outbreak, but has since been listed among the national "martyrs."

Worldwide, the virus has sickened 1,118,921, and killed 58,937, according to Johns Hopkins University.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The vast majority of people recover.