Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) has been left concerned about China's transparency in light of the quarantine of victims of the virus, as well as China's wider response.
More than 1,300 people have been infected globally with the virus traced to a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife.
Richardson told The Telegraph: 'From a medical and human rights perspective, it is essential in these situations that people can trust the information available.
'I have real concerns about people who are supposedly "spreading rumours" being harassed by authorities, especially at a time when people are concerned they are not getting accurate information.'
She believes the Chinese state could have deliberately silenced medical experts raising the alarm about the virus, and halted medical research.
It comes amid claims China's status as a major superpower may have influenced the World Health Organisation's decision not to declare coronavirus an international emergency.
The WHO has failed to declare a global health crisis. On Thursday the organisation said it was 'too early' for such a decision but added an emergency could still be declared if the outbreak continues to spread...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...