China considering postponing annual congress due to coronavirus

China reportedly said Monday it may postpone its biggest annual political meeting due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

China said it may postpone the annual congress as the virus continues to spread globally, with most cases in China, where the virus originated, according to The Associated Press. 

The standing committee for the National People’s Congress said it believes it’s necessary to postpone the annual congress to prioritize people’s lives, safety and health, the AP reported, citing the official Xinhua News Agency.

The committee reportedly said it will meet on Feb. 24 to further discuss a postponement. The meeting is set to start on March 5, according to AP.

The committee noted that one-third of the 3,000 delegates are working on the frontline in the battle against the outbreak, according to the AP.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported more than 71,000 confirmed cases globally, with more than 99 percent of the cases in China. 

The WHO has reported 1,772 deaths in China and three deaths outside China.