HANGZHOU — There is a potential risk of mother-to-child transmission of the novel coronavirus infection, according to Chen Zhimin, an expert from the respiratory medicine department of the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University.

If a pregnant mother is confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), her newborn baby is also at risk of being infected, Chen told the provincial press briefing on Jan 31.

Chen added that children's own immunity and respiratory tracts are not as mature as those of adults, so they are more prone to systemic problems and respiratory tract obstructions.