Nepal, Jan. 18 -- China locked down the central city of Wuhan a year ago at the start of the Lunar New Year, the country's biggest holiday, as it battled to contain the spread of a novel coronavirus.

Following is a timeline of key events since the first cases of the virus were detected in the city of 11 million residents in Hubei province.

Dec. 31, 2019: China alerts the World Health Organization (WHO) of 27 cases of "viral pneumonia" in Wuhan. Authorities shut down a wet market in the city the next day, after discovering some patients were vendors or dealers.

Jan. 11, 2020: China reports 61-year-old man dies of the viral illness. Preliminary lab tests cited by Chinese state media point to a new type of coronavirus.

Jan. 20: China con...