UPDATE 1-China to take stricter, more targeted measure to curb coronavirus spread -state TV

China will take stricter and more targeted measures to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, state television reported citing a state council meeting on virus control on Friday.

"The spread of the virus has not been cut off...Local authorities should take more responsibility and have a stronger sense of urgency," state media said, without giving more details. The death toll from the new flu-like virus has risen to 26 and more than 800 cases have been confirmed as of Thursday, according to China's National Health Commission.

Hubei's government promised on Friday to step up investigations into how the virus has been spreading, including checking how infected patients left Wuhan city, the centre of the outbreak, according to the provincial government website.