The World Health Organisation will decide today whether to declare the outbreak a global health emergency, with the death toll at 17, Reuters reported.
The city of Wuhan, where the flu-like outbreak began, has closed its transport networks ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday period when millions have travel plans.
Key market futures were mixed.
The gold price is similar to this time yesterday, about US$1,558 an ounce on the spot market.
At the big end of town, gold major Newmont (NYSE: NEM) gained about 0.2% yesterday while copper miner Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) fell 4.5% on disappointing guidance.
At the other end of the spectrum, tiddler Adamera Minerals (TSXV: ADZ) closed up 50% - or C1.5c - after reporting miner Hochschild Mining had entered an option/joint venture agreement over its Cooke Mountain gold project in Washington state, US.
