Coronavirus: Bystanders 'refused to carry out CPR' after heart attack in Sydney's Chinatown

A 60-year-old man who died from an apparent cardiac arrest outside a restaurant in Sydney's Chinatown on Tuesday night was reportedly not given CPR by bystanders out of fears that he had coronavirus.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said emergency services were called to a restaurant on Campbell St just after 8.30pm.

The spokeswoman said the man died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics to revive the man with CPR.

The manager of Masuya Suisan said he was told by staff a man had collapsed outside the restaurant, reports news.com.au.

Police and paramedics were unable to revive the 60-year-old. Photo / News Corp Australia

The incident followed videos circulating on social media showing people believed to have coronavirus collapsing on the street in China.

As of Wednesday, some 6000 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in China, its country of origin, with at least 132 fatalities.

The virus has spread from the city of Wuhan across China to more than 15 countries, with about 60 cases in Asia, Europe, North America and, most recently, the Middle East.

Australia's coronavirus tally sits at seven people.

No deaths have been attributed to the virus outside China.

The man collapsed at a shop on Campbell Street in Haymarket on Tuesday. Photo / News Corp Australia

Estimates of how easily coronavirus spreads range from a "base reproduction rate" of 1.4 to 3.8 people infected by a single patient, according to David Fisman, a professor at the University of Toronto.

Chinese scientists, however, have said that one patient, on average, will have spread the virus to 5.5 other people.

"If that proves to be accurate, it would in part explain the surprisingly swift growth of cases in Hubei and beyond, and suggests that China is in for a very rough ride," said Stephen Morrison from the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington.

But the increase in reported cases could also come from "an improved detection capacity in hospitals," suggest Buzyn.