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Coronavirus: death toll rises to 25 in China, with 830 infected – live news Coronavirus: death toll rises to 25 in China, with 830 infected – live news
(32 minutes later)
Possible cases being tested in Scotland and Belfast; World Health Organisation committee says ‘too early’ to declare emergencyPossible cases being tested in Scotland and Belfast; World Health Organisation committee says ‘too early’ to declare emergency
More information has been released regarding the second person to be confirmed with novel coronavirus in South Korea.
Seoul’s health ministry said on Friday that a South Korean man in his 50s started experiencing symptoms on 10 January while working in Wuhan, AFP reports.
The man was tested upon returning to South Korea earlier this week, and was confirmed to be South Korea’s second case of the virus on Thursday, the ministry said.
According to a statement from the ministry, “the patient was adequately aware of the situation in Wuhan ... and cooperated well with the health authorities’ requests during the monitoring period after returning home.”
A new 1000-bed hospital is being built in Wuhan specifically to deal with the coronavirus outbreak and authorities plan to have it running by Monday, state media outlet Changjiang Daily reports.
Construction began on Thursday night with machinery, including 35 diggers and 10 bulldozers, arriving at the site.
The impromptu medical facility will be created using prefabricated buildings, and is being modelled on the experience of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003. That disease killed 774 people around the world. At the time, Beijing built a hospital in its northern suburbs in just a week, the Daily said.
The Australian government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, has confirmed that there are still no verified cases of coronavirus in Australia.The Australian government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, has confirmed that there are still no verified cases of coronavirus in Australia.
In a press conference this afternoon, Murphy attempted to downplay the threat of the virus in Australia, saying that while there are several people who are being regularly tested for the disease, none of them have tested positive yet. Australia is prepared and has the capacity to isolate those people if necessary, he said.In a press conference this afternoon, Murphy attempted to downplay the threat of the virus in Australia, saying that while there are several people who are being regularly tested for the disease, none of them have tested positive yet. Australia is prepared and has the capacity to isolate those people if necessary, he said.
“Approximately 25% of people who contract this infection … seem to get a more severe illness, but we do suspect there are a number of additional cases that are so mild they haven’t come to our attention,” Murphy said.“Approximately 25% of people who contract this infection … seem to get a more severe illness, but we do suspect there are a number of additional cases that are so mild they haven’t come to our attention,” Murphy said.
“It is of concern that there are some cases outside of China, but they are small numbers and have been well-managed in their locations.”“It is of concern that there are some cases outside of China, but they are small numbers and have been well-managed in their locations.”
He said it was likely there would be more cases confirmed outside of China in the coming days. “That’s the pattern we’ve observed,” he said. “These things are very hard to predict and predictions are often proven to be wrong, so we’re just keeping a watching brief.”He said it was likely there would be more cases confirmed outside of China in the coming days. “That’s the pattern we’ve observed,” he said. “These things are very hard to predict and predictions are often proven to be wrong, so we’re just keeping a watching brief.”
Murphy said he had briefed Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the minister for health, Greg Hunt, on the situation.Murphy said he had briefed Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the minister for health, Greg Hunt, on the situation.
He referenced the World Health Organisation’s decision not to declare the virus an official public health emergency of international concern, but said the committee was divided on this front.He referenced the World Health Organisation’s decision not to declare the virus an official public health emergency of international concern, but said the committee was divided on this front.
“That doesn’t mean in any way that they’re not taking this seriously. They do see this as a serious issue and they are upping some of their responses,” he said.“That doesn’t mean in any way that they’re not taking this seriously. They do see this as a serious issue and they are upping some of their responses,” he said.
That response includes sending in a “specialist team” to properly identify the “animal vector” that caused the disease to be transmitted to humans.That response includes sending in a “specialist team” to properly identify the “animal vector” that caused the disease to be transmitted to humans.
Some stark pictures of the lockdown experience in Wuhan have been circulating on Twitter over the last 24 hours thanks to the New York Times’ Chris Buckley.Some stark pictures of the lockdown experience in Wuhan have been circulating on Twitter over the last 24 hours thanks to the New York Times’ Chris Buckley.
Schools in Singapore are asking parents and staff to provide details of travel during the lunar new year holidays, in a measure aimed at halting the spread of coronavirus, Reuters reports.Schools in Singapore are asking parents and staff to provide details of travel during the lunar new year holidays, in a measure aimed at halting the spread of coronavirus, Reuters reports.
The first case of coronavirus was confirmed there on Thursday: a 66-year-old Chinese national, who lives in Wuhan and arrived in Singapore from Guangzhou on Monday night.The first case of coronavirus was confirmed there on Thursday: a 66-year-old Chinese national, who lives in Wuhan and arrived in Singapore from Guangzhou on Monday night.
Parents in Singapore have started receiving emails from schools asking them to state where their children will be travelling for holidays.Parents in Singapore have started receiving emails from schools asking them to state where their children will be travelling for holidays.
“In this phase of enhanced preparedness, our schools, including Ministry of Education Kindergartens, and Institutes of Higher Learning will take measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” a spokesperson from education ministry said.“In this phase of enhanced preparedness, our schools, including Ministry of Education Kindergartens, and Institutes of Higher Learning will take measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” a spokesperson from education ministry said.
An insight, via US news network CNN, into the way the first person diagnosed with the virus in the States is being treated, and the measures being taken to isolate him and prevent the spread of the disease.An insight, via US news network CNN, into the way the first person diagnosed with the virus in the States is being treated, and the measures being taken to isolate him and prevent the spread of the disease.
Here’s a handy explainer on what exactly the coronavirus is and how dangerous it could be:Here’s a handy explainer on what exactly the coronavirus is and how dangerous it could be:
Canadian acrobatic troupe Cirque du Soleil has announced that its shows in Hangzhou, China are canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.Canadian acrobatic troupe Cirque du Soleil has announced that its shows in Hangzhou, China are canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.
The call was made in response to Chinese officials’ requests to close all indoor activities with 100 or more people in attendance in order to contain the outbreak, the company said in a statement.The call was made in response to Chinese officials’ requests to close all indoor activities with 100 or more people in attendance in order to contain the outbreak, the company said in a statement.
“Right now, we all have the responsibility to step up, and to do preventive activities,” Cirque du Soleil head Daniel Lamarre said in the statement.“Right now, we all have the responsibility to step up, and to do preventive activities,” Cirque du Soleil head Daniel Lamarre said in the statement.
Details of how cities in China are trying to control the spread of coronavirus are emerging. In Wuhan taxis are now only allowed to carry two passengers at a time. In Hubei province travel agencies have been told to suspend their tours.Details of how cities in China are trying to control the spread of coronavirus are emerging. In Wuhan taxis are now only allowed to carry two passengers at a time. In Hubei province travel agencies have been told to suspend their tours.
In Australia, New South Wales Health has confirmed it is investigating four possible cases of coronavirus in the state, according to the national broadcaster, the ABC.In Australia, New South Wales Health has confirmed it is investigating four possible cases of coronavirus in the state, according to the national broadcaster, the ABC.
Health authorities in the northern state of Queensland, meanwhile, are assessing two people amid concerns they may have contracted the virus. Four others have been cleared.Health authorities in the northern state of Queensland, meanwhile, are assessing two people amid concerns they may have contracted the virus. Four others have been cleared.
“We’ve already tested four individuals who were suspected cases. All four came back negative,” Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young told reporters on Friday, according to the Australian Associated Press. “We’ve got another two suspects at the moment that we’re assessing who may need testing.”“We’ve already tested four individuals who were suspected cases. All four came back negative,” Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young told reporters on Friday, according to the Australian Associated Press. “We’ve got another two suspects at the moment that we’re assessing who may need testing.”
A bit more new information about what’s happening in China. The National Health Commission said that in addition to the 830 confirmed cases, authorities were also examining 1,072 suspected cases of the virus, according to AFP.A bit more new information about what’s happening in China. The National Health Commission said that in addition to the 830 confirmed cases, authorities were also examining 1,072 suspected cases of the virus, according to AFP.
Out of the total 830 confirmed cases, 177 were in serious condition. 34 people have been “cured and discharged”.Out of the total 830 confirmed cases, 177 were in serious condition. 34 people have been “cured and discharged”.
Meanwhile, the South Korean government has confirmed that country’s second case of the virus.Meanwhile, the South Korean government has confirmed that country’s second case of the virus.
The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post is reporting today that medical staff are being infected with coronavirus at a much faster rate than previously reported. The SCMP does not identify its two sources but they dispute the Chinese Centre for Disease Control’s assessment that 15 hospital staff had been infected in Wuhan city, saying 14 staff had been infected in one hospital alone.The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post is reporting today that medical staff are being infected with coronavirus at a much faster rate than previously reported. The SCMP does not identify its two sources but they dispute the Chinese Centre for Disease Control’s assessment that 15 hospital staff had been infected in Wuhan city, saying 14 staff had been infected in one hospital alone.
The Chinese government has been accused of downplaying the severity of the outbreak by residents who point to its repeated assurances that the virus was not serious, was “controllable”, and the fact that Wuhan has only just now been put into lockdown, even as cases of the virus have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.The Chinese government has been accused of downplaying the severity of the outbreak by residents who point to its repeated assurances that the virus was not serious, was “controllable”, and the fact that Wuhan has only just now been put into lockdown, even as cases of the virus have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.