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Coronavirus: death toll rises to 26 in China, with 830 infected – live news Coronavirus: death toll rises to 26 in China, with 830 infected – live news
(31 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
The World Health Organization’s decision on Thursday not to classed the virus as an “international emergency”, partly because of the low number of overseas cases, has surprised some experts.
However, others have recognised that the WHO’s position on declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) was a “finely balanced one”. That’s a view taken by Sir Jeremy Farrar, a medical researcher at the medical charity, the Welcome Trust.
The moment to watch out for when the virus was transmitted among people who had not been in China, he told the BBC’s Today programme.
Comparisons with SARS were valid, he said, but at the same time he lauded the “draconian and extraordinary” measures being taken in China, which he also commended in terms of being transparent and sharing information.
Elsewhere, Dr Stephen Griffin, Associate Professor, University of Leeds, said he was “personally surprised” that a PHEIC hasn’t been called given similarities to SARS.
“However, it is often difficult to understand the precise criteria by which one of these is implemented - it sounds as though the committee had some differences of opinion,” he said, in a statement issued by the Science Media Centre.
Professor Tom Solomon,Director of the UK’s Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging Infections, University of Liverpool, said:
“The WHO’s decision not to declare the novel coronavirus outbreak in China a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) will surprise many. The number of reported cases and deaths is doubling every couple of days, and patients have now been reported from many Asian countries, as well as the Middle East and United States.
China has added four more cities to its transport ban, affecting 41 million people, according to the AFP news agency.China has added four more cities to its transport ban, affecting 41 million people, according to the AFP news agency.
On the eve of China’s Lunar New Year, transportation had been shut down already in in at least 10 cities with a total of about 33 million people. The cities are Wuhan, where the illness has been concentrated, and nine of its neighbors in central China’s Hubei province.On the eve of China’s Lunar New Year, transportation had been shut down already in in at least 10 cities with a total of about 33 million people. The cities are Wuhan, where the illness has been concentrated, and nine of its neighbors in central China’s Hubei province.
It is “highly likely” that there will be cases of the virus in the UK, according to Professor Paul Cosford, Medical Director for Public Health England, an arm of the National Health Service (NHS) which has tested 14 people so far.It is “highly likely” that there will be cases of the virus in the UK, according to Professor Paul Cosford, Medical Director for Public Health England, an arm of the National Health Service (NHS) which has tested 14 people so far.
Specialist treatment centres in various parts of the country have already been designated and authorities were focus on providing information, with a particular focus on communities such as Chinese studentsSpecialist treatment centres in various parts of the country have already been designated and authorities were focus on providing information, with a particular focus on communities such as Chinese students
“The NHS is fully prepared for treating people. They have their specialist infectious disease centres and have identified the ones that people will be referred to,” he told the BBC’s Today Programme.“The NHS is fully prepared for treating people. They have their specialist infectious disease centres and have identified the ones that people will be referred to,” he told the BBC’s Today Programme.
Cosford added that it was “very early days” in terms of saying whether the virus would be as serious as SARS and it would be wrong to jump to conclusions.Cosford added that it was “very early days” in terms of saying whether the virus would be as serious as SARS and it would be wrong to jump to conclusions.
The next update on figure in the UK is expected to come at middayThe next update on figure in the UK is expected to come at midday
It was confirmed last night that two people diagnosed with flu were being tested for the virus in Scotland, where three others are also being tested on a precautionary basis.It was confirmed last night that two people diagnosed with flu were being tested for the virus in Scotland, where three others are also being tested on a precautionary basis.
At least three of the patients are believed to be Chinese nationals.At least three of the patients are believed to be Chinese nationals.
While there remain no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Scotland, the Scottish government has set up a daily Incident Management Team with Health Protection Scotland, to continue monitoring the situation as it develops.While there remain no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Scotland, the Scottish government has set up a daily Incident Management Team with Health Protection Scotland, to continue monitoring the situation as it develops.
While the Scottish government would not confirm where the patients are being treated, this morning the Courier newspaper reports that two are from the Tayside region, two from Glasgow and one from Lothian.While the Scottish government would not confirm where the patients are being treated, this morning the Courier newspaper reports that two are from the Tayside region, two from Glasgow and one from Lothian.
Dundee University, in Tayside, has a joint education partnership with Wuhan University: it said five members of staff had returned from a visit to Wuhan last week but that no health concerns have been raised.Dundee University, in Tayside, has a joint education partnership with Wuhan University: it said five members of staff had returned from a visit to Wuhan last week but that no health concerns have been raised.
Aberdeen University said five of its staff members had also visited Wuhan during the outbreak, and one of those – who has a non-teaching role - is working from home as a precautionary measure.Aberdeen University said five of its staff members had also visited Wuhan during the outbreak, and one of those – who has a non-teaching role - is working from home as a precautionary measure.
That first version of a vaccine has already entered into the laboratories at the global pharmaceutical firm Johnson & Johnson but it will be close to year before vaccines are available publicly from drugs companiesThat first version of a vaccine has already entered into the laboratories at the global pharmaceutical firm Johnson & Johnson but it will be close to year before vaccines are available publicly from drugs companies
That’s according to Paul Stoffels, Chief Scientific Officer at Johnson & Johnson, and Richard Hatchett, Ceo of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is funding two of projects and co-funding the third to develop vaccines.That’s according to Paul Stoffels, Chief Scientific Officer at Johnson & Johnson, and Richard Hatchett, Ceo of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is funding two of projects and co-funding the third to develop vaccines.
Speaking in Davos, Hatchett told the BBC’s Today Programme that CEPI hoped that the vaccines it had announced partnerships for could enter into clinical trials in the Summer.Speaking in Davos, Hatchett told the BBC’s Today Programme that CEPI hoped that the vaccines it had announced partnerships for could enter into clinical trials in the Summer.
It would be close to a year before they are available however, he aded, and this was a very ambitious timeline. He also said that that restrictions on air travel into countries such as the UK would not keep the virus out and for now the only means of responding were via public health inferventions.It would be close to a year before they are available however, he aded, and this was a very ambitious timeline. He also said that that restrictions on air travel into countries such as the UK would not keep the virus out and for now the only means of responding were via public health inferventions.
Companies were also looking at progressing the manufacture and release of protective equipment for hospital workers and others, said Stoffels, who added: “We know that this could become a very big global epidemic.”Companies were also looking at progressing the manufacture and release of protective equipment for hospital workers and others, said Stoffels, who added: “We know that this could become a very big global epidemic.”
Both men said that the speed with which development on drugs to respond to global crises had dramatically improved in the wake of the Ebola crisis, which Stoffels described as a “wake up call to the world.”Both men said that the speed with which development on drugs to respond to global crises had dramatically improved in the wake of the Ebola crisis, which Stoffels described as a “wake up call to the world.”
Singapore has confirmed two more cases of the new strain of coronavirus, according to its health ministry said on Friday, a day after identifying its first case of the infection that originated from China.Singapore has confirmed two more cases of the new strain of coronavirus, according to its health ministry said on Friday, a day after identifying its first case of the infection that originated from China.
The ministry said it expected more imported cases because of high travel volume from China, Reuters reports. Singapore’s tally of confirmed cases is now three.The ministry said it expected more imported cases because of high travel volume from China, Reuters reports. Singapore’s tally of confirmed cases is now three.
Fewer people have been turning up at dedicated fever clinics in Wuhan, according to western reporters on the ground in the city.Fewer people have been turning up at dedicated fever clinics in Wuhan, according to western reporters on the ground in the city.
The include Chris Buckley of the New York Times and Tom Hancock of the FT, who has tweeted some before and after pictures of one of the hospitals he visited on FridayThe include Chris Buckley of the New York Times and Tom Hancock of the FT, who has tweeted some before and after pictures of one of the hospitals he visited on Friday
Hancock suggests this is a positive development as many may not have had any serious infection and standing next to others for hours could spread infection.Hancock suggests this is a positive development as many may not have had any serious infection and standing next to others for hours could spread infection.
This is Ben Quinn picking up the blog from London now. You can contact me on Twitter of flag up anything below the line here.This is Ben Quinn picking up the blog from London now. You can contact me on Twitter of flag up anything below the line here.
Yichang City, also in Hubei province, is going to impose transport restrictions, according to the Global Times.Yichang City, also in Hubei province, is going to impose transport restrictions, according to the Global Times.
In the UK, 14 people have been tested for suspected coronavirus. So far five have been cleared and nine are still waiting for test results.In the UK, 14 people have been tested for suspected coronavirus. So far five have been cleared and nine are still waiting for test results.
Public Health England has not given a breakdown of where the people were tested but Downing Street said four of the suspected cases in Scotland were believed to be Chinese nationals. Another patient is understood to have been tested at Belfast’s Royal Victoria hospital.Public Health England has not given a breakdown of where the people were tested but Downing Street said four of the suspected cases in Scotland were believed to be Chinese nationals. Another patient is understood to have been tested at Belfast’s Royal Victoria hospital.
Rebecca Ratcliffe and Lillian Yang in Beijing have pulled together the latest on the chaos and despair in hospitals across Wuhan, as the lockdown spreads to encompass at least 20m people:Rebecca Ratcliffe and Lillian Yang in Beijing have pulled together the latest on the chaos and despair in hospitals across Wuhan, as the lockdown spreads to encompass at least 20m people:
The official death toll stands at 26 people, most of them in Hubei province in central China, but two people have died outside of that zone – one man just outside of Beijing, and the other in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, which borders Russia.
At least 830 people in China have been confirmed to have contracted the novel coronavirus so far.
The Chinese government has locked down 11 million people in the city of Wuhan, where the virus originated, and nine other cities in the Hubei province, causing chaos on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
A new 1000-bed hospital is being built in Wuhan specifically to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, and authorities there expect to have it completed and running by Monday.
South Korea has confirmed a second case of the virus, a man in his 50s who had been working in Wuhan earlier this month.
Japan has also confirmed a second case of the virus: a Wuhan resident in his 40s who arrived in Japan on 19 January.
The US has confirmed one case of the virus in Seattle, while authorities in Texas are investigating a second suspected case
14 people in the UK have been tested for the virus; so far, five have been cleared.
Scottish authorities have tested at least six people with coronavirus symptoms.
In Australia, at least six people are being monitored for signs of the virus, while public health authorities warn the world is likely to see more cases confirmed in countries outside of China in the coming days.
The World Health Organisation’s emergency committee has concluded it’s “too early” to declare an international public health emergency, but says the situation is still to be considered an emergency in China. “It has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one,” said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Reuters is reporting that Shanghai Disney will be closed to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Cinemas will suspend their operations in Guangdong Province until the end of the holiday season due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Health officials in Hong Kong gave their daily press briefing about the coronavirus outbreak fully masked.
In Australia, researchers at the University of Queensland are racing to develop a vaccine for coronavirus.
According to AAP:
The team is one of three handpicked by Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to fast-track the vaccine.
Reuters reports:
“It has been splashed all over the front pages of newspapers around the world for days,” writes Guardian contributor Michael Standaert in Sichuan. “But the outbreak of coronavirus, which has left at least 25 dead and infected more than 800, has been largely missing from China’s major state-run media.”
Read his full story here:
Chinese officials have confirmed another person has died from novel coronavirus, the second person to do so outside the province of Hubei, the epicentre of the virus, bringing the official death toll to 26.
The death was in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, which borders Russia and is some 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Wuhan, the local government said. 24 deaths have occurred in Hubei.