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Coronavirus: first death in Beijing as US issues new China travel warning – live updates Coronavirus: first death in Beijing as US issues new China travel warning – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Mayor of Wuhan admits authorities were too slow in releasing information about virusWuhan mayor admits mistakesMayor of Wuhan admits authorities were too slow in releasing information about virusWuhan mayor admits mistakes
China’s largest steelmaking city of Tangshan – about 200km east of Beijing – has announced it is suspending all public transit in an effort to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The city has a population of around 7.5 million people.
The statement was posted on the city government’s official Weibo account, the Reuters news agency reported.
In New Zealand there are as yet no reported cases of coronavirus, but experts say it is only a matter of time before the illness breaches the country’s borders.
Health experts are currently meeting passengers off flights arriving from China in Auckland and Christchurch. Some schools in Auckland are taking precautions by asking pupils who have spent their summer holidays in or near Wuhan to stay at home for a week to make sure they are not carrying the virus.
On Tuesday a hotel in Queenstown became the site of panic after rumours spread that it was in lockdown due to a suspected case of the illness, but the ministry of health said it was not investigating any cases in the region.
The hotel at the centre of the speculation said the episode caused “unnecessary distress”.
Hundreds of Chinese tourists have also cancelled their planned holidays to New Zealand, tourism operators say, while others have extended their stay to avoid the risk of catching the illness back home.
The ministry of health said authorities are taking the outbreak “extremely seriously” with the ministry’s director general of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, saying health departments are well-prepared, but the risk of a sustained outbreak in New Zealand remains low.
A spokesperson for the Bavarian health ministry has confirmed that a man from Starnberg, near Munich. He is in a “clinically good condition” and is being monitored in isolation.
Still in Australia, where the country’s schools are returning this week after the long summer break, health authorities in the state of New South Wales have confirmed there are four confirmed cases of the virus and 8 other cases are under investigation.
Chris Weston, head of research at the online trading company Pepperstone in Melbourne, Australia, said there was “no doubt” the virus was going to have an impact on the world’s second biggest economy.Chris Weston, head of research at the online trading company Pepperstone in Melbourne, Australia, said there was “no doubt” the virus was going to have an impact on the world’s second biggest economy.
“The question is how dramatic the impact will be and what will be the ramifications on the global economy and demand in general,” he said a short time ago.“The question is how dramatic the impact will be and what will be the ramifications on the global economy and demand in general,” he said a short time ago.
“What we are trying to understand is the economic impact shutting transport links and imposing strict travel controls in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as effectively quarantining 14 cities and millions of people will have.“What we are trying to understand is the economic impact shutting transport links and imposing strict travel controls in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as effectively quarantining 14 cities and millions of people will have.
The situation was complicated by the lack of understanding about how the virus is spreading, making it “very hard to comprehend just how bad it is, or how much worse it can get”.The situation was complicated by the lack of understanding about how the virus is spreading, making it “very hard to comprehend just how bad it is, or how much worse it can get”.
The economic and financial impacts of the virus are beginning to bite. After heavy losses on Asian, European and US losses on Monday, the Australian stock market – closed on Monday for the Australia day holiday – has suffered a 1.7% fall this morning. The Australian economy is heavily exposed to any economic disruption in China so the ASX200 index is a decent proxy to watch for how investors are reading the outbreak. The Aussie dollar is also used as a proxy for China and it has duly dipped to its lowest for nearly two months at US67.6c.The economic and financial impacts of the virus are beginning to bite. After heavy losses on Asian, European and US losses on Monday, the Australian stock market – closed on Monday for the Australia day holiday – has suffered a 1.7% fall this morning. The Australian economy is heavily exposed to any economic disruption in China so the ASX200 index is a decent proxy to watch for how investors are reading the outbreak. The Aussie dollar is also used as a proxy for China and it has duly dipped to its lowest for nearly two months at US67.6c.
We are waiting for the latest daily figures on infections of the coronavirus, but at the moment the number of deaths has been confirmed as 82, with at least 2,887 confirmed cases globally, out of which 2,827 are in mainland China.We are waiting for the latest daily figures on infections of the coronavirus, but at the moment the number of deaths has been confirmed as 82, with at least 2,887 confirmed cases globally, out of which 2,827 are in mainland China.
Canada has also upgraded its travel advice for China, asking its citizens to avoid all travel to Hubei province, where the virus outbreak began. It says its citizens should “exercise a high degree of caution” in China due to “the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws”.Canada has also upgraded its travel advice for China, asking its citizens to avoid all travel to Hubei province, where the virus outbreak began. It says its citizens should “exercise a high degree of caution” in China due to “the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws”.
However, it says the “decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad”.However, it says the “decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad”.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has upgraded its warning for novel coronavirus to Level 3, which is to avoid all non-essential travel to all of China. This means the outbreak is of “high risk to travellers and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk”. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has upgraded its warning for novel coronavirus to Level 3, which is to avoid all non-essential travel to all of China. This means the outbreak is of “high risk to travellers and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk”.
It warns of person-to-person transmission and that “older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease”. The advice also notes that there is “limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas” in China.It warns of person-to-person transmission and that “older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease”. The advice also notes that there is “limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas” in China.
Level 3 is the US’s highest warning level.Level 3 is the US’s highest warning level.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, with me, Alison Rourke.Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, with me, Alison Rourke.
I hope to be bringing you an update on infection figures shortly – they are usually announced at around this time. In the mean time, here’s a short summary of the top news on this story at the moment.I hope to be bringing you an update on infection figures shortly – they are usually announced at around this time. In the mean time, here’s a short summary of the top news on this story at the moment.
Beijing has recorded its first death from the virusBeijing has recorded its first death from the virus
More cities, including in Hubei province where the outbreak started, have introduced travel bansMore cities, including in Hubei province where the outbreak started, have introduced travel bans
Wuhan’s mayor has admitted authorities were too slow in releasing information about the virusWuhan’s mayor has admitted authorities were too slow in releasing information about the virus
The US recommends that travellers avoid all nonessential travel to ChinaThe US recommends that travellers avoid all nonessential travel to China
Canada advises against all travel to Hubei provinceCanada advises against all travel to Hubei province
You can see our latest story on the mayor of Wuhan belowYou can see our latest story on the mayor of Wuhan below
And our two explainers are here – on how worried we should be about the virus and our quick guide on how to protect yourself from infection.And our two explainers are here – on how worried we should be about the virus and our quick guide on how to protect yourself from infection.