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Coronavirus: China death toll rises to 106 with first fatality in Beijing – live updates Coronavirus: China death toll rises to 106 with first fatality in Beijing – live updates
(32 minutes later)
US updates travel warning to China to highest level as mayor of Wuhan admits authorities were too slow in releasing information about virusUS updates travel warning to China to highest level as mayor of Wuhan admits authorities were too slow in releasing information about virus
DW News’s east Asia correspondent, William Yang, has tweeted a translation of the latest advice from China’s national health commission, which says that patients with less severe cases of coronavirus are still contagious - but perhaps less so.
Hello, this is Damien Gayle, in London, taking over the reins of the live blog this morning. If you have any updates or comments on the coronavirus outbreak and you want to get in touch then you can email me at damien.gayle@theguardian.com, or via my Twitter profile @damiengayle.
Here’s a summary of what we now about the coronavirus outbreak so far on Tuesday:Here’s a summary of what we now about the coronavirus outbreak so far on Tuesday:
106 people have died from coronavirus in China106 people have died from coronavirus in China
China has more than 4,500 confirmed cases, with nearly 1,000 in a critical conditionChina has more than 4,500 confirmed cases, with nearly 1,000 in a critical condition
China’s Health Commission says that the main transmission is through “respiratory droplets” (coughing) and then touch.China’s Health Commission says that the main transmission is through “respiratory droplets” (coughing) and then touch.
Incubation is generally 3-7 days, maximum 14 days, the commission saysIncubation is generally 3-7 days, maximum 14 days, the commission says
The US has updated its travel advice to the highest level which means avoid all non-essential travel to ChinaThe US has updated its travel advice to the highest level which means avoid all non-essential travel to China
Asian markets have fallen on concerns about the virus spreadingAsian markets have fallen on concerns about the virus spreading
Germany has recorded its first case of the virus as has Sri LankaGermany has recorded its first case of the virus as has Sri Lanka
Australian state of NSW advises school children returning from summer break not to go back if they have been in China in past two weeksAustralian state of NSW advises school children returning from summer break not to go back if they have been in China in past two weeks
Several countries are sending charter flights to evacuate their citizensSeveral countries are sending charter flights to evacuate their citizens
Thailand on Tuesday confirmed six more cases of coronavirus among visitors from China, bringing the country’s total to 14 cases, a health official said. Five of the new cases, aged 6 to 70 years, came from Hubei province and are part of the same family, the deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control, Tanarak Plipat, told reporters. The other patient came from Chongqing,Thailand on Tuesday confirmed six more cases of coronavirus among visitors from China, bringing the country’s total to 14 cases, a health official said. Five of the new cases, aged 6 to 70 years, came from Hubei province and are part of the same family, the deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control, Tanarak Plipat, told reporters. The other patient came from Chongqing,
For foreign citizens trapped in Wuhan, attention will turn in the next few days to airlifts. Japan said it would send a chartered flight to Wuhan on Tuesday night to evacuate its citizens, while the US government is also preparing an airlift. France and South Korea are also preparing an evacuation but there’s been criticism of the slow response by the British authorities. You can read our full story below.For foreign citizens trapped in Wuhan, attention will turn in the next few days to airlifts. Japan said it would send a chartered flight to Wuhan on Tuesday night to evacuate its citizens, while the US government is also preparing an airlift. France and South Korea are also preparing an evacuation but there’s been criticism of the slow response by the British authorities. You can read our full story below.
South Korea plans to send charter flights this week to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of a virus outbreak in China, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency. The planes will arrive in the city as early as Thursday, he told a ministerial meeting aimed at discussing efforts to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.South Korea plans to send charter flights this week to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of a virus outbreak in China, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency. The planes will arrive in the city as early as Thursday, he told a ministerial meeting aimed at discussing efforts to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says six people are being tested for coronavirus. There are four confirmed cases.South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says six people are being tested for coronavirus. There are four confirmed cases.
The Global Times is reporting that the Chinese city of Tianjin, in northern China, is to launch a “wartime mechanism”, putting one of its general hospitals and 500 medical teams in the city under military management. It’s the first Chinese city to take the step, according to the Global Times.The Global Times is reporting that the Chinese city of Tianjin, in northern China, is to launch a “wartime mechanism”, putting one of its general hospitals and 500 medical teams in the city under military management. It’s the first Chinese city to take the step, according to the Global Times.
Tianjin is about 120km south-east of Beijing. Its population is around 15 million people.Tianjin is about 120km south-east of Beijing. Its population is around 15 million people.
There are a few interesting sites tracking the increase in coronavirus cases. This one from John’s Hopkins university in the US is one of the best. It clearly shows the steep rise in confirmed infections each day in the past week, from around 280 on 20 January, to over 4,500 today.There are a few interesting sites tracking the increase in coronavirus cases. This one from John’s Hopkins university in the US is one of the best. It clearly shows the steep rise in confirmed infections each day in the past week, from around 280 on 20 January, to over 4,500 today.
One of the curious thing to come out of the Australian news conference about school advice with regards to coronavirus, is that speakers reiterated that there hasn’t been person-to-person transmission of the virus in Australia.One of the curious thing to come out of the Australian news conference about school advice with regards to coronavirus, is that speakers reiterated that there hasn’t been person-to-person transmission of the virus in Australia.
“There is no evidence,” said the NSW chief health officer, Kerry Chant.“There is no evidence,” said the NSW chief health officer, Kerry Chant.
Yesterday the federal health minister also said there was no human-to-human transmission in Australia.Yesterday the federal health minister also said there was no human-to-human transmission in Australia.
It does seem difficult to see why the virus would behave differently in Australia, given the Chinese health authorities have said that transmission is through “respiratory droplets” (coughing) and touch.It does seem difficult to see why the virus would behave differently in Australia, given the Chinese health authorities have said that transmission is through “respiratory droplets” (coughing) and touch.
I’m assuming the ministers mean there has been no evidence so far of human-to-human transmission in Australia.I’m assuming the ministers mean there has been no evidence so far of human-to-human transmission in Australia.
The NSW education minister Sarah Mitchell was also at the press conference regarding change of advice for children returning after the long summer break. She said it is the right decision: “We know that many in the community have been wanting to see this. I think it is important we are taking this precautionary measure in line with community sentiment but also knowing we are doing everything we can even though the risk is low, to ensure the safety in that school environment,” she said.The NSW education minister Sarah Mitchell was also at the press conference regarding change of advice for children returning after the long summer break. She said it is the right decision: “We know that many in the community have been wanting to see this. I think it is important we are taking this precautionary measure in line with community sentiment but also knowing we are doing everything we can even though the risk is low, to ensure the safety in that school environment,” she said.
Whether to allow children to return to school has been the subject of considerable controversy in Australia over the past few days. On Monday, a number of Sydney private schools issued much stricter restrictions on children who had been in China returning to school. As of yesterday afternoon, one asked that any children who had travelled to China in the holidays remain at home for 14 days after they returned, and do not return to school without a medical certificate.Whether to allow children to return to school has been the subject of considerable controversy in Australia over the past few days. On Monday, a number of Sydney private schools issued much stricter restrictions on children who had been in China returning to school. As of yesterday afternoon, one asked that any children who had travelled to China in the holidays remain at home for 14 days after they returned, and do not return to school without a medical certificate.
The decision is particularly controversial in Australia as only this morning the federal education minister, Dan Tehan, chastising schools for telling students to stay away.The decision is particularly controversial in Australia as only this morning the federal education minister, Dan Tehan, chastising schools for telling students to stay away.
The exclusion period announced in Australia for school children is for 14 days since returning to the country. So if NSW school students arrived back in Australia in mid-January, they would be able to start school this week if the 14-day period had passed.The exclusion period announced in Australia for school children is for 14 days since returning to the country. So if NSW school students arrived back in Australia in mid-January, they would be able to start school this week if the 14-day period had passed.
At the new conference, Hazzard was asked if it was compulsory for children who had travelled in China to keep their children home from school until the 14-day incubation period had passed, and essentially the answer was that it is a request and they hope people will comply.
In Australia the New South Wales government has announced that it is changing its advice with regards to parents sending their children back to school after the long summer break.
Children who have returned from China in the past two weeks have been asked to stay home from school.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have made,” said the NSW health minister, Brad Hazzard.
“We have decided that New South Wales is the epicentre of what’s occurring,” he said.
“We apologise to parents who may find themselves in this situation.”
The decision will apply to teachers and students in the NSW health system as well.
Japan’s government will send a chartered flight to Wuhan on Tuesday night to evacuate its nationals wishing to return home, according to the Reuters news agency.
The country’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, told reporters the flight could carry around 200 passengers, but added about 650 Japanese citizens are hoping to come back to Japan.
Motegi said the government is making arrangements for additional flights that will leave for Wuhan as early as Wednesday.
We reported earlier that the National Health Commission had issued new figures for deaths and infections, including 4,515 confirmed cases of the virus. State media is reporting that 976 - or just over 20% of cases – are patients in a critical condition. It also says there are 6,973 suspected cases in China. China Global TV Network published a map of infections in China (in which it includes Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan).
The streets of Wuhan are still largely empty says the New York Times’ reporter Chris Buckley.
With millions largely confined to their homes because of the coronavirus in China, social media is awash with novel ways to stave off boredom – from indoor fishing to singing challenges, as our correspondent Michael Standaert reports.
The Philippines has suspended its usual practice of issuing visas upon arrival (VUA) to Chinese visitors in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
The bureau of immigration commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement:
“The Civil Aeronautics Board has already suspended direct flights from Wuhan province,” said Morente. “We are now temporarily suspending the issuance of VUA for Chinese nationals to slow down the influx of group tours,” he added.
The VUA facility is often used by groups of Chinese tourists but Morente emphasised that Chinese visitors were not barred from the Philippines, but would be subject to checks for the virus. China accounts for around 20% of tourist visits to the Philippines.
“We have not received any directive imposing policy changes on Chinese nationals,” said Morente. “But we are taking this proactive measure to slow down travel, and possibly help prevent the entry of the 2019-nCov,” he stated.
Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, has just been been speaking about the virus and its impact on Australian in China and at home, where there have been five confirmed cases.
He said the cabinet’s national security committee met yesterday to discuss the threat posed by the virus and would continue to meet every few days.
Australia is working with the Chinese government to deploy consular officials into Hubei province and into Wuhan. “This is essential to assist us as we then consider the further options of support that we can provide to Australian citizens who are in Wuhan and in Hubei Province more broadly,” he said amid growing calls for Australia to follow the example of the US and Japan and evacuate its citizens from the virus epicentre.
The virus sent Australia’s stock market tumbling today. Read all about it, and the potentially negative impact on tourism, with this report from our business writer Ben Butler:
Sri Lanka has confirmed its first case of the coronavirus, according to the Chinese state news service CGTN. It said the victim was a Chinese tourist who arrived in the south Asian country on 19 Janaury but became ill on 25 January.
A report on the website of the Hindu newspaper said the victim was a woman in her 40s and was from the locked down Chinese province of Hubei.
With regards to the number of infections, it seems the figure issued just over an hour ago of 4,193 cases in China has been updated to 4,515, according to the state-run Global Times. According to CGTN, this includes 8 in Hong Kong, 7 in Macao and 5 in Taiwan.
The death toll remains 106.