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China coronavirus: evacuation begins of US and Japanese citizens in Wuhan – live updates China coronavirus: evacuation begins of US and Japanese citizens in Wuhan – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Japanese and Americans airlifted out of city at heart of outbreak in China, with Australia to follow suit. All the latest news, liveJapanese and Americans airlifted out of city at heart of outbreak in China, with Australia to follow suit. All the latest news, live
AFP reports that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in China reached 5,974 on Wednesday, overtaking the number of people infected in the mainland by the Sars epidemic in 2002-3.
There were 5,327 confirmed cases in mainland China during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome epidemic.
That outbreak killed more than 770 people globally, including 349 in mainland China.
To recap, so far today:
The official death toll in China has risen to 132, with 5,974 cases confirmed
240 American citizens, and 200 Japanese citizens have been airlifted out of Wuhan this morning. The Japanese plane landed in Tokyo two hours ago, with no passengers infected, according to officials. The US plane is scheduled to land in Anchorage, Alaska in 4 hours, and will then fly to Ontario, California.
Australia and New Zealand will attempt to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan and the Hubei province.
Australia has told citizens to reconsider travel to the entire country of China.
Three more people have been infected in Malaysia, taking their total to seven.
Australian scientists have become the first in the world, outside of China, to replicate the coronavirus in a lab.
Malaysia has confirmed that seven people have the coronovirus, three more than yesterday, according to Reuters.
The three new cases are a 4-year-old girl, a 52-year-old man and the mother of two children confirmed infected earlier, the health ministry said in a statement.
All seven people are Chinese citizens.
Authorities said the mother had initially tested negative and had stayed in Malaysia to take care of her children - grandsons of a 66-year-old man who tested positive in Singapore for the coronavirus last week.
Separately, Malaysia’s communications regulator said it has detained one person accused of spreading fake news on the coronavirus. The person was arrested over a Facebook post that contained false information on the outbreak, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said.
Malaysia this week imposed a temporary ban on Chinese nationals arriving from Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province.
In that press conference, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison also announced that the government would distribute 1 million masks around Australia.In that press conference, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison also announced that the government would distribute 1 million masks around Australia.
However, the chief medical officer stressed that the masks are only necessary for people travelling through China, and for doctors and nurses.However, the chief medical officer stressed that the masks are only necessary for people travelling through China, and for doctors and nurses.
“The masks are for patients with the relevant travel history and symptoms and their doctors who are assessing them, we’re not recommending the general Australian public wear masks or take protection,” he said.“The masks are for patients with the relevant travel history and symptoms and their doctors who are assessing them, we’re not recommending the general Australian public wear masks or take protection,” he said.
The masks are being sent to pharmacists via the Primary Health Networks, Morrison said.The masks are being sent to pharmacists via the Primary Health Networks, Morrison said.
But “bushfire responses have depleted some of those stocks in various places”.But “bushfire responses have depleted some of those stocks in various places”.
Our correspondent Michael Standaert in Sichuan, writes that there have been no real updates of an evacuation among British citizens in Wuhan.Our correspondent Michael Standaert in Sichuan, writes that there have been no real updates of an evacuation among British citizens in Wuhan.
This comes amidst the US and Japanese airlifts this morning, and the announcement of an attempted Australian evacuation a few minutes ago.This comes amidst the US and Japanese airlifts this morning, and the announcement of an attempted Australian evacuation a few minutes ago.
“The biggest problem for everyone now is how to get to the airport. They are supposed to provide their own transport and that’s nearly impossible for some since there are no taxis, no ride hailing available, no buses.”“The biggest problem for everyone now is how to get to the airport. They are supposed to provide their own transport and that’s nearly impossible for some since there are no taxis, no ride hailing available, no buses.”
The prime minister is asked whether he has been briefed on the virus’s potential economic impact on Australia.The prime minister is asked whether he has been briefed on the virus’s potential economic impact on Australia.
“We share a concern, particularly in the wake of the bushfire crisis, of the impact on our tourism industry and related things. And that is obviously of concern to us.“We share a concern, particularly in the wake of the bushfire crisis, of the impact on our tourism industry and related things. And that is obviously of concern to us.
“But to be honest, right now, my focus is on people’s health and their wellbeing. And these issues will be addressed in time when a clearer picture emerges.”“But to be honest, right now, my focus is on people’s health and their wellbeing. And these issues will be addressed in time when a clearer picture emerges.”
Morrison says that parents should follow the advice of NSW Health and the chief medical officer when it comes to sending kids to school.Morrison says that parents should follow the advice of NSW Health and the chief medical officer when it comes to sending kids to school.
“My kids went back to school this week as many other kids have.“My kids went back to school this week as many other kids have.
“I understand the issues and concerns that parents would have. Being one of them myself. And that is why it is important to take the advice, and I think the chief medical officer today has set out the situation very soundly.”“I understand the issues and concerns that parents would have. Being one of them myself. And that is why it is important to take the advice, and I think the chief medical officer today has set out the situation very soundly.”
Morrison is asked if he can estimate how many people could be evacuated. He says it is too early to know.Morrison is asked if he can estimate how many people could be evacuated. He says it is too early to know.
“At this stage we are simply saying that we are putting plans in place.”“At this stage we are simply saying that we are putting plans in place.”
New Zealand “has a much smaller number of people impacted than Australia”, he says.New Zealand “has a much smaller number of people impacted than Australia”, he says.
He says some of the Australians in Wuhan may have lived there for some time.He says some of the Australians in Wuhan may have lived there for some time.
“There are some people who will be there for some time and effectively have been living there for some period of time. We are talking about [evacuating] people who are there not in those circumstances, those who don’t have support structures in that place.”“There are some people who will be there for some time and effectively have been living there for some period of time. We are talking about [evacuating] people who are there not in those circumstances, those who don’t have support structures in that place.”
Foreign minister Payne is asked how long it will take for the Chinese government to approve an evacuation.Foreign minister Payne is asked how long it will take for the Chinese government to approve an evacuation.
“We must be prepared to be patient as this process is undertaken. Australia is not the only country seeking diplomatic support and clearances for these activities. But we are seeking permission from the Chinese authorities as I indicated in my opening remarks.”“We must be prepared to be patient as this process is undertaken. Australia is not the only country seeking diplomatic support and clearances for these activities. But we are seeking permission from the Chinese authorities as I indicated in my opening remarks.”
There are 600 Australians in Hubei province who have reached out either for advice or assistance, foreign minister Marise Payne says.There are 600 Australians in Hubei province who have reached out either for advice or assistance, foreign minister Marise Payne says.
The focus of the evacuation is on “isolated and vulnerable Australian citizens”, she says.The focus of the evacuation is on “isolated and vulnerable Australian citizens”, she says.
That means the young and the elderly, Morrison said earlier.That means the young and the elderly, Morrison said earlier.
Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, is now speaking.Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, is now speaking.
He stresses that “there is no evidence of human to human transmission in Australia”.He stresses that “there is no evidence of human to human transmission in Australia”.
“We have tested a large number of Australians with a relevant travel history and relevant symptoms and a great majority of those have been negative,” he says.“We have tested a large number of Australians with a relevant travel history and relevant symptoms and a great majority of those have been negative,” he says.
“All of the 5 cases in Australia are in a stable condition. The World Health Organisation have estimated that only 20% of people with this condition have a severe disease.“All of the 5 cases in Australia are in a stable condition. The World Health Organisation have estimated that only 20% of people with this condition have a severe disease.
“The majority of people have a mild disease and still most of the deaths are in people who are older and the Chinese are reporting them to have comorbidity...And we want to stress that there is no evidence of human to human transmission in Australia”“The majority of people have a mild disease and still most of the deaths are in people who are older and the Chinese are reporting them to have comorbidity...And we want to stress that there is no evidence of human to human transmission in Australia”
“The risk is extremely low”.“The risk is extremely low”.
The potential evacuation will be conducted in partnership with New Zealand, Morrison says. “I spoke again to Prime Minister Ardern today.”
Qantas has offered to provide the evacuation flight.
On Christmas Island, the medical checks, and potential quarantine will be conducted by Ausmat (Australian Medical Assistance Teams). The defence force will also be deployed.
“I also want to stress that for Christmas Island, we will be ensuring there will be support provided directly to the Christmas Island community completely separate and quarantined from the support that is being provided in the quarantine zone,” Morrison says.
Australia has upgraded its travel advice to reconsider all travel to China – and will be providing “assisted departures” to elderly and young Australians in Wuhan and Hubei province.
Prime minister Scott Morrison has described the coronavirus as “a serious and evolving situation” in a press conference in Canberra.
“The travel advice has been upgraded to reconsider all travel to China – the entire nation,” he says.
“We have taken a decision this morning to prepare a plan for an operation to provide some assisted departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians in Wuhan and the Hubei province.”
The evacuated Australians will then be quarantined in Christmas Island for up to 14 days.
But that is not for certain, and dependant on the medical advice.
“We cannot give a guarantee that this operation is able to succeed,” he says. “And I also want to stress very clearly that we may not be in a position if we’re able to do this on one occasion to do it on another occasion.”
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, is now providing an update on the virus, speaking in Canberra.
And more detail on that flight. According to public flight tracker FlightRadar24, the plane left Wuhan at 4:47 in the morning local time, and landed at Tokyo Haneda airport at 8:41 in the morning, Tokyo time – which was roughly one hour ago.
A chartered plane carrying about 200 Japanese nationals evacuated from Wuhan arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday morning, according to Japanese media reports.
The passengers, who were examined by four medical professionals during the flight, will be asked to stay at home for two weeks and be on the lookout for symptoms, Kyodo news agency said.
The Japanese foreign ministry, however, said none of the passengers was infected with the coronavirus, according to Kyodo.
A total of about 650 Japanese have asked to be evacuated from Wuhan. A second charter flight bound for Wuhan is expected to leave Tokyo on Wednesday evening, with additional flights to follow. The first plane arrived in Wuhan on Tuesday night carrying emergency relief supplies including 15,000 masks, 50,000 pairs of gloves and 8,000 protective glasses, the foreign ministry said.
The death toll in mainland China has now risen to 132 – per official health commission figures.
This morning Australian scientists have become the first in the world, outside of China, to replicate the coronavirus in a lab – in what they hope could lead to a vaccine.
Researchers at Melbourne’s Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity recreated the virus from an infected patient.
It will be shared with expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organisation in Europe, along with laboratories across Australia.
It will also help assess the effectiveness of trial vaccines.
Chinese officials had released the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus which first surfaced in its Hubei province in December.
Australian chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy said the creation of the live virus was significant, particularly for providing controls for tests and speeding up an antibody test.
“It’s a very significant development and it’s very, very positive,” he told ABC Radio.
Five people are being treated in Australian hospitals for the virus, with four of those cases in NSW alone.
The death toll in China has now risen to 131 people, according to the updated coronavirus tracker from Tencent News.
There are now also 5515 confirmed cases and 6973 suspected cases.
And, as the US airlift out of Wuhan continues, Japan today has confirmed it too will evacuate 200 of its citizens.
According to the Kyodo news agency, a chartered plane has departed the city early this morning, and is scheduled to arrive at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.
In total, around 650 Japanese nationals have requested an airlift out of Wuhan.
“We’ll continue to take every possible measure to bring home all people hoping to come back to Japan,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told lawmakers on Tuesday, according to Jiji Press.
Officials are aboard the plane to monitor passengers during the return flight, but there are no plans to isolate those arriving from Wuhan.
The European Union will fly its citizens out aboard two French planes this week, and South Korea was due to do the same. Several other countries were assessing their options.
Canada said 126 of its citizens live in the Wuhan area and it is consulting with allies and considering its options for getting them home.
Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the novel coronavirus originating from Wuhan in China.
This morning, the US has begun its first evacuation of citizens from Wuhan itself, in the Hubei province, where thousands of people have been affected.
The US state department confirmed to the Associated Press that 240 Americans – including diplomats and other citizens – have been airlifted out of the city, and will be flown to Anchorage in Alaska, and then to Ontario in California, 56 kilometres (35 miles) from Los Angeles.
Data from publicly available flight tracking site Flightaware shows that a flight operated by American cargo airline Kalitta Air left Wuhan’s Tianhe airport today at 4.54 in the morning local time, and is due to touch down in Alaska in 6 hours from now.
According to AP, all Americans will be screened for the virus in Anchorage, and could be quarantined in Ontario for up to two weeks by the US Centers for Disease Control.
David Wert, a spokesman for the county of San Bernardino, said they were “preparing for that eventuality just in case”.
Wert said that Ontario International Airport was designated a decade ago by the U.S. government to receive repatriated Americans in case of an emergency overseas. Airport personnel have trained for such an occasion but the repatriation from China would be the first time the airport is used for this purpose, he said.
In Ontario, the area where passengers will be taken is removed from passenger terminals and other public areas at the airport, the county said.