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Coronavirus: returning Britons to be 'safely isolated' for 14 days, says Hancock – latest news Britons returning from China to be 'safely isolated' for 14 days, says Hancock – as it happened
(about 5 hours later)
Hundreds of Japanese and Americans airlifted out of city at heart of outbreak in China, with Australia to follow suit. All the latest news, live Hundreds of Japanese and Americans airlifted out of city at heart of outbreak in China, with Australia to follow suit.
The official death toll in China from coronavirus has risen to 132, with 5,974 cases confirmed, overtaking the number of people infected in the mainland by the Sars epidemic in 2002-3.The official death toll in China from coronavirus has risen to 132, with 5,974 cases confirmed, overtaking the number of people infected in the mainland by the Sars epidemic in 2002-3.
In the UK 130 people have been tested for coronavirus, with all results negative, according to the latest update from the Department of Health and Social Care.In the UK 130 people have been tested for coronavirus, with all results negative, according to the latest update from the Department of Health and Social Care.
British nationals are due to be repatriated from Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak, on Thursday morning. However, with the city on lockdown, fears have been raised that many may not be able to reach the airport.British nationals are due to be repatriated from Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak, on Thursday morning. However, with the city on lockdown, fears have been raised that many may not be able to reach the airport.
Finland, the United Arab Emirates and Tibet confirmed their first cases of coronavirus, while a fourth case was confirmed in France and a sixth in Australia.Finland, the United Arab Emirates and Tibet confirmed their first cases of coronavirus, while a fourth case was confirmed in France and a sixth in Australia.
British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China, following travel advice from the Foreign Office that warned against all but essential travel to the country due to the coronavirus outbreakBritish Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China, following travel advice from the Foreign Office that warned against all but essential travel to the country due to the coronavirus outbreak
Evacuation flights from Wuhan to Japan and the United States have taken place, repatriating about 200 Japanese and 200 US nationals.Evacuation flights from Wuhan to Japan and the United States have taken place, repatriating about 200 Japanese and 200 US nationals.
The World Health Organisation’s emergency committee will meet again on Thursday, the third time in a week, to evaluate whether the new coronavirus spreading from China constitutes an international emergency.The World Health Organisation’s emergency committee will meet again on Thursday, the third time in a week, to evaluate whether the new coronavirus spreading from China constitutes an international emergency.
Fears have been raised that many of the British nationals registered for the evacuation flight from Wuhan tomorrow morning may not actually be able to make it to the airport to catch the plane.Fears have been raised that many of the British nationals registered for the evacuation flight from Wuhan tomorrow morning may not actually be able to make it to the airport to catch the plane.
The Guardian was contacted by Robert Dowling, from Nottingham, whose 22-year-old son is in Wuhan and had been due to get the flight. But Dowling’s son lives on the other side of the city, south of the Yangtze river which intersects it, and, with the entire city on lockdown, there is no means of travel to reach the airport.The Guardian was contacted by Robert Dowling, from Nottingham, whose 22-year-old son is in Wuhan and had been due to get the flight. But Dowling’s son lives on the other side of the city, south of the Yangtze river which intersects it, and, with the entire city on lockdown, there is no means of travel to reach the airport.
The Foreign Office, Dowling said, is not helping Britons with their travel through Wuhan. He told the Guardian:The Foreign Office, Dowling said, is not helping Britons with their travel through Wuhan. He told the Guardian:
The Guardian has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.The Guardian has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
The World Health Organisation’s emergencies chief says China is taking “extraordinary measures in the face of an extraordinary challenge” because of the virus outbreak, the Associated Press reports.The World Health Organisation’s emergencies chief says China is taking “extraordinary measures in the face of an extraordinary challenge” because of the virus outbreak, the Associated Press reports.
Dr Michael Ryan said the epidemic remains centred in the city of Wuhan and in Hubei province but that information is being updated and is changing by the hour. Many of those affected experience only a mild illness and estimated that the death rate is at about 2%, he said. The death rate for SARS, a related virus, was about 10%.Dr Michael Ryan said the epidemic remains centred in the city of Wuhan and in Hubei province but that information is being updated and is changing by the hour. Many of those affected experience only a mild illness and estimated that the death rate is at about 2%, he said. The death rate for SARS, a related virus, was about 10%.
However, the few instances of the new virus spreading between people in countries beyond China, including Germany, are of great concern, Ryan added. He said that is part of the reason why the UN health agency’s director-general has reconvened a coronavirus expert committee to meet Thursday. It will assess whether the outbreak should be declared a global emergency.However, the few instances of the new virus spreading between people in countries beyond China, including Germany, are of great concern, Ryan added. He said that is part of the reason why the UN health agency’s director-general has reconvened a coronavirus expert committee to meet Thursday. It will assess whether the outbreak should be declared a global emergency.
Ryan made his comments to reporters on Wednesday after returning from a trip to Beijing to discuss the new virus with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior government leaders.Ryan made his comments to reporters on Wednesday after returning from a trip to Beijing to discuss the new virus with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior government leaders.
To date, about 99% of the nearly 6,000 cases are in China.To date, about 99% of the nearly 6,000 cases are in China.
A plane evacuating 201 Americans from the Chinese city at the centre of the virus outbreak has arrived at a southern California military base after everyone onboard passed a health screening test in Anchorage, where the aircraft had stopped to refuel, the Associated Press reports.A plane evacuating 201 Americans from the Chinese city at the centre of the virus outbreak has arrived at a southern California military base after everyone onboard passed a health screening test in Anchorage, where the aircraft had stopped to refuel, the Associated Press reports.
The jet landed shortly after 8am local time at March Air Reserve Base about 60 miles (96km) east of Los Angeles. Ground crew dressed in white protective clothing approached the aircraft shortly after it landed and three charter-style buses parked near the plane. Federal and local public health officials scheduled a media briefing for later in the morning.The jet landed shortly after 8am local time at March Air Reserve Base about 60 miles (96km) east of Los Angeles. Ground crew dressed in white protective clothing approached the aircraft shortly after it landed and three charter-style buses parked near the plane. Federal and local public health officials scheduled a media briefing for later in the morning.
All the passengers had already undergone two health screenings in China and were screened twice more in Anchorage by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. One passenger received medical attention for a minor injury that happened before boarding the airplane in China, Dr Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, told reporters after the plane left.All the passengers had already undergone two health screenings in China and were screened twice more in Anchorage by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. One passenger received medical attention for a minor injury that happened before boarding the airplane in China, Dr Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, told reporters after the plane left.
A major international summit on biodiversity set to take place in China next month is under threat because of the coronavirus outbreak, Patrick Greenfield reports.A major international summit on biodiversity set to take place in China next month is under threat because of the coronavirus outbreak, Patrick Greenfield reports.
The Chinese government and the United Nations are now considering postponing the planned negotiations for a Paris-style agreement on biodiversity, which had been due to take place between 24 and 29 February.The Chinese government and the United Nations are now considering postponing the planned negotiations for a Paris-style agreement on biodiversity, which had been due to take place between 24 and 29 February.
Biodiversity experts and government policy makers were set to meet in Kunming, Yunnan to discuss plans to protect a third of the world’s oceans and land by 2030. The United Nations told the Guardian that they are reviewing the in consultation with the Chinese government, the WHO and other agencies.Biodiversity experts and government policy makers were set to meet in Kunming, Yunnan to discuss plans to protect a third of the world’s oceans and land by 2030. The United Nations told the Guardian that they are reviewing the in consultation with the Chinese government, the WHO and other agencies.
The British government is urgently pressing Beijing to allow dual nationals to leave China after public outcry over families being split up during the coronavirus evacuations, reports my colleague Jess Murray.The British government is urgently pressing Beijing to allow dual nationals to leave China after public outcry over families being split up during the coronavirus evacuations, reports my colleague Jess Murray.
Only British passport holders who do not also hold Chinese nationality are being allowed to leave. The British embassy in Beijing is urging the Chinese to let dependents of British nationals and British-Chinese dual nationals leave too.Only British passport holders who do not also hold Chinese nationality are being allowed to leave. The British embassy in Beijing is urging the Chinese to let dependents of British nationals and British-Chinese dual nationals leave too.
“Our priority is to keep British nationals and their family members together and we have urgently raised this with the Chinese authorities,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said on Wednesday.“Our priority is to keep British nationals and their family members together and we have urgently raised this with the Chinese authorities,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, raised the issue of dual nationals with his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday, but the Chinese government has maintained its stance.The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, raised the issue of dual nationals with his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday, but the Chinese government has maintained its stance.
The World Health Organization’s emergency committee will meet on Thursday, the third time in a week, to evaluate whether the new coronavirus spreading from China constitutes an international emergency, the WHO said.The World Health Organization’s emergency committee will meet on Thursday, the third time in a week, to evaluate whether the new coronavirus spreading from China constitutes an international emergency, the WHO said.
“The committee will advise the director general on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), and what recommendations should be made to manage it,” the WHO said in a statement issued in Geneva before a news briefing by senior WHO expert Mike Ryan on his return from China.“The committee will advise the director general on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), and what recommendations should be made to manage it,” the WHO said in a statement issued in Geneva before a news briefing by senior WHO expert Mike Ryan on his return from China.
The emergency committee, composed of 16 independent experts, twice last week declined to declare a global emergency. But today, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who recently returned from a trip to China, tweeted that he would reconvene the committee to discuss whether such a declaration was now warranted.The emergency committee, composed of 16 independent experts, twice last week declined to declare a global emergency. But today, the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who recently returned from a trip to China, tweeted that he would reconvene the committee to discuss whether such a declaration was now warranted.
Sudan suspects that two of its citizens who returned to the country from China are infected with the new coronavirus, the information minister told Reuters.Sudan suspects that two of its citizens who returned to the country from China are infected with the new coronavirus, the information minister told Reuters.
One of the pair, a man and a woman, had been in the region of Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the virus, said Faisal Saleh. Both are under medical checks.One of the pair, a man and a woman, had been in the region of Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the virus, said Faisal Saleh. Both are under medical checks.
We will update if there is any further information or a confirmation on whether the pair are infected.We will update if there is any further information or a confirmation on whether the pair are infected.
Finland has announced its first confirmed case of coronavirus, in a tourist from Wuhan who was visiting Lapland, the Helsinki-based Swedish language paper Hufvudstadsbladet reports.Finland has announced its first confirmed case of coronavirus, in a tourist from Wuhan who was visiting Lapland, the Helsinki-based Swedish language paper Hufvudstadsbladet reports.
The patient has been quarantined at Lapland’s central hospital in Rovaniemi after developing symptoms and seeking medical help. About 15 people may have been exposed to the infection.The patient has been quarantined at Lapland’s central hospital in Rovaniemi after developing symptoms and seeking medical help. About 15 people may have been exposed to the infection.
Mika Salminen, the director of Finland’s institute of health and welfare said:Mika Salminen, the director of Finland’s institute of health and welfare said:
A fourth case of coronavirus has been confirmed in France, Le Parisien reports.A fourth case of coronavirus has been confirmed in France, Le Parisien reports.
The patient is a Chinese tourist from Hubei province of about 80 years old, according to details released at a press conference on Tuesday. The man was in intensive care at a Paris hospital.The patient is a Chinese tourist from Hubei province of about 80 years old, according to details released at a press conference on Tuesday. The man was in intensive care at a Paris hospital.
France was the first European country to confirm coronavirus infections, with three confirmed diagnoses announced last Friday.France was the first European country to confirm coronavirus infections, with three confirmed diagnoses announced last Friday.
More British scientists have been giving their reactions to the news that Britons evacuated from Wuhan will be placed in a 14-day quarantine.More British scientists have been giving their reactions to the news that Britons evacuated from Wuhan will be placed in a 14-day quarantine.
Prof Mark Harris, Professor of Virology, University of Leeds:Prof Mark Harris, Professor of Virology, University of Leeds:
Prof Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, University of Nottingham:Prof Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, University of Nottingham:
Damien Gayle here, taking over the live blog from my colleague Aamna Mohdin, who has finished for the day.Damien Gayle here, taking over the live blog from my colleague Aamna Mohdin, who has finished for the day.
If you have come across coronavirus news you think we need to look at, please do drop me a line. As usual, you can contact me via my Twitter account – @damiengayle – or via email on damien.gayle@theguardian.com.If you have come across coronavirus news you think we need to look at, please do drop me a line. As usual, you can contact me via my Twitter account – @damiengayle – or via email on damien.gayle@theguardian.com.
130 people have tested negative in the UK for coronavirus, according to the latest update from the Department of Health and Social Care.130 people have tested negative in the UK for coronavirus, according to the latest update from the Department of Health and Social Care.