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Coronavirus live updates: death toll jumps to 170 amid evacuation delays for foreign nationals Coronavirus live updates: death toll jumps to 170 amid evacuation delays for foreign nationals
(32 minutes later)
WHO says whole world must be on alert for Wuhan virus as UK citizens in Hubei told they will not be flown out on ThursdayWHO says whole world must be on alert for Wuhan virus as UK citizens in Hubei told they will not be flown out on Thursday
The state-run tabloid Global Times has also picked up the story about officials being punished if they mishandle rescue funds or falsify materials during the the virus outbreak.
With flights into and out of Wuhan suspended, many residents of the city who left over the lunar new year have been unable to return home. China’s aviation authority has now approved chartered flights to do just that, state television said on Thursday.
Domestic and international airlines have cancelled flights between Wuhan and overseas cities since 23 January. The aviation authority has also asked the airlines not to stop healthy Wuhan residents from boarding flights.
Taiwan’s stock market has closed down 5.75% on its first of trading after reopening following the lunar new year holiday.
There are also reports that the government is planning to intervene to prop up the market. That begs the question of what will happen to China’s mainland stocks when trading recommences next week.
The Reuters news agency is reporting that China’s anti-corruption watchdog said on Thursday it will severely punish officials who slack off on the job in fighting a new virus that is spreading across the country.The Reuters news agency is reporting that China’s anti-corruption watchdog said on Thursday it will severely punish officials who slack off on the job in fighting a new virus that is spreading across the country.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said on its website that anyone who doesn’t effectively carry out President Xi Jinping’s instructions in the fight against the virus would be punished.The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said on its website that anyone who doesn’t effectively carry out President Xi Jinping’s instructions in the fight against the virus would be punished.
CCDI also said it would punish those who are derelict in their duty and misappropriate rescue funds and materials.CCDI also said it would punish those who are derelict in their duty and misappropriate rescue funds and materials.
The state-run People’s Daily says China is expected to resume the production of face masks on 3 February, and produce 180m masks per day by the end of February. The first working day after the lunar new year holiday is 3 February.The state-run People’s Daily says China is expected to resume the production of face masks on 3 February, and produce 180m masks per day by the end of February. The first working day after the lunar new year holiday is 3 February.
As I reported a little while ago, supplies of many things in Hong Kong are running out in the face of the escalating coronavirus.As I reported a little while ago, supplies of many things in Hong Kong are running out in the face of the escalating coronavirus.
The impact of the outbreak on the financial markets is a rapidly developing part of the story. Today has seen another broad selloff on Asian stock markets with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong down 1.7% in the second successive day of losses. The Nikkei in Tokyo has fallen nearly 2% and the Kospi in Seoul is down 1.8%. The ASX200 in Sydney has closed down 0.3%. Chinese mainland markets arestill closed for the new year holiday.The impact of the outbreak on the financial markets is a rapidly developing part of the story. Today has seen another broad selloff on Asian stock markets with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong down 1.7% in the second successive day of losses. The Nikkei in Tokyo has fallen nearly 2% and the Kospi in Seoul is down 1.8%. The ASX200 in Sydney has closed down 0.3%. Chinese mainland markets arestill closed for the new year holiday.
Although these falls come from high values – in Australia’s case record highs – there is mounting alarm about how the continuing shutdown of economic activity in China might crimp growth around the world.Although these falls come from high values – in Australia’s case record highs – there is mounting alarm about how the continuing shutdown of economic activity in China might crimp growth around the world.
The world’s most important policymaker, US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, said on Wednesday that he was watching the situation in China closely.The world’s most important policymaker, US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, said on Wednesday that he was watching the situation in China closely.
“There is likely to be some disruption to activity in China and globally,” he said. “It’s very uncertain how far it will spread and what the (economic) effects will be in China, for its trading partners, and around the world.... We are very carefully monitoring the situation.”“There is likely to be some disruption to activity in China and globally,” he said. “It’s very uncertain how far it will spread and what the (economic) effects will be in China, for its trading partners, and around the world.... We are very carefully monitoring the situation.”
The concerns were betrayed in the bond markets where the three-month-10-year US treasury yield curve inverted, a classic indicator of recession.The concerns were betrayed in the bond markets where the three-month-10-year US treasury yield curve inverted, a classic indicator of recession.
For the uninitiated, that means that the interest rate (or yield) payable on 10-year American government debt has fallen below the yield on the three-month equivalent. Normally you’d expect longer-term investments like the 10-year bond to yield more. So an upside down correlation means that investors are worried about future grwoth prospects. This inversion is typically followed by a recession. But having said that, it happened back in August and the US economy has powered on since then. So mit might just prove that the world of monetary policy itself has been turned upside down.For the uninitiated, that means that the interest rate (or yield) payable on 10-year American government debt has fallen below the yield on the three-month equivalent. Normally you’d expect longer-term investments like the 10-year bond to yield more. So an upside down correlation means that investors are worried about future grwoth prospects. This inversion is typically followed by a recession. But having said that, it happened back in August and the US economy has powered on since then. So mit might just prove that the world of monetary policy itself has been turned upside down.
A short update from Queensland in Australia, where their first person has been diagnosed with coronavirus. Another 41 people are currently being tested for the virus.A short update from Queensland in Australia, where their first person has been diagnosed with coronavirus. Another 41 people are currently being tested for the virus.
“These are people who have been in China within the last 14 days and have developed symptoms and they’re now being tested,” Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said.“These are people who have been in China within the last 14 days and have developed symptoms and they’re now being tested,” Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said.
The state run Chinese tabloid, the Global Times, is reporting that Beijing’s Xiaotangshan hospital that was built for the Sars crisis is being renovated and will be reopened “when needed” to help with the coronavirus.The state run Chinese tabloid, the Global Times, is reporting that Beijing’s Xiaotangshan hospital that was built for the Sars crisis is being renovated and will be reopened “when needed” to help with the coronavirus.
Hubei province’s governor, Wang Xiaodong, has said that the whole province has a “severe shortage” of medical supplies, not just Wuhan, according to the broadcaster CGTN. It also reports some medical staff are wearing raincoats and using disposable garbage bags as shoe covers to protect themselves in the city of Huanggang, 75km east of Wuhan.Hubei province’s governor, Wang Xiaodong, has said that the whole province has a “severe shortage” of medical supplies, not just Wuhan, according to the broadcaster CGTN. It also reports some medical staff are wearing raincoats and using disposable garbage bags as shoe covers to protect themselves in the city of Huanggang, 75km east of Wuhan.
Wang stressed at the press conference the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in Huanggang City, and vowed to prevent it from becoming the second Wuhan, CGTN reported.Wang stressed at the press conference the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in Huanggang City, and vowed to prevent it from becoming the second Wuhan, CGTN reported.
It’s being reported that Australians wanting to leave Wuhan will need to pay $1,000 to board the Qantas flight that is being chartered to get them out. The Sydney Morning Herald reports evacuees will have to pay the fee and sign a waiver allowing them to be quarantined at the Christmas Island detention centre for up to 14 days. After their stay on Christmas Island, they will be dropped off in Perth and have to pay their own way to their city of residence, the outlet reports.
The Australian Medical Association has said it feels the repatriation of Australians from Wuhan to Christmas Island is “not really appropriate”. The island was previously used as a detention centre for asylum seekers and refugees arriving by boat.
New Zealanders wanting to leave Wuhan on an Air New Zealand flight have also been told they will need to contribute to their fare, though no details of the cost have been released.
Papua New Guinea’s immigration minister has said no visitors from “Asian ports’’ will be admitted into the country because of fears of coronavirus, but this advice has been directly contradicted by the country’s national airline.
In a public notice issued on 28 January, the minister for immigration and border protection, Westly Nukundj, said “all citizens originating from the Asian ports will be refused entry into the country effective today. This is a preventative measure taken to ensure the spread of the coronavirus that is rapidly spreading in the world is minimised.”
The statement was issued to “all operating airlines, shipping lines, and overseas missions”. But it does not specify which ports, in which countries, are regarded as Asian. PNG overland border with Indonesia in Vanimo, West Sepik, has also been closed. “All entry and departures from PNG must be through Jacksons International Airport.”
But Air Niugini, PNG’s national carrier, said it would not uplift any passengers who had been to Wuhan city or Hubei province during the last three weeks. Passengers flying to Port Moresby from Singapore, Hong Kong, or Manila are being screened for the virus before being allowed to board.
“However, there are no other restrictions on travel to PNG from an Asian port. Air Niugini does not operate direct flights to or from mainland China.”
Returning to Australia, the state of Queensland declared its first case of coronavirus today. A 44-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan in Hubei province, arrived in Melbourne via Singapore as part of a two group in 22 January, five days before feeling unwell.
He developed symptoms on a flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast in Queensland on Tiger Airways flight #TT566 on 27 January, arriving at 8.45pm.
Authorities are attempting to contact other passengers on that flight. He was travelling with eight other people, all of who are in isolation in Gold Coast University hospital. Four of them are unwell and are being tested for the virus.
“There is a low risk to the people on the flight so we will be contacting each one of them,” Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said.
Just a bit more information on the Chinese Football Association’s decision to cancel all domestic matches. It follows their announcement yesterday that the first three rounds in the 2020 AFC Champions League would be played as away matches. This affects 6 games in 4 Chinese Super Clubs. The adjusted schedule is as follows:
February 11th Group E Seoul FC Korea VS Beijing Guoan
February 12 Group G Korea Suwon Samsung VS Guangzhou Evergrande
February 18 Group F Ulsan Hyundai VS Shanghai Shenhua
February 19 Group H Jeonbuk Hyundai VS Shanghai SIPG
March 3 Group E Australia Melbourne victory VS Beijing Guoan
March 4th Group H Yokohama Mariners Japan vs Shanghai SIPG
In Hong Kong people are bulk buying in supermarkets, and one resident, Rae Strachan, says there is growing concern over the virus.
“It’s total panic here. I keep telling people that more people die each year from the common cold! People are buying up in bulk from supermarkets and all children’s playrooms and activities are closed. It’s like a ghost town.”
She says schools have been cancelled and many children’s activities have been cancelled, including Disney and Ocean Park.
Singapore said a plane carrying 92 of its citizens would leave Wuhan on Thursday as the city-state joined several other countries in airlifting people out of the epicentre.
Indonesia also said it would exfiltrate citizens from Wuhan and that they would be quarantined for 14 days to avoid contagion.
We’ll bring you more details about these evacuations shortly.
We’ve just had an update from the chief health officer in the Australian state of New South Wales, where there are currently four confirmed cases of the virus. Kerry Chant said that two of the four were now well and were discharged from hospital yesterday. They have no symptoms. Two others remain in a stable condition, she said.
“The close contacts of the cases are being monitored by public health units and no cases have been identified amongst those close contacts,” Chant said.
There are 20 cases currently under investigation in the state she said (11 men, 9 woman aged 5-74 years). All are in isolation at the moment, she said.
China’s top court has launched a rare rebuke of the police force, saying its unreasonably harsh crackdown on online rumours during the country’s deadly coronavirus outbreak had undermined public trust.
China has been battling the spread of infection that has surpassed the global reach of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) outbreak of 2002-03.
Authorities suspect the disease originated in a wild animal market in the central city of Wuhan, and told the World Health Organization about the new virus on the last day of 2019.
A day later, eight people were detained by police after claiming online that Wuhan was in the grip of a fresh Sars outbreak.
The group were punished for “publishing or forwarding false information on the internet without verification”, a police statement at the time said.
In a highly unusual criticism of the police, supreme court judge Tang Xinghua wrote on Wednesday that officers should have been more lenient with those who published the rumours.
“If the public had believed these ‘rumours’ at the time, and carried out measures like wearing masks, strictly disinfecting and avoiding wildlife markets ... it might have been a good thing,” he said.
Tang said the indiscriminate crackdown on online rumours could have “become negative textbook material for weakening public trust in the government” or a “vicious event” eroding support for the Communist party.
In a response posted on Weibo, Wuhan police argued they had only given “education and criticism” to the eight and had not meted out harsher punishment such as “warnings, fines, or detention”.
South Korea police are investigating allegations that false information is being circulated about the spread of the coronavirus. Our correspondent in Tokyo, Justin McCurry, reports that one allegation involves a text message scam where people are asked to provide personal data in exchange for confidential health details about the outbreak.
False rumours have also been spread about certain schools having children infected by the virus, causing alarm in the hyper-connected country.
“We are promptly asking the telecommunications regulator and site operators to delete or block false information that can lead to social confusion,” Yonhap new agency quoted a police spokesperson as saying.
Here’s Justin’s full report:
Our correspondent in Sichuan, Michael Standaert, writes that today would have been the last official day of the lunar new year holiday in China, and though that has been extended by Beijing until 2 February, many people are wondering when they should start back for the cities they live in and how long it will take to get there. There are going to be major travel challenges in the next week or so, he says. Even with no crisis, the travel congestion is considerable at this time of year. But with villages blocked off, checkpoints for temperature scans, and many places being unreachable, it is likely to be much much worse when people do start to travel.