This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/jan/30/coronavirus-live-updates-china-death-toll-wuhan-evacuation-foreign-nationals-citizens-latest-news

The article has changed 51 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 43 Version 44
Coronavirus: Italy and Germany confirm cases after WHO declares global emergency – live news Coronavirus: Italy and Germany confirm cases after WHO declares global emergency – live news
(32 minutes later)
WHO director says decision comes amid concern for countries with weaker health systems as UK citizens in Hubei are due to be flown home on FridayWHO director says decision comes amid concern for countries with weaker health systems as UK citizens in Hubei are due to be flown home on Friday
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have confirmed that following a last-minute decision from China, dependents of British nationals and dual nationals will be allowed on to the evacuation flight.
Previously, restrictions imposed by China meant those with Chinese passports were not permitted to leave the country, and China does not recognise dual nationality.
The U-turn meant that Matt Raw and his 75-year-old mother Hazel were given permission to fly along with Raw’s wife Ying, who holds a Chinese passport.
It’s uncertain whether other families in similar situations have been given the go-ahead to board the plane, or whether they have been able to make it to the airport in time.
Here are the latest figures:
The virus has spread to at least 9,320 people around the world.
212 people have died, all in China, meaning that the death toll has surpassed that of the Sars epidemic over a year long period (2002-2003).
There are 98 confirmed cases of infection outside mainland China in at least 18 countries.
If you’d like to read more on the plight of Britons and their families in Wuhan, here’s a longer read, following three families trapped in the city.
The death toll in Hubei, the Chinese province in which Wuhan is located, has risen to 204, the province’s health commission has said.The death toll in Hubei, the Chinese province in which Wuhan is located, has risen to 204, the province’s health commission has said.
The total number of confirmed cases has reached 5,806, it said.
Hubei’s announcement takes the total death toll for China to at least 212.Hubei’s announcement takes the total death toll for China to at least 212.
Giuseppe Conte has provided more information on Italy’s first two cases of coronavirus.Giuseppe Conte has provided more information on Italy’s first two cases of coronavirus.
Two Chinese tourists who were visiting Italy had contracted the virus, the Italian prime minister said. He said that authorities were conducting checks on the journey of the two people, in order to prevent them spreading the virus further.Two Chinese tourists who were visiting Italy had contracted the virus, the Italian prime minister said. He said that authorities were conducting checks on the journey of the two people, in order to prevent them spreading the virus further.
Their condition is good.Their condition is good.
Announcing the suspension of air traffic to and from China, Conte said: “As far as we know we are the first country in the EU to adopt such a measure.”Announcing the suspension of air traffic to and from China, Conte said: “As far as we know we are the first country in the EU to adopt such a measure.”
It seems that at least one Chinese-national spouse of a British citizen is being allowed on the imminent evacuation flight from Wuhan.It seems that at least one Chinese-national spouse of a British citizen is being allowed on the imminent evacuation flight from Wuhan.
Matt Raw, who lives in Wuhan with his wife, Ying – a Chinese national with a Chinese passport – has been told that she will be allowed to board the flight, the Guardian’s Jessica Murray reports.Matt Raw, who lives in Wuhan with his wife, Ying – a Chinese national with a Chinese passport – has been told that she will be allowed to board the flight, the Guardian’s Jessica Murray reports.
The family are at the airport waiting to fly back to the UK.The family are at the airport waiting to fly back to the UK.
“We have actually finally been given permission to fly,” Raw said in a video message. “We are at the airport now and we’re just getting ready to go through security.”“We have actually finally been given permission to fly,” Raw said in a video message. “We are at the airport now and we’re just getting ready to go through security.”
“We’ve obviously been able to get my mother and my wife has been told she can fly, she has a ticket, so fingers crossed we get through security and we return to England hopefully later on today.”“We’ve obviously been able to get my mother and my wife has been told she can fly, she has a ticket, so fingers crossed we get through security and we return to England hopefully later on today.”
You can read more about Matt and Ying’s experience in Wuhan here.You can read more about Matt and Ying’s experience in Wuhan here.
Thanks very much to all those sharing information. There’s a lot to keep track of, so if you spot anything I’ve missed, do drop me a line on Twitter: @mollyblackallThanks very much to all those sharing information. There’s a lot to keep track of, so if you spot anything I’ve missed, do drop me a line on Twitter: @mollyblackall
For more information about previous public health emergencies, check out Nicola Davis’ piece here:For more information about previous public health emergencies, check out Nicola Davis’ piece here:
A British man has chosen not to board the evacuation flight from Wuhan because the Foreign Office could not confirm whether his four-year-old daughter, a Chinese national, would be allowed to join him.A British man has chosen not to board the evacuation flight from Wuhan because the Foreign Office could not confirm whether his four-year-old daughter, a Chinese national, would be allowed to join him.
Chris Hill, 38, said he was “losing faith” in the government.Chris Hill, 38, said he was “losing faith” in the government.
Hill, from Sunderland, told PA he could not consider leaving his family and said his wife of 11 years could not travel as she was needed to work in a hospital in Wuhan.Hill, from Sunderland, told PA he could not consider leaving his family and said his wife of 11 years could not travel as she was needed to work in a hospital in Wuhan.
Dominic Raab, the UK’s foreign secretary, said officials had “been working tirelessly” to get citizens out of Wuhan, but China does not recognise dual-nationality and is thought to be preventing its citizens from leaving the area.Dominic Raab, the UK’s foreign secretary, said officials had “been working tirelessly” to get citizens out of Wuhan, but China does not recognise dual-nationality and is thought to be preventing its citizens from leaving the area.
The flight is due to leave Wuhan city at 7am local time (11pm GMT).The flight is due to leave Wuhan city at 7am local time (11pm GMT).
Germany has announced a fifth confirmed case.Germany has announced a fifth confirmed case.
The individual is an employee at the same firm as the other four infected individuals, in the southern state of Bavaria.The individual is an employee at the same firm as the other four infected individuals, in the southern state of Bavaria.
Scott Morrison, Australia’s prime minister, has announced that he is making 1m surgical masks available to GPs.Scott Morrison, Australia’s prime minister, has announced that he is making 1m surgical masks available to GPs.
In a press conference addressing the measures taken to tackle the spread of the virus, Morrison also announced that he has raised the travel advice for Wuhan and the Hubei to a level four, meaning that Australians are being told not to travel there.In a press conference addressing the measures taken to tackle the spread of the virus, Morrison also announced that he has raised the travel advice for Wuhan and the Hubei to a level four, meaning that Australians are being told not to travel there.
“The national security committee will meet today again to go over all of our arrangements, preparations, the cooperation, the preplanning and the precautions we are putting in place,” he said.“The national security committee will meet today again to go over all of our arrangements, preparations, the cooperation, the preplanning and the precautions we are putting in place,” he said.
“We’re well prepared and will continue to follow the expert advice.”“We’re well prepared and will continue to follow the expert advice.”
A second case of the virus has been confirmed in Queensland, bringing Australia’s total number of cases to nine.A second case of the virus has been confirmed in Queensland, bringing Australia’s total number of cases to nine.
A Chinese man with coronavirus boarded a flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast on 27 January, and Australian authorities have confirmed that a second passenger on the flight has tested positive for the virus.A Chinese man with coronavirus boarded a flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast on 27 January, and Australian authorities have confirmed that a second passenger on the flight has tested positive for the virus.
Authorities are now attempting to track down the other passengers on the flight - 170 people, excluding the two confirmed cases.Authorities are now attempting to track down the other passengers on the flight - 170 people, excluding the two confirmed cases.
Giuseppe Conte, the prime minister of Italy, has said the country has its first two cases of the virus, according to Reuters.
Italy is the fourth European country, after France, Finland and Germany, to have confirmed cases. Conte suspended air travel between Italy and China after the announcement.
What does the WHO’s international public health emergency mean?
Escalating the virus to an international public health emergency signals that countries around the world should step up their response, and enables the organisation to offer greater support to countries with weaker health systems.
It also gives the WHO the power to scrutinise the steps taken by other countries in response to the virus so far.
This is the sixth emergency announced since 2009. Here’s a recap of the others:
2009 The swine flu pandemic, which killed approximately 284,500 people, though some estimations reach 579,000.
2013-2016 The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which led to the death of 11,300 people.
2014 The polio outbreak, in which 417 people have died.
2016 The Zika, which spread to 60 countries and caused 2,300 cases of babies born with microcephaly, which causes the head to be smaller than expected and can lead to developmental problems.
2019 The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which, by mid-January this year, had caused 2,236 deaths.
The four chief medical officers of the UK have increased the risk level of coronavirus from low to moderate.
They said that they “do not think the risk to individuals in the UK has changed” but that the government should “plan for all eventualities”.
They added that they were confident in the ability of the UK’s health authorities to manage any risk to the population.
The officers are Prof Chris Whitty for England, Dr Frank Atherton for Wales, Dr Catherine Calderwood for Scotland and Dr Michael McBride for Northern Ireland.
The WHO has criticised trade and travel restrictions, as it announced a public health emergency over the virus.
Prof Didier Houssin, chair of the emergency committee, questioned the science behind the decision made by some countries to put the restrictions in place.
Houssin said that measures such as unnecessarily placing people in quarantine and refusing visas could now be scrutinised by the international health body.
The WHO has declared a global public health emergency because of the spread of the virus outside of China, describing it as an “unprecedented outbreak”.
There are now 7,834 confirmed cases around the world. The total number of cases outside of China has reached 98 across 18 countries, Tedros Adhanom, director general of the WHO, has just told a press conference.
The number of deaths remains at 170, all in China.
Eight cases outside China have spread via human to human contact, in Germany, Japan, Vietnam and the US. There are currently no deaths outside of China.
Praise for China, but concern for weaker health systems
The organisation congratulated China, saying the declaration was not a vote of no confidence in the country, on the contrary, “the WHO continues to have confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak”.
The organisation praised the “extraordinary measures taken” despite the social and economic impact on the Chinese people. Tedros said there would have been more cases and deaths if not for China’s work.
The WHO director-general added: “The main reason for this decision is not because of what is happening in China but because of what is happening in other countries.”
Tedros expressed concern for countries with weaker health systems, saying that we “must all act together now to limit further spread”.
“Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it,” he said.
Tedros reiterated that the WHO were willing to support those countries in any possible way.
A new case has been reported in France, taking their total up to six.
The latest victim is a doctor, the Guardian’s Paris correspondent Kim Willsher has said.
French citizens repatriated from Wuhan are being held in isolation near Marseille.
Air France has followed British Airways’ lead and is suspending flights into and out of China until 9 February. There will be special flights into and out of Shanghai and Beijing staffed with volunteer crew from tomorrow to bring back passengers and staff in China.
The Guardian’s Josh Halliday has just confirmed the 150 Britons being flown out of Wuhan tonight will be quarantined at Arrowe Park hospital accommodation in Wirral, Merseyside.
They will be staying in the accommodation block usually designated to NHS staff and are expected to remain there for 14 days.
Margaret Greenwood, the Labour MP for Wirral West, said she had been told by health secretary Matt Hancock that experts believed it was unlikely that those quarantined had the virus.
Here are the latest figures on the virus:
Globally, there are 7,818 confirmed cases.
Of these, 7,736 are in China. In the country, 1,370 cases have been classed as severe, and there are a further 12,167 suspected cases. The number of official deaths, 170, hasn’t changed since last night.
Outside of China, there are 82 confirmed cases spanning 18 countries.
The WHO have pushed back the announcement on their decision over whether the virus constitutes a public health emergency, we’re now expecting it around 7.30pm. No reason has been given yet for the delay.
Here’s a reminder of the WHO’s definition of a public health emergency:
This comes when the situation is:
serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected
carries implications for public health beyond the affected State’s national border
may require immediate international action
This is Molly, I’ll be taking over the live blog.
The World Health Organization (WHO) are set to announce their decision imminently over whether or not to declare a global health emergency. I’ll keep you updated with all the developments as and when they break.