This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51514837
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: First death confirmed in Europe | Coronavirus: First death confirmed in Europe |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A Chinese tourist has died in France after contracting the new coronavirus - the first fatality from the disease outside Asia. | A Chinese tourist has died in France after contracting the new coronavirus - the first fatality from the disease outside Asia. |
| The victim was an 80-year-old man from China's Hubei province, according to French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn. | The victim was an 80-year-old man from China's Hubei province, according to French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn. |
| He arrived in France on 16 January and was placed in quarantine in hospital in Paris on 25 January, she said. | He arrived in France on 16 January and was placed in quarantine in hospital in Paris on 25 January, she said. |
| Only three deaths had previously been reported outside mainland China - in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan. | Only three deaths had previously been reported outside mainland China - in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan. |
| However, 1,523 people have died from the virus within China, mostly in Hubei where it first emerged. These include 143 deaths newly reported on Saturday by the country's national health commission. | |
| A further 2,641 people have been newly confirmed as infected, bringing China's total cases to 66,492. | |
| All countries should be prepared for the arrival of the virus, the head of the World Health Organization said on Saturday. | |
| What has happened in France? | What has happened in France? |
| In late January, France became the first European country to confirm cases of the virus. It has had 11 confirmed cases of the disease, officially called Covid-19. Six people remain in hospital. | In late January, France became the first European country to confirm cases of the virus. It has had 11 confirmed cases of the disease, officially called Covid-19. Six people remain in hospital. |
| The deceased man had been in a critical condition in the Bichat hospital in northern Paris, the health minister said. He died of a lung infection due to the coronavirus. | The deceased man had been in a critical condition in the Bichat hospital in northern Paris, the health minister said. He died of a lung infection due to the coronavirus. |
| The man's 50-year-old daughter is among the six in hospital with the virus, but she is recovering, Ms Buzyn said. | The man's 50-year-old daughter is among the six in hospital with the virus, but she is recovering, Ms Buzyn said. |
| The other five are British nationals who caught the virus at a chalet in the ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie. | The other five are British nationals who caught the virus at a chalet in the ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie. |
| How are other countries affected? | How are other countries affected? |
| Outside mainland China, there have been more than 500 cases in 26 countries. | |
| Earlier, the US said it was sending a plane to Japan to evacuate Americans stuck on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is being held in quarantine in a Japanese port. | Earlier, the US said it was sending a plane to Japan to evacuate Americans stuck on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is being held in quarantine in a Japanese port. |
| Some 400 US citizens are reported to be on the vessel, according to Japan's NHK broadcaster. Those with symptoms are expected to be treated in Japan. | |
| Out of 3,700 people on board, 218 have tested positive for the virus. Australia also said it was considering removing its citizens from the ship. | Out of 3,700 people on board, 218 have tested positive for the virus. Australia also said it was considering removing its citizens from the ship. |
| Egypt's health ministry on Friday confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in Africa. The ministry described the person as a foreigner, but did not disclose their nationality. | Egypt's health ministry on Friday confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in Africa. The ministry described the person as a foreigner, but did not disclose their nationality. |
| How is China coping? | How is China coping? |
| Despite the spread of the virus, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday that the outbreak in China was now "generally under control". | Despite the spread of the virus, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday that the outbreak in China was now "generally under control". |
| The foreign minister said outside Hubei province the number of new infections had fallen for 11 consecutive days. He said there had also been a rapid increase in the number of people who had recovered. | The foreign minister said outside Hubei province the number of new infections had fallen for 11 consecutive days. He said there had also been a rapid increase in the number of people who had recovered. |
| However, new figures released on Friday revealed the toll on medical staff in the country. Six health workers have died and 1,716 have been infected since the outbreak, officials said. | However, new figures released on Friday revealed the toll on medical staff in the country. Six health workers have died and 1,716 have been infected since the outbreak, officials said. |
| Local authorities have struggled to provide protective equipment such as respiratory masks, goggles and protective suits to hospitals in Hubei. | Local authorities have struggled to provide protective equipment such as respiratory masks, goggles and protective suits to hospitals in Hubei. |
| Meanwhile, Beijing has ordered everyone returning to the city to go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment. | Meanwhile, Beijing has ordered everyone returning to the city to go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) is beginning an investigation in China this weekend into the outbreak. | |
| What has the WHO chief been saying? | |
| Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made a plea for international solidarity at a conference in Germany and warned that all countries should be prepared for the arrival of the virus. | |
| "Relatively little" was spent on preparedness for a virus outbreak, he said, compared with preparations for a possible terrorist attack. | |
| "This is frankly difficult to understand and dangerously short-sighted," he told an audience at the Munich Security Conference. | |
| Mr Gebreyesus said the outbreak was still an emergency for China and he was concerned about the continued rise in cases. | |
| But he rejected criticism of China's efforts to combat the outbreak, saying this was not the time for recriminations or politicisation. | |
| And he called on governments and social media companies such as Facebook and Google to help counter fake news about the epidemic. "We're fighting an 'infodemic'," he said. | |
| Read more about the coronavirus and its impact | Read more about the coronavirus and its impact |