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/feb/17/coronavirus-live-updates-us-citizens-japan-diamond-princess-cruise-ship-china-wuhan-hubei-cases-death-toll-latest-news

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 23 Version 24
Coronavirus: 99 more cases confirmed on cruise ship - live news Coronavirus: 99 more cases confirmed on cruise ship - live news
(30 minutes later)
Diamond Princess evacuations begin as Japan warns outbreak ‘entering new phase’. Follow latest updatesDiamond Princess evacuations begin as Japan warns outbreak ‘entering new phase’. Follow latest updates
Here are the latest figures reported by each government’s health authority as of Monday in Beijing, as the number of global cases reaches over 71,000:
Mainland China: 1,770 deaths among 70,548 cases, mostly in the central province of HubeiHong Kong: 58 cases, 1 deathMacao: 10Japan: 519 cases, including 454 from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, 1 deathSingapore: 77 casesThailand: 35South Korea: 30Malaysia: 22Taiwan: 20 cases, 1 deathVietnam: 16 casesGermany: 16United States: 15 cases; separately, 1 US citizen died in ChinaAustralia: 14 casesFrance: 12 cases, 1 deathUnited Kingdom: 9 casesUnited Arab Emirates: 9Canada: 8Philippines: 3 cases, 1 deathIndia: 3 casesItaly: 3Russia: 2Spain: 2Belgium: 1Nepal: 1Sri Lanka: 1Sweden: 1Cambodia: 1Finland: 1Egypt: 1
Richard Branson has responded to calls for help from those on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, saying Virgin Atlantic is in discussions with the UK government.
Previously British passengers David and Sally Abel had made a direct appeal to the British business magnate to help fly them home, after the lack of action from the UK government over evacuation flights.
A No 10 spokesman has since confirmed the Foreign Office is in contact with those on the ship to discuss a possible flight home.
The University of Sussex said its student who was being checked for the Covid-19 coronavirus has tested negative.The University of Sussex said its student who was being checked for the Covid-19 coronavirus has tested negative.
A spokesman said: “Recently a student on our campus was tested and has been informed they do not have coronavirus.A spokesman said: “Recently a student on our campus was tested and has been informed they do not have coronavirus.
“The University is operating as usual and we continue to follow all the advice and guidance from Public Health England.” “The university is operating as usual and we continue to follow all the advice and guidance from Public Health England.”
Jessica Murray here, taking the reigns for the rest of the afternoon - feel free to get in touch via @journojess_ on Twitter or jessica.murray@theguardian.com.Jessica Murray here, taking the reigns for the rest of the afternoon - feel free to get in touch via @journojess_ on Twitter or jessica.murray@theguardian.com.
A Holiday Inn near Heathrow airport has been closed to the public and designated as a potential coronavirus quarantine centre, the Independent has reported.A Holiday Inn near Heathrow airport has been closed to the public and designated as a potential coronavirus quarantine centre, the Independent has reported.
The Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel hotel, on Bath Road, closed on Saturday and staff were told it would not re-open for bookings until March at the earliest.The Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel hotel, on Bath Road, closed on Saturday and staff were told it would not re-open for bookings until March at the earliest.
The Independent reports that the hotel has been block-booked to be used as a potential quarantine zone for international visitors to the UK who develop coronavirus or for Britons evacuated to the UK from overseas.The Independent reports that the hotel has been block-booked to be used as a potential quarantine zone for international visitors to the UK who develop coronavirus or for Britons evacuated to the UK from overseas.
Guests booked at the Holiday Inn have been transferred to sister hotels.Guests booked at the Holiday Inn have been transferred to sister hotels.
The hotel’s general manager confirmed the hotel had been closed but said there had not been any cases of coronavirus at the hotel.The hotel’s general manager confirmed the hotel had been closed but said there had not been any cases of coronavirus at the hotel.
From one cruise ship to another, the MS Westerdam ship, which eventually docked in Cambodia after being turned away from a number of Asian ports, has sparked some global concerns after a passenger coronavirus case was confirmed.From one cruise ship to another, the MS Westerdam ship, which eventually docked in Cambodia after being turned away from a number of Asian ports, has sparked some global concerns after a passenger coronavirus case was confirmed.
An 83-year-old American woman who was on the ship tested positive for the virus in Malaysia, where she had flown to.An 83-year-old American woman who was on the ship tested positive for the virus in Malaysia, where she had flown to.
Movement of passengers and crew has now stopped, with some in hotels in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, and others still onboard the ship.Movement of passengers and crew has now stopped, with some in hotels in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, and others still onboard the ship.
The American woman was among several hundred passengers who were flown out of Cambodia on Friday and Saturday.The American woman was among several hundred passengers who were flown out of Cambodia on Friday and Saturday.
According to authorities in Malaysia, 143 continued their flights home from that country, while the woman and her 84-year-old husband, who was diagnosed with pneumonia, remained behind for treatment.According to authorities in Malaysia, 143 continued their flights home from that country, while the woman and her 84-year-old husband, who was diagnosed with pneumonia, remained behind for treatment.
The dispersal around the world of passengers from the ship with possible exposure to the virus has sparked concern.The dispersal around the world of passengers from the ship with possible exposure to the virus has sparked concern.
“I think now, given that there is a confirmed case that is suspected to have acquired infection on board the ship, the other passengers should be asked to quarantine themselves at home and alert health authorities if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms within the 14 days since disembarkation,” said Prof Benjamin Cowling, from the School of Public Health at Hong Kong University.“I think now, given that there is a confirmed case that is suspected to have acquired infection on board the ship, the other passengers should be asked to quarantine themselves at home and alert health authorities if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms within the 14 days since disembarkation,” said Prof Benjamin Cowling, from the School of Public Health at Hong Kong University.
At this time, no other guests or crew onboard or at the hotel have reported any symptoms of the illness.At this time, no other guests or crew onboard or at the hotel have reported any symptoms of the illness.
Guests who have already returned home will be contacted by their local health department and provided further information, the ship’s operator said.Guests who have already returned home will be contacted by their local health department and provided further information, the ship’s operator said.
Several Westerdam passengers have already returned home and spoken to the media.Several Westerdam passengers have already returned home and spoken to the media.
Two Canadians who returned via Vancouver international airport were asked to put on protective face masks on arrival but were not otherwise isolated, Canada’s CBC News reported.Hansen, from Surrey, British Columbia, told CBC that he did not hear about the American woman in Malaysia with the virus until he landed in Vancouver on Sunday. He said:Two Canadians who returned via Vancouver international airport were asked to put on protective face masks on arrival but were not otherwise isolated, Canada’s CBC News reported.Hansen, from Surrey, British Columbia, told CBC that he did not hear about the American woman in Malaysia with the virus until he landed in Vancouver on Sunday. He said:
Cambodia’s government had originally earned kudos from the head of the World Health Organization for allowing the ship to dock, after it was turned away by Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam and Thailand.Cambodia’s government had originally earned kudos from the head of the World Health Organization for allowing the ship to dock, after it was turned away by Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam and Thailand.
However, Cambodia’s handling of the ship’s passengers has since been criticised on social media, though it also has got some support.However, Cambodia’s handling of the ship’s passengers has since been criticised on social media, though it also has got some support.
“I think it would not be appropriate to keep passengers on the ship for 14 days, as it could be a high-risk environment,” said Cowling.“I think it would not be appropriate to keep passengers on the ship for 14 days, as it could be a high-risk environment,” said Cowling.
“We have seen the consequences of holding passengers on a cruise ship with the Diamond Princess outbreak,” he said, referring to the cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama, Japan, which now has hundreds of coronavirus cases.“We have seen the consequences of holding passengers on a cruise ship with the Diamond Princess outbreak,” he said, referring to the cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama, Japan, which now has hundreds of coronavirus cases.
The UK joins a growing number of countries considering repatriating citizens on the Diamond Princess.The UK joins a growing number of countries considering repatriating citizens on the Diamond Princess.
Israel’s ministry of health has said it is preparing to evacuate several Israelis from the ship back to the country.Israel’s ministry of health has said it is preparing to evacuate several Israelis from the ship back to the country.
In a statement, the ministry said three Israelis on the cruise ship had tested positive for coronavirus and would remain in Japan. However, the ministry added it was contacting insurance companies of the remaining 12 Israeli nationals onboard to have them flown back via a special direct flight.In a statement, the ministry said three Israelis on the cruise ship had tested positive for coronavirus and would remain in Japan. However, the ministry added it was contacting insurance companies of the remaining 12 Israeli nationals onboard to have them flown back via a special direct flight.
“Upon returning they will enter home quarantine and undergo medical follow-up tests,” it said.“Upon returning they will enter home quarantine and undergo medical follow-up tests,” it said.
Foreign Office ministers are looking at chartering another flight to repatriate some or all of the 74 Britons on board the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship hit by 454 cases of coronavirus.Foreign Office ministers are looking at chartering another flight to repatriate some or all of the 74 Britons on board the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship hit by 454 cases of coronavirus.
“We sympathise with all those caught up in this extremely difficult situation,” Boris Johnson’s deputy official spokesman said.“We sympathise with all those caught up in this extremely difficult situation,” Boris Johnson’s deputy official spokesman said.
“The Foreign Office is in contact with all British people on the Diamond Princess, including to establish interest in a possible repatriation flight.“The Foreign Office is in contact with all British people on the Diamond Princess, including to establish interest in a possible repatriation flight.
“We are urgently considering all options to guarantee the health and safety of those on board.”“We are urgently considering all options to guarantee the health and safety of those on board.”
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
Of the 300 US citizens and family members evacuated by plane from a quarantined ship in Japan, 14 have tested positive for coronavirus, the US state department said on Monday.Of the 300 US citizens and family members evacuated by plane from a quarantined ship in Japan, 14 have tested positive for coronavirus, the US state department said on Monday.
Japanese officials have confirmed a further 99 people have been infected by the new coronavirus onboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 45.Japanese officials have confirmed a further 99 people have been infected by the new coronavirus onboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 45.
A Russian woman who was onboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner docked in Yokohama, Japan, has tested positive for coronavirus, the Russian embassy in Japan said on Monday.A Russian woman who was onboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner docked in Yokohama, Japan, has tested positive for coronavirus, the Russian embassy in Japan said on Monday.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson confirmed the government was in contact with the 74 Britons on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship.Boris Johnson’s spokesperson confirmed the government was in contact with the 74 Britons on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
China’s parliament and its top political consultative body are both considering delaying annual meetings set for March. The standing committee of the parliament will meet on 24 February to deliberate the postponement, Reuters reports.China’s parliament and its top political consultative body are both considering delaying annual meetings set for March. The standing committee of the parliament will meet on 24 February to deliberate the postponement, Reuters reports.
The Tokyo Marathon will be closed to all but elite runners. Organisers said the 38,000 general participants who signed up for the race on 1 March will not be allowed to compete, a person with knowledge of the issue told Reuters.The Tokyo Marathon will be closed to all but elite runners. Organisers said the 38,000 general participants who signed up for the race on 1 March will not be allowed to compete, a person with knowledge of the issue told Reuters.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson confirmed the UK government was in contact with the 74 Britons on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The government is trying to gauge interest in the possible repatriation of the Britons stuck onboard, Reuters reports.Boris Johnson’s spokesperson confirmed the UK government was in contact with the 74 Britons on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The government is trying to gauge interest in the possible repatriation of the Britons stuck onboard, Reuters reports.
The US has evacuated 300 of its citizens and family members by plane from the quarantined ship in Japan. The state department said 14 Americans among those evacuated had tested positive for the new coronavirus.The US has evacuated 300 of its citizens and family members by plane from the quarantined ship in Japan. The state department said 14 Americans among those evacuated had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Here’s some more information on the possible delay of China’s annual meetings set for March.Here’s some more information on the possible delay of China’s annual meetings set for March.
The meetings of the parliament, or National People’s Congress (NPC), and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) were both due to begin early next month. But both China’s parliament and its top political consultative body are both considering delaying annual meetings set for March, state media said on Monday.The meetings of the parliament, or National People’s Congress (NPC), and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) were both due to begin early next month. But both China’s parliament and its top political consultative body are both considering delaying annual meetings set for March, state media said on Monday.
Reuters reports:Reuters reports:
Japan is bracing for the possibility of hundreds of additional cases of the coronavirus onboard the stricken Princess Diamond, after health officials said on Monday that a further 99 people on the ship had tested positive.The passengers already evacuated from the ship face further uncertainty too, with the US and Australian citizens set for a further two weeks of quarantine after arriving home. Hundreds of American passengers have flown back to the US and Australia said it would follow suit on Wednesday.The US state department announced later that 14 of the 340 American evacuees were confirmed to have the virus in tests given before they boarded the planes. They were taken to the US because they did not have symptoms and were being isolated from other passengers on the planes, it said. It was not immediately clear whether the 14 were among the 99 new cases.Onboard the Diamond Princess, 454 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 out of an original total of about 3,600 passengers and crew. Japan’s health ministry said it had tested 1,723 people on the vessel.Forty American passengers who were diagnosed with the virus on Sunday have been transferred to hospitals in Japan. Most of the people on the ship, which has the largest number of cases outside China, have yet to be tested.The health ministry will continue to test passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess, whose 14-day quarantine was due to end on Wednesday.Japanese public health experts advising the government defended the decision to isolate passengers and crew on the ship, even as the number of cases increased again on Monday.“Many people are testing positive on the ship, but that is because we are testing everyone onboard, regardless of their medical condition,” said Shigeru Omi, the chief director of the Japan Community Health Care Organisation. “And 70% of those testing positive are not showing any symptoms at all.”Omi said any disruption to this summer’s Tokyo Olympics – including the Games’ cancellation – would depend on how and if the virus mutates in the coming months, as well as the effectiveness of the international community’s attempts to contain the outbreak.
“Whether the virus is under control by the time of the Olympics is anyone’s guess,” he said at a media briefing in Tokyo.Omi conceded that tracing the chain of domestic transmissions not related to the Diamond Princes was proving difficult, but denied Japan, which has confirmed 65 cases on land, was becoming a second major infection cluster.“Our focus now is on community-based preventative action to lower the speed of the transmission of the virus,” he said. “It is true that there have been silent transmissions, but Japan is certainly not in a state of pandemic.”
A Russian woman who was onboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner docked in Yokohama, Japan, has tested positive for coronavirus, the Russian embassy in Japan said on Monday.
Reuters reports the woman will be taken to a hospital and treated, citing a post by the embassy on Facebook.
The woman is thought to be the first Russian national to contract the virus after the two previous cases found in Russia were Chinese nationals.
Japanese officials have confirmed a further 99 people have been infected by the new coronavirus aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454, the health ministry said on Monday.
AP reports:
Japan will close next month’s Tokyo Marathon to all but elite professional runners.
Organisers of the Tokyo Marathon said the 38,000 general participants who signed up for the race on 1 March will not be allowed to compete, a person with knowledge of the issue told Reuters.
The event will instead be limited to top-level competitors, which includes 176 elite runners and 30 elite wheelchair athletes.
Japan would limit public crowds in Tokyo to prevent a further spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Shares in some of the marathon’s sponsors fell following the announcement. Seiko Holdings, the maker of watches and clocks, slid 3.5%, as did shoe and sportswear maker ASICS Corp. The broader Tokyo market was little changed.
Japan also announced it would be scrapping the emperor’s birthday celebrations. The last time the birthday celebration was cancelled was 1996, during a hostage crisis at the Japanese embassy in Peru.
China has it may postpone its annual congress in March, its biggest political meeting of the year.
The standing committee for the National People’s Congress said it believes it is necessary to postpone the gathering to give top priority to people’s lives, safety and health, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
It noted that one-third of the 3,000 delegates are provincial and municipal-level cadres with important leadership roles working on the frontline of the battle against the epidemic.
The standing committee said it would meet on 24 February to further deliberate on a postponement. The meeting is due to start on 5 March.
I want to hear your news, experiences and questions about the coronavirus outbreak. You can email me at aamna.mohdin@theguardian.com or tweet me at @aamnamohdin
I’m particularly keen to hear from those who have booked a holiday to China, but are currently in limbo.
Morning, it’s Aamna Mohdin taking over the liveblog from my colleague Alison Rourke.
Of the 300 US citizens and family members evacuated by plane from a quarantined ship in Japan, 14 have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US state department said on Monday.
The American passengers disembarking from the Diamond Princess preparing to return home on chartered aircraft when US officials were informed 14 of them who had been tested days earlier were positive for Covid-19, the state department said in a joint statement with the department of health and human services (HHS).
The passengers were allowed to board the plane, but were isolated from the others and would be monitored closely.
The state department and HHS said in a statement:
Here are the latest developments:
The total confirmed number of Covid-19 cases in China has risen. to 70,548, after the health ministry reported 2,048 new cases in its Monday update.
New deaths totalled 105, bringing the total number of fatalities in China to 1,770.
Of the new cases 1,933 were in Hubei province, as were 100 of the deaths.
The US has airlifted its citizens stuck on the Diamond Princess cruise liner in Japan. Forty Americans were tested positive remain in the country.
A number of other countries, including Canada, Australia and South Korea have announced plans to evacuate their citizens from the stricken ship. (A Qantas plane will fly 209 Australians home on Wednesday).
Xiaogan city, in central Hubei, has banned residents from leaving their homes in an attempt to curtail the virus. It has the second highest number of confirmed cases in China, after nearby Wuhan.
Xinxian country in Henan province, south of Beijing, announced it is extending quarantine to 21 days for citizens returning from Wuhan, following two unusual cases of Covid-19.
Singapore has flagged a possible recession as it cut growth forecasts because of the impact of the virus.
You can read our latest roundup of all the days news on the coronavirus outbreak below.
The Covid-19 outbreak has officially had no negative impact on the country’s stock markets. After a huge 8% fall on the first day of trading after the lunar new year break, indices have fattened up again and are buoyed by the promise of stimulus from the central bank (see below).
The Shanghai Composite was up 2.19% in afternoon trading while the Shenzhen Composite rose 2.84%.
We’re seeing a news conference now from the Australian city of Darwin, where authorities are talking about the 209 Australians being brought home from the stricken Diamond Princess cruise liner in Japan. Those returning will be quarantined for 14 days near the northern city of Darwin.
“We are not entirely convinced that the quarantine procedures on that ship were 100% effective,” said Prof Dianne Stephens, deputy chief health officer for the Northern Territory (NT).
About 150 of the 209 passengers are over the age of 60. Authorities said there will also be a number of older people and the concern for them is not about coronavirus, but co-morbidities, including diabetes, stress and cardiovascular disease.