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Coronavirus outbreak: Hong Kong records second death – live updates Coronavirus outbreak: Hong Kong records second death – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Deaths on the mainland pass 2,000 as passengers begin leaving the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Follow all the latest news hereDeaths on the mainland pass 2,000 as passengers begin leaving the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Follow all the latest news here
Jessica Murray here, taking over the coronavirus blog for the next few hours - as always, feel free to get in touch on Twitter (@journojess_) or via email (jessica.murray@theguardian.com).
The Foreign Office has confirmed that although most passengers are free to leave the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan today after its official quarantine comes to an end, those who do so many not be able to board the UK evacuation flight planned for later this week.
In a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth office said:
I’m handing over the blogging duties to my colleagues in London. Thanks for reading but here’s a summary of the main developments today so far:
Deaths from the virus have risen above 2,000 after a 40% spike in fatalities in Hubei overnight. However, the number of new cases in China has fallen again.
Passengers have begun leaving the Diamond Princess cruise ship which has been anchored in Yokohama for two weeks.
Questions remain about how Covid-19 has spread to infect 540 passengers and crew. One Japanese health expert says the quarantining was inadequate.
A second person has died from the virus in Hong Kong.
China’s authorities are stepping up their control on people’s movement – but could be risking a backlash
A senior nurse in a Wuhan hospital has become the latest health worker to die from the virus.
South Korea has recorded 15 new cases, 10 of them centred around a church in Daegu.
Casual staff at Australian universities fear for their livelihoods amid a slump in enrolments caused by the travel ban on Chinese students.
Stock markets have bounced back across Asia Pacific, shrugging off increasing evidence of a widespread shutdown in the Chinese economy.
Casual staff at Australian universities fear for their livelihoods amid a slump in enrolments caused by the travel ban on Chinese students. Part-time teachers are “panicking” in fear that they won’t get paid if there no students to teach.Casual staff at Australian universities fear for their livelihoods amid a slump in enrolments caused by the travel ban on Chinese students. Part-time teachers are “panicking” in fear that they won’t get paid if there no students to teach.
“The casual workforce gets hired based on enrolments. Casual teaching contracts require student numbers to be confirmed. People were panicking,” one lecturer said.“The casual workforce gets hired based on enrolments. Casual teaching contracts require student numbers to be confirmed. People were panicking,” one lecturer said.
Stephanie Convery has the full story:Stephanie Convery has the full story:
Justin McCurry in Tokyo has cleared up the confusion about the diagnosis of David Abel, a British passenger onboard the Diamond Princess, and his wife. It turns out he and Sally Abel are both positive after all, despite a suggestion earlier today that they weren’t:Justin McCurry in Tokyo has cleared up the confusion about the diagnosis of David Abel, a British passenger onboard the Diamond Princess, and his wife. It turns out he and Sally Abel are both positive after all, despite a suggestion earlier today that they weren’t:
Following on from Verna Yu’s story (last post but one) about the crackdown on dissent in China, the Global Times has tweeted about the ongoing enforcement of rules in Huanggang, a city in Hubei hard-hit by the virus.Following on from Verna Yu’s story (last post but one) about the crackdown on dissent in China, the Global Times has tweeted about the ongoing enforcement of rules in Huanggang, a city in Hubei hard-hit by the virus.
The Chinese news site says people who violate the rules of the lockdown will be sent to “designated places to learn and recite government official documents”. Shades of Xinjiang.The Chinese news site says people who violate the rules of the lockdown will be sent to “designated places to learn and recite government official documents”. Shades of Xinjiang.
The relief of this passenger from the Diamond Princess is palpable. As it would be.The relief of this passenger from the Diamond Princess is palpable. As it would be.
Our reporter Verna Yu has been looking at how the government in Beijing has ruthlessly cracked down on dissent as it has tried to contain the spread of Covid-19.Our reporter Verna Yu has been looking at how the government in Beijing has ruthlessly cracked down on dissent as it has tried to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The situation is especially brutal in Wuhan where people risk jail if they dare to even leave their homes.The situation is especially brutal in Wuhan where people risk jail if they dare to even leave their homes.
One resident of the city told us:One resident of the city told us:
The bubbling resentment felt about the draconian controls can be seen on social media, Verna writes, with images of people being beaten by police for not wearing masks and paraded in chains.The bubbling resentment felt about the draconian controls can be seen on social media, Verna writes, with images of people being beaten by police for not wearing masks and paraded in chains.
It’s a serious test of Xi Jinping’s authority. Hu Jia, a veteran activist who has been previously jailed and often detained, says it’s the “gravest challenge to the authorities since 1989 (Tiananmen pro-democracy movement)”.It’s a serious test of Xi Jinping’s authority. Hu Jia, a veteran activist who has been previously jailed and often detained, says it’s the “gravest challenge to the authorities since 1989 (Tiananmen pro-democracy movement)”.
Stocks across the Asia Pacific region have rebounded today after the Apple-induced falls of Tuesday.Stocks across the Asia Pacific region have rebounded today after the Apple-induced falls of Tuesday.
In Sydney, the benchmark ASX200 rose 0.43% to close at a record high of 7144.6 points. That is also just 1 point off the all time intra-day high of 7145.7 which was set earlier in the year.In Sydney, the benchmark ASX200 rose 0.43% to close at a record high of 7144.6 points. That is also just 1 point off the all time intra-day high of 7145.7 which was set earlier in the year.
In Tokyo the Nikkei is up 1% with only 30 minutes of trading to go. The Shanghai Composite is up 0.3% and the Hang Seng has climbed 0.44% today.In Tokyo the Nikkei is up 1% with only 30 minutes of trading to go. The Shanghai Composite is up 0.3% and the Hang Seng has climbed 0.44% today.
The Kospi in Seoul is, however, off 0.2%, despite the government announcing billions of won in stimulus to help businesses through the Covid-19-driven slowdown.The Kospi in Seoul is, however, off 0.2%, despite the government announcing billions of won in stimulus to help businesses through the Covid-19-driven slowdown.
Our full story on the exodus from the Diamond Princess has just gone live on the site.Our full story on the exodus from the Diamond Princess has just gone live on the site.
Here it is:Here it is:
Reuters has given us a fascinating insight into what’s happening inside the Chinese economy and how people are losing their jobs amid the unprecedented shutdown.Reuters has given us a fascinating insight into what’s happening inside the Chinese economy and how people are losing their jobs amid the unprecedented shutdown.
Mark Xia, a cameraman at a video prooducer in Shanghai, returned to work this month to be told he had to take three months unpaid leave.Mark Xia, a cameraman at a video prooducer in Shanghai, returned to work this month to be told he had to take three months unpaid leave.
The company rejected his request to pay at least half his monthly salary during the suspension so he has quit and is now looking for a new job.The company rejected his request to pay at least half his monthly salary during the suspension so he has quit and is now looking for a new job.
“I understand the company’s cash-flow is tight,” Xia, 25, told Reuters. “We postponed some shooting due to the coronavirus outbreak, and that’s had a huge impact on our revenues, that’s the reality.”“I understand the company’s cash-flow is tight,” Xia, 25, told Reuters. “We postponed some shooting due to the coronavirus outbreak, and that’s had a huge impact on our revenues, that’s the reality.”
The government has rolled out special loans for small businesses facing loss of business and cash flow problems. But the real human cost to people like Xia could be profound if multiplied across China’s vast economy.The government has rolled out special loans for small businesses facing loss of business and cash flow problems. But the real human cost to people like Xia could be profound if multiplied across China’s vast economy.
As we saw in an earlier post, the government is pushing hard to get people back to work but faces some serious problems in the shape of travel restrictions on migrant workers. The Global Times said a little while ago that the government is urging provinces – except Hubei – to relax the restrictions on migrants.As we saw in an earlier post, the government is pushing hard to get people back to work but faces some serious problems in the shape of travel restrictions on migrant workers. The Global Times said a little while ago that the government is urging provinces – except Hubei – to relax the restrictions on migrants.
More grim news from the frontline in Wuhan. A nurse at Wuchang hospital in the city has died from the virus, the Global Times reports.
Liu Fan, 59, was deputy chief nurse and had worked in the injection room until 2 February. She then developed a fever and was admitted to hospital on 7 February. She died on 14 February after contracting pneumonia.
Liu’s parents and brother have also died of the virus. Her husband and daughter are under quarantine but have not been found to be infected.
Liu Zhiming, a senior doctor at the hospital, has also died of the virus, as we reported yesterday.
Australian Olympic chief John Coates has assured athletes, fans and officials that it will be safe to attend the games scheduled for Tokyo at the end of July.
Coates said he had travelled to Tokyo last week and was briefed by organisers about contingency plans for dealing with Covid-19 ahead of the games. There was no question of the games being cancelled, he said, adding:
“We’re very satisfied that all the checks and balances will be there by the time the athletes and the spectators enter the country.”
Here’s the full story:
Ten staff from a Japanese news agency, Kyodo News, were reportedly driven in a hired vehicle in January and early February by a man who has since tested positive for Covid-19.
The Japan Times reports that the staff were sent home to self-quarantine. In 14 days since their last contact with the man, seven of the staff members have shown no symptoms and will soon return to work. Three remain at home. None have actually been tested for the virus.
The Japan Times points out, however, that some of the staff could be political journalists who attend briefings at the office of prime minister Shinzo Abe.
When contacted by The Japan Times, Kyodo declined to comment on whether any of the workers are reporters.
The death rate from the novel coronavirus has risen to 2.67%, based on today’s official figures from China. That’s based on 2,010 deaths worldwide and 75,199 confirmed cases.
The rate was thought to be around 2%. I’m not an expert in infectious diseases but that figure is growing.
A second person has died from Covid-19 in Hong Kong, according to the South China Morning Post.
The 70-year-old man had underlying health problems and was declared dead on Wednesday morning.
He had visited the Chinese mainland in January.
The territory has 62 confirmed cases.
The team at Capital Economics have been producing charts tracking coal consumption and traffic congestion and other factors in China in an effort to give a picture of how the virus is affecting the economy.
The official line from China is that much of the workforce is back in action and that targets can be hit.
But there is a lot of evidence to suggest that things are far from being back to normal.
Take this chart, for example, tracking coal consumption in power stations. It shows a slight pickup in the last few days but not much more. Electricity use is routinely used by economists as a proxy for economic activity in China as a counterpoint to official growth figures.
The charts are compiled from sources such as WIND, a Chinese data tracker, and CEIC. This one on daily passenger traffic also shows a slight uptick but only just:
And traffic congestion as garnered from Amap, China’s version of Google Maps:
More on the disembarking passengers from Justin in Tokyo:
Japanese TV showed passengers leaving the ship late on Wednesday morning to board waiting buses. Local health authorities said about 500 passengers were expected to disembark on Wednesday, with around 2,500 others to follow over the next two days.
Only those who tested negative and did not share cabins with infected passengers are being permitted to disembark, amid widening criticism of Japan’s handling of the ship’s quarantine. Anyone who has had contact with an infected passenger will have to undergo 14 more days in quarantine. In addition, the crew will begin a new quarantine when the last passenger has disembarked.
The Diamond Princess has proved a fertile breeding ground for the virus with at least 542 positive cases – making the ship home to the largest cluster of infections outside mainland China.
“NEGATIVE! Me, son, husband, mom and dad! Thank you Lord for protecting us... So emotional now,” tweeted passenger Yardley Wong, who has been cooped up with her six-year-old son.
Those with no symptoms and a negative test received an official certificate saying they posed “no risk of infection of nCoV, as the said person has also presented no symptoms including fever at the time of infection.”
Some in Japan have raised concerns about allowing people from the cruise ship to board flights home or spread out into crowded cities such as Tokyo, saying there was a chance that secondary infections had occurred on the ship during its 14-day quarantine.
Several countries, including Britain, Hong Kong and Australia, appear to have lost patience with the on-board quarantine and have prepared chartered planes to bring back their citizens. More than 300 Americans were flown home on Monday, although 14 of the passengers tested positive during the evacuation. The US government has told Americans who chose to remain on the ship that they will not be allowed back into the country until they have completed another two weeks of quarantine after disembarking.
Early Wednesday, South Korea flew six of its nationals plus a Japanese spouse to Seoul. They will be placed in isolation for 14 days, the Yonhap news agency reported. Other countries will require repatriated people to undergo another two weeks of quarantine after they return home.
Beijing’s leading medical adviser has warned that human-to-human transmission of Covid-19 has still not been stopped in Wuhan, the state-owned Global Times reports.
Zhong told a press conference in Guangzhou on Tuesday that despite huge efforts to lock down the city of 11 million, the authorities had failed to separate patients from healthy people and to separate COVID-19 patients from flu patients.
Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times that transmission of the common flu had also worsened in Wuhan alongside the spread of Covid-19.
“The human-to-human transmission of flu worsened the human-to-human transmission situation of novel coronavirus in Wuhan,” Yang said, as it has made screening for coronavirus patients more difficult.
The Global Times also reports criticism by local people of the authorities’ response to the outbreak.
One resident called Chen said residential areas were sealed off too late to stop the spread.
“Our community only arranged the collective purchase of daily necessities today, after it was completely locked down. A few days ago, I heard that people went to the supermarket nearby, which led to a public gathering,” she said.
“Local authorities acted too slowly, missing the best opportunity to contain the virus spread,” she added.
Justin McCurry, our man in Tokyo, has been speaking to a Japanese health expert who fears some of the cruise ship passengers could yet turn out to be carrying the virus:
Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University Hospital in western Japan who spent several hours on the luxury cruise liner on Tuesday, told the Guardian that passengers cleared of the virus should continue to be monitored for another two weeks in case they develop symptoms of Covid-19.
He told us: