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Coronavirus: two Japanese passengers from Diamond Princess have died, reports say – latest news Coronavirus: two Japanese passengers from Diamond Princess have died, reports say – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Fatalities from cruise ship are believed to be a man and a woman in their 80s, as infections in China drop. Follow the latests news and live updatesFatalities from cruise ship are believed to be a man and a woman in their 80s, as infections in China drop. Follow the latests news and live updates
Deaths in China in the past 24 hours were recorded as 114, of which 108 were in Hubei province. This compares to 136 recorded the previous day. The new total for people who have died from Covid-19 in China is now 2,118.
Let’s take a look at today’s national figures from China on infections due to the virus.
The National Health Commission said that in the 24 hours to midnight on Wednesday, there were 394 new cases, taking confirmed cases across the country to 74,576.
This new cases figure is a significant drop from the 1,749 reported the previous day. It seems to be largely due to another change in the way Hubei province reports cases.
According to the Hubei health commission, “suspected cases” and “confirmed cases” have been separated out again ... which I will try to explain below ...
You may recall that Hubei changed its reporting criteria last week to include “clinically diagnosed” cases as confirmed cases. That meant cases that cases diagnosed by a doctor (i.e by using scans and assessing symptoms) were included in “new cases” along with patients who had tested positive using the nucleic acid test.
At the time, Chinese authorities said this change was to ensure patients who had symptoms but hadn’t yet done the tests, could access treatment immediately. There was also the suggestion the change was a way of mitigating anger over insufficient numbers of testing kids.
Last week’s change saw the number of cases shoot up by approximately 15,000 on one day, but in reality it reflected the counting change.
From my reading, the new system as of today has removed some of those people who were clinically diagnosed if they subsequently tested negative using the nucleic acid test.
“Based on comprehensive analysis, cases with negative nucleic acid test results were subtracted from the confirmed cases, and a total of 279 cases were corrected,” the health commission’s report said.
South Korea has recorded 31 news cases today, taking its total to 82.South Korea has recorded 31 news cases today, taking its total to 82.
The country’s disease control centre said 30 of the new cases were in the city of Daegu and surrounding Gyeongbuk province south of Seoul.The country’s disease control centre said 30 of the new cases were in the city of Daegu and surrounding Gyeongbuk province south of Seoul.
Of those, 23 are linked with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, where the a 61-year-old woman believed to be at the centre of the cluster was a worshipper. The woman is known as Patient 31 because sher was the 31st person recorded with the virus in South Korea.Of those, 23 are linked with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, where the a 61-year-old woman believed to be at the centre of the cluster was a worshipper. The woman is known as Patient 31 because sher was the 31st person recorded with the virus in South Korea.
It is now believed that 37 out of the 82 cases are members of the church’s congregation.It is now believed that 37 out of the 82 cases are members of the church’s congregation.
Of the remaining eight cases announced today, one is in Seoul, two are in hospital in Cheongdo Daenam hospital in Gyeongbuk. The remaning five are being investigated.Of the remaining eight cases announced today, one is in Seoul, two are in hospital in Cheongdo Daenam hospital in Gyeongbuk. The remaning five are being investigated.
The two Diamond Princess passengers who died on Thursday were both Japanese, NHK reported - an 87-year-old man and an 84-year-old woman. Both victims reportedly had pre-existing medical conditions, the broadcaster said, adding that the man had been hospitalised on 11 February and the woman the following day.The two Diamond Princess passengers who died on Thursday were both Japanese, NHK reported - an 87-year-old man and an 84-year-old woman. Both victims reportedly had pre-existing medical conditions, the broadcaster said, adding that the man had been hospitalised on 11 February and the woman the following day.
On Wednesday, a video by Prof Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University Hospital, was circulated widely on social media.On Wednesday, a video by Prof Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University Hospital, was circulated widely on social media.
In it he criticised quarantine measures on the cruise liner, including that there were no designated “green” or “red” zones on the ship that indicated areas that were clear of the virus, or ones where it was present.In it he criticised quarantine measures on the cruise liner, including that there were no designated “green” or “red” zones on the ship that indicated areas that were clear of the virus, or ones where it was present.
He subsequently took the clip down, saying he was informed conditions on the ship had improved.He subsequently took the clip down, saying he was informed conditions on the ship had improved.
But on Wednesday he had told BBC radio:But on Wednesday he had told BBC radio:
Over the past few days there has been increasing criticism of the Japanese authorities’ handling of the infection on the cruise line, as infections continued to mount, despite infection control measures being in place.Over the past few days there has been increasing criticism of the Japanese authorities’ handling of the infection on the cruise line, as infections continued to mount, despite infection control measures being in place.
Japan’s health minister, Katsunobu Kato, on Thursday defended Japan’s response to the outbreak in parliament, telling lawmakers that officials had taken expert advice and responded to issues on a daily basis.Japan’s health minister, Katsunobu Kato, on Thursday defended Japan’s response to the outbreak in parliament, telling lawmakers that officials had taken expert advice and responded to issues on a daily basis.
In a move to reassure the public, the health ministry also issued a statement in both English and Japanese that said all passengers had been required to stay in their cabins since 5 February to contain the virus.In a move to reassure the public, the health ministry also issued a statement in both English and Japanese that said all passengers had been required to stay in their cabins since 5 February to contain the virus.
The Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, Justin McCurry, reports that Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University hospital, said he was not surprised to hear reports that two passengers on the Diamond Princess had died.The Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, Justin McCurry, reports that Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University hospital, said he was not surprised to hear reports that two passengers on the Diamond Princess had died.
“Cruise ships have a lot of elderly passengers, many of whom have chronic diseases and are on medication, so I am not surprised to hear that people have died,” Iwata told reporters by video conference from Yokohama on Thursday.“Cruise ships have a lot of elderly passengers, many of whom have chronic diseases and are on medication, so I am not surprised to hear that people have died,” Iwata told reporters by video conference from Yokohama on Thursday.
“They are high risk, and we don’t have a specific treatment for the virus.”“They are high risk, and we don’t have a specific treatment for the virus.”
Some news just breaking that two elderly passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise liner in Japan, have died. They are believed to be a man and a woman in their 80s, according to Japanese broadcasters Kyodo and NHK. Both outlets are citing government sources. We’ll bring you more on this story as soon as we have it.Some news just breaking that two elderly passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise liner in Japan, have died. They are believed to be a man and a woman in their 80s, according to Japanese broadcasters Kyodo and NHK. Both outlets are citing government sources. We’ll bring you more on this story as soon as we have it.
More than 620 of the passengers on the Diamond Princess liner have been infected on the ship, which has been quarantined since 3 February, initially with about 3,700 people on board.More than 620 of the passengers on the Diamond Princess liner have been infected on the ship, which has been quarantined since 3 February, initially with about 3,700 people on board.
Nationals from Australia, the US, Canada and Hong Kong who have been quarantined on the ship have been airlifted home.Nationals from Australia, the US, Canada and Hong Kong who have been quarantined on the ship have been airlifted home.
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.
Here’s an update of what we know so far.Here’s an update of what we know so far.
Two people infected with Covid-19 on the Diamond Princess cruise liner, have died, reports say.Two people infected with Covid-19 on the Diamond Princess cruise liner, have died, reports say.
Hong Kong citizens evacuated from the Diamond princess have begun arriving home.Hong Kong citizens evacuated from the Diamond princess have begun arriving home.
New cases in China have fallen to 394 according to the daily national update, taking cases across the country to 74,576.New cases in China have fallen to 394 according to the daily national update, taking cases across the country to 74,576.
Total deaths have risen by 114 to 2,118.Total deaths have risen by 114 to 2,118.
Figures across China for new cases have dropped significantly after Hubei province changed the way it counted cases again, to remove the clinically diagnosed cases who have since tested negative to the virus on the test kit.Figures across China for new cases have dropped significantly after Hubei province changed the way it counted cases again, to remove the clinically diagnosed cases who have since tested negative to the virus on the test kit.
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Cruise passengers relieved to be ashore but stranded in CambodiaCruise passengers relieved to be ashore but stranded in Cambodia