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| Coronavirus: South Korean PM vows 'swift' action as infections escalate – live updates | Coronavirus: South Korean PM vows 'swift' action as infections escalate – live updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| ‘Special measures’ declared to tackle ‘emergency’ in country, as two Australian cruise ship passengers test positive on arrival home. Follow latest news | ‘Special measures’ declared to tackle ‘emergency’ in country, as two Australian cruise ship passengers test positive on arrival home. Follow latest news |
| The Japanese media outlet, NHK, says a third group of passengers has left the stricken cruise ship in Yokohama. Some 700 people have disembarked since Wednesday and another 450 are expected to get off on Friday, NHK says. Only those who have tested negative are being allowed to leave, but “anyone who shared a cabin with an infected passenger is being asked to stay onboard for another 14 days after they separated – even if they have tested negative”, the report says. | |
| We’re getting some more detail on the 52 new cases of Covid-19 in South Korea. | We’re getting some more detail on the 52 new cases of Covid-19 in South Korea. |
| Yonhap news agency is reporting that 41 are in the city of Daegu, 300km southeast of Seoul, and the neighbouring North Gyeongsang Province. Another three were reported in Seoul, the Korea Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. Of the 52 new cases, 39 are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu. Around 1,000 members of the church have been asked to self isolate. | Yonhap news agency is reporting that 41 are in the city of Daegu, 300km southeast of Seoul, and the neighbouring North Gyeongsang Province. Another three were reported in Seoul, the Korea Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. Of the 52 new cases, 39 are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu. Around 1,000 members of the church have been asked to self isolate. |
| Yonhap also reported that military personnel have been confirmed as having Covid-19. Three cases were confirmed, one each in the army, the navy and the air force, it said. | |
| All three are believed to have visited or contacted people from Daegu. | |
| Meanwhile, in the capital, Seoul, authorities are taking measures to curtail the virus, including banning rallies and closing down Shincheonji church services, Yonhap said. | |
| Two Chinese officials have been removed from their posts at prisons, after both centres recorded confirmed cases of Covid-19, the state-owned Global Times is reporting. | Two Chinese officials have been removed from their posts at prisons, after both centres recorded confirmed cases of Covid-19, the state-owned Global Times is reporting. |
| Just doubling back on those figures for the virus in China ... there were 889 new confirmed cases reported in Friday’s national briefing from the country’s health commission, which is a jump up from the 394 reported the previous day. The total number of infections stands at 75,465. | Just doubling back on those figures for the virus in China ... there were 889 new confirmed cases reported in Friday’s national briefing from the country’s health commission, which is a jump up from the 394 reported the previous day. The total number of infections stands at 75,465. |
| You may recall that the way China reports cases changed again yesterday, to remove patients who had been clinically diagnosed (by a doctor/scan) who had subsequently tested negative for the virus. This appeared to influence the trend down on Thursday, compared to Wednesday. | You may recall that the way China reports cases changed again yesterday, to remove patients who had been clinically diagnosed (by a doctor/scan) who had subsequently tested negative for the virus. This appeared to influence the trend down on Thursday, compared to Wednesday. |
| Trying to establish trends on a day-to-day basis is difficult, but generally, it would seem new cases are trending down, as you can see in the Johns Hopkins University graph of confirmed cases below. | Trying to establish trends on a day-to-day basis is difficult, but generally, it would seem new cases are trending down, as you can see in the Johns Hopkins University graph of confirmed cases below. |
| On Friday China reported 118 deaths (on Thursday it was 114), taking the total number of fatalities to 2,236. | On Friday China reported 118 deaths (on Thursday it was 114), taking the total number of fatalities to 2,236. |
| South Korea has seen a significant rise in Covid-19 cases – from 104 to 156 – prompting the PM to declare “strong and swift” measures will be taken to tackle the outbreak. | South Korea has seen a significant rise in Covid-19 cases – from 104 to 156 – prompting the PM to declare “strong and swift” measures will be taken to tackle the outbreak. |
| “Special care zones” have been designated in Daegu and Cheongdo. The latter recorded the country’s first death from the virus on Thursday, according to Yonhap news agency. | “Special care zones” have been designated in Daegu and Cheongdo. The latter recorded the country’s first death from the virus on Thursday, according to Yonhap news agency. |
| Seventy cases have been reported in Daegu (population 2.4 million) this week, many linked to a controversial “cult” church. The city’s mayor said residents faced an “unprecedented crisis” from the virus outbreak. | Seventy cases have been reported in Daegu (population 2.4 million) this week, many linked to a controversial “cult” church. The city’s mayor said residents faced an “unprecedented crisis” from the virus outbreak. |
| As of Friday more than 400 members of the church were showing symptoms of the disease, Reuters reports, though tests were still ongoing, Daegu mayor, Kwon Young-jin, said at a briefing. | As of Friday more than 400 members of the church were showing symptoms of the disease, Reuters reports, though tests were still ongoing, Daegu mayor, Kwon Young-jin, said at a briefing. |
| After several military members tested positive for the virus on Thursday, South Korea’s defence minister banned all soldiers from taking leave, leaving their barracks, and receiving guests. | After several military members tested positive for the virus on Thursday, South Korea’s defence minister banned all soldiers from taking leave, leaving their barracks, and receiving guests. |
| Two Australians who were repatriated from the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for Covid-19 after returning home. | Two Australians who were repatriated from the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for Covid-19 after returning home. |
| More than 160 Australians onboard the cruise liner were flown to the Howard Springs camp outside the northern city of Darwin on Wednesday. | More than 160 Australians onboard the cruise liner were flown to the Howard Springs camp outside the northern city of Darwin on Wednesday. |
| At news conference on Thursday local medical authorities said six passengers had cold-like symptoms on arrival and would be tested the virus. They were quarantined from the other passengers, and from other residents at the camp who were evacuated previously from the city of Wuhan. | At news conference on Thursday local medical authorities said six passengers had cold-like symptoms on arrival and would be tested the virus. They were quarantined from the other passengers, and from other residents at the camp who were evacuated previously from the city of Wuhan. |
| Health authorities say it is possible other Australian passengers from the Diamond Princess may test positive. | Health authorities say it is possible other Australian passengers from the Diamond Princess may test positive. |
| On Thursday Australia extended its travel ban for people coming from China into a fourth week. It will stay in place until 29 February, despite please from the tertiary education sector, who want their international students to be able to return for the start of the academic year. | On Thursday Australia extended its travel ban for people coming from China into a fourth week. It will stay in place until 29 February, despite please from the tertiary education sector, who want their international students to be able to return for the start of the academic year. |
| 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. |
| China has recorded 889 new cases, up from 394 recorded on Thursday. There were also 118 new deaths, compared to 114 the day before. | China has recorded 889 new cases, up from 394 recorded on Thursday. There were also 118 new deaths, compared to 114 the day before. |
| In other news: | In other news: |
| The South Korean city of Daegu and the surrounding region was declared a special management zone after a surge in virus cases. | The South Korean city of Daegu and the surrounding region was declared a special management zone after a surge in virus cases. |
| Two Australian passengers on the Diamond Princess have tested positive after being flown home to Australia on Thursday. | Two Australian passengers on the Diamond Princess have tested positive after being flown home to Australia on Thursday. |
| British passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been told they can leave if they have tested negative. A UK flight is due to leave Tokyo on Friday. | British passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been told they can leave if they have tested negative. A UK flight is due to leave Tokyo on Friday. |
| Kuwait and Iraq have restricted travel with Iran due to the coronavirus. | Kuwait and Iraq have restricted travel with Iran due to the coronavirus. |
| In Ukraine 70 people evacuated from China over the new virus outbreak faced angry scenes as local residents hurled stones at buses they were on. | In Ukraine 70 people evacuated from China over the new virus outbreak faced angry scenes as local residents hurled stones at buses they were on. |