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Coronavirus live updates: China backtracks on plan to ease Wuhan restrictions; Xi warns of crisis Live updates: China backtracks on plan to ease Wuhan coronavirus restrictions; Xi warns of crisis
(32 minutes later)
China backtracked Monday on an earlier announcement that it would relax travel restrictions on the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, amplifying concerns about the government response to the deadly outbreak.China backtracked Monday on an earlier announcement that it would relax travel restrictions on the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, amplifying concerns about the government response to the deadly outbreak.
A notice by Wuhan’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters said Monday that it would ease some of the more draconian travel restrictions on the locked-down city at the heart of the epidemic, allowing for the return of some residents trapped outside Wuhan since late January and permitting visitors trapped in the city to leave. A notice by Wuhan’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters said Monday that it would ease some of the more draconian travel restrictions on the locked-down city at the heart of the epidemic, allowing for the return of some residents trapped outside Wuhan since late January and permitting visitors stuck in the city to leave.
But hours later, Wuhan’s city government declared the earlier announcement invalid, saying it had been released without authorization. But hours later, Wuhan’s city government declared the earlier announcement invalid, saying it had been released without authorization. The confused responses coincided with the news that a number of provinces had lowered the severity of their emergency-response levels, and came as Beijing counts the costs of an extended outbreak that threatens to shake both the Chinese and global economy.
The confused responses coincided with the news that a number of provinces had lowered the severity of their emergency-response levels, and came as Beijing counts the costs of an extended outbreak that threatens to shake both the Chinese and global economy.
Speaking to Communisty Party officials on Sunday, President Xi Jinping warned that the outbreak was a “crisis” that would inevitably jolt the country’s economic development, but pledged that the disruption would be temporary and manageable.Speaking to Communisty Party officials on Sunday, President Xi Jinping warned that the outbreak was a “crisis” that would inevitably jolt the country’s economic development, but pledged that the disruption would be temporary and manageable.
● Official figures released Monday showed there had been 409 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 150 new deaths from the outbreak by the end of Sunday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 77,150 with a cumulative death toll of 2,592. The majority of the new cases — 398 — were in Hubei province, as were all but one death.● Official figures released Monday showed there had been 409 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 150 new deaths from the outbreak by the end of Sunday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 77,150 with a cumulative death toll of 2,592. The majority of the new cases — 398 — were in Hubei province, as were all but one death.
● Wuhan’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters announced Monday that it would ease some restrictions on movement in the coronavirus-stricken city. Separately, six provinces lowered their health response levels as businesses reopened and workers ended their 14 day self-quarantines.● Wuhan’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters announced Monday that it would ease some restrictions on movement in the coronavirus-stricken city. Separately, six provinces lowered their health response levels as businesses reopened and workers ended their 14 day self-quarantines.
● Xi spoke Sunday and gave some of his starkest public warnings about the virus, telling party members that the outbreak was both a crisis and a test for Beijing.● Xi spoke Sunday and gave some of his starkest public warnings about the virus, telling party members that the outbreak was both a crisis and a test for Beijing.
● The outbreak continues to widen in other countries, with South Korea announcing Monday that it now had 763 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, seven of which had resulted in deaths ● The outbreak continues to widen in other countries, with South Korea announcing Monday that it now had 763 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, seven of which had resulted in deaths.
MANILA — A total of 59 Filipinos on the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the coronavirus, health officials announced Monday, as the Philippine government postponed repatriation for its citizens on board.
Over 400 Filipinos were initially set to return to the country on Sunday. The government has not indicated when the rescheduled repatriation will take place.
Health officials said the delay was to allow their counterparts in Japan “to complete laboratory testing” and “comply with the established Japanese quarantine protocols.”
Only those who are asymptomatic will be allowed to return to the Philippines. The evacuees are set to spend two weeks in quarantine at a facility north of Manila.
There were a total of 538 Filipinos on the Diamond Princess, only seven of whom were passengers, with the others working as crew members.
The rapid spread of the virus among crew members of the ship illustrated the importance of overseas workers to the Philippine economy. Some 2.4 million Filipinos work abroad, and the $33.5 billion they contributed in remittances last year is a key source of income for the Philippine government.
Filipino citizens have also tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Singapore.
TOKYO — Two more government officials who worked on board the Diamond Princess cruise liner have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Japan’s health ministry said Monday, reinforcing widespread concerns about infection control procedures on board the ship.
The latest cases, an official from the Health Ministry and a quarantine officer, bring to eight the number of people working on the ship or with its passengers who have now contracted the virus.
An infectious disease expert last week called conditions on board the ship chaotic and scary, describing inadequate infection controls.
Rejecting the criticism, the government initially allowed scores of officials and medical workers to resume their normal duties after having worked on board the ship, not even testing them for the virus or imposing any quarantine on them.
After Japanese media pointed out the risks that these officials could carry the virus around the country, and especially into hospitals and medical vulnerable populations, the Health Ministry relented and announced it would test its government officials who had worked on board the ship.
But Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said over the weekend there was no need to test medical workers, arguing they understood infection control procedures.
Yosuke Kita, a senior health ministry official, told reporters on Monday that in his opinion medical workers should be among a “second batch” of people who should get tests.
Defending the failure to impose a quarantine on them, he said anyone who worked on the ship who is now suffering from a fever or other symptoms is now working remotely through telework.
“We need to set up some criteria for working after duty on the ship,” he acknowledged.
SEOUL — The recent surge in coronavirus cases in South Korea is disrupting international and domestic air travel.
Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines said Monday their flights to the southern city of Daegu will be temporarily suspended. Nearly two-thirds of South Korea’s coronavirus cases are traced to Daegu city, according to Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Korean Air said it would suspend flights to Israel from Monday until next month after some 130 South Koreans aboard one of its aircraft were denied entry to Israel when the jet landed there on Saturday.
The flight landed in Tel Aviv shortly after Israel had banned entry of visitors from South Korea due to the coronavirus cases there.
Seoul’s Foreign Ministry lodged a complaint against Israel for placing the ban without giving a prior notice.
Israel and Bahrain have restricted entry of visitors from South Korea, while nearly a dozen countries, including Britain, have imposed quarantine restrictions of varying degrees to those arriving from South Korea.
Over the past week, major Asian airlines including Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways have suspended or reduced flights to South Korea.
Philippine Airlines has canceled its flights to Incheon from Manila, Cebu and Clark through next month. The airline has also reduced flights from Manila to the South Korean city of Busan, according to the company website.
Thai Airways has reduced flights from Bangkok to Incheon and Busan for the month of March, due to the “decreased number of passengers” following the coronavirus outbreak, according to the company website
Other airlines that reduced flights to South Korea include Air Macau and Japan Airlines.
Just hours after Wuhan’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters announced it would be easing some of the strictest travel restrictions in place on the coronavirus-hit city, a post on the city’s social media account said that the announcement was not authorized and that travel restrictions would not be lifted.
In a post on Weibo, the Wuhan city government said that officials had made the “invalid” announcement on Monday morning without the appropriate permission. The city would “strictly control the vehicles and personnel going through Wuhan” in line with Xi’s orders to present the outbreak from spreading, the message said.
The apparent reversal of a high-profile decision drew confusion within China, with the independent news outlet Caixin using an unflattering idiom in a headline about the backtrack. The idiom, which roughly translates as “issue an order in the morning and rescind it in the evening,” is a well-known reference to government dysfunction.
BEIJING — Guangdong province on Monday revised down its health emergency response to level two as more businesses reopened and workers returned to their offices after 14 days’ quarantine at home.BEIJING — Guangdong province on Monday revised down its health emergency response to level two as more businesses reopened and workers returned to their offices after 14 days’ quarantine at home.
Under the Chinese system, level one is the highest grade of tresponse, used in the case of “extremely severe” public health incidents. Guangdong had been enforcing the highest level of response measures since Jan. 23, when Wuhan announced a total lockdown.Under the Chinese system, level one is the highest grade of tresponse, used in the case of “extremely severe” public health incidents. Guangdong had been enforcing the highest level of response measures since Jan. 23, when Wuhan announced a total lockdown.
Five other Chinese provinces also adjusted their emergency responses: Shanxi revised down to level three, indicating intermediate or lower risk, while Gansu, Guizhou, Liaoning, Yunnan lowered the emergency response to level two from level one.Five other Chinese provinces also adjusted their emergency responses: Shanxi revised down to level three, indicating intermediate or lower risk, while Gansu, Guizhou, Liaoning, Yunnan lowered the emergency response to level two from level one.
Currently, 25 out of China’s 31 provinces, regions, and municipalities remain on alevel one response.Currently, 25 out of China’s 31 provinces, regions, and municipalities remain on alevel one response.
HONG KONG — A preprinted research paper by Chinese scientists claims to provide further evidence to indicate that Wuhan Seafood Market may not be the source of the current outbreak of coronavirus.HONG KONG — A preprinted research paper by Chinese scientists claims to provide further evidence to indicate that Wuhan Seafood Market may not be the source of the current outbreak of coronavirus.
Co-authored by researchers from three Chinese institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published on the academy’s website last Thursday, the study attempts to trace how the virus emerged and evolved. The authors analyzed the genomic data from 93 samples of the novel coronavirus and concluded that it was likely to have spread to the market from somewhere else.Co-authored by researchers from three Chinese institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published on the academy’s website last Thursday, the study attempts to trace how the virus emerged and evolved. The authors analyzed the genomic data from 93 samples of the novel coronavirus and concluded that it was likely to have spread to the market from somewhere else.
“The crowded market then boosted SARS-CoV-2 circulation and spread it to the whole city in early December 2019,” according to the research. It also pointed out that human-to-human transmission of the virus might have existed in Wuhan as early as late November. The market was closed on Jan. 1.“The crowded market then boosted SARS-CoV-2 circulation and spread it to the whole city in early December 2019,” according to the research. It also pointed out that human-to-human transmission of the virus might have existed in Wuhan as early as late November. The market was closed on Jan. 1.
Chinese health authorities announced Jan. 22 that they believe the novel conoravirus had originated from the Wuhan seafood market. The peer-reviewed study is the latest to challenge this, however, following another study which analyzed the first 41 patients in Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan published in The Lancet on Jan. 27.Chinese health authorities announced Jan. 22 that they believe the novel conoravirus had originated from the Wuhan seafood market. The peer-reviewed study is the latest to challenge this, however, following another study which analyzed the first 41 patients in Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan published in The Lancet on Jan. 27.
BEIJING — Wuhan’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters announced Monday that it would be easing some of the restrictions on movement in the coronavirus-struck city.BEIJING — Wuhan’s epidemic prevention and control headquarters announced Monday that it would be easing some of the restrictions on movement in the coronavirus-struck city.
The announcement said that vehicles that need to enter the city for epidemic prevention and control, the functioning of the city, transportation of epidemic prevention materials, as well as Wuhan residents and vehicles stranded outside the city will be allowed to enter the city following necessary procedures.The announcement said that vehicles that need to enter the city for epidemic prevention and control, the functioning of the city, transportation of epidemic prevention materials, as well as Wuhan residents and vehicles stranded outside the city will be allowed to enter the city following necessary procedures.
Additionally, the announcement said that people stuck in the city due to the lockdown would be able to leave if they were involved in similar procedures and if they do not have any of the symptoms related to the coronavirus outbreak.Additionally, the announcement said that people stuck in the city due to the lockdown would be able to leave if they were involved in similar procedures and if they do not have any of the symptoms related to the coronavirus outbreak.
Wuhan was placed under a strict lockdown on Jan. 23 with restrictions placed on movement throughout the city, home to almost 11 million people.Wuhan was placed under a strict lockdown on Jan. 23 with restrictions placed on movement throughout the city, home to almost 11 million people.
HONG KONG — The Chinese government announced 409 new cases of novel coronavirus on Monday, along with 150 new deaths.HONG KONG — The Chinese government announced 409 new cases of novel coronavirus on Monday, along with 150 new deaths.
The vast majority of the new cases of the coronavirus in China continued to be in Hubei province, the epicenter of the current outbreak. The Chinese government imposed an unprecedented lockdown on the province and its capital city Wuhan in January.The vast majority of the new cases of the coronavirus in China continued to be in Hubei province, the epicenter of the current outbreak. The Chinese government imposed an unprecedented lockdown on the province and its capital city Wuhan in January.
Some 398 of the new cases were in Hubei, with 24 of China’s 31 provinces, regions and municipalities reporting no new cases. Of the 150 new deaths, all but one were in Hubei.Some 398 of the new cases were in Hubei, with 24 of China’s 31 provinces, regions and municipalities reporting no new cases. Of the 150 new deaths, all but one were in Hubei.
HONG KONG — Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Sunday that the novel coronavirus is a crisis for China and that the country should not announce victory until the outbreak is contained.HONG KONG — Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Sunday that the novel coronavirus is a crisis for China and that the country should not announce victory until the outbreak is contained.
Xi’s remarks, made during a speech to Communist Party members in Beijing on Sunday and widely reported in Chinese state media on Monday, were among his starkest yet about the challenge the coronavirus presents for his leadership.Xi’s remarks, made during a speech to Communist Party members in Beijing on Sunday and widely reported in Chinese state media on Monday, were among his starkest yet about the challenge the coronavirus presents for his leadership.
“This is both a crisis and a big test for us,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua, before pointing to some of the positive trends seen in containing the outbreak so far.“This is both a crisis and a big test for us,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua, before pointing to some of the positive trends seen in containing the outbreak so far.
“No victory should be lightly announced until there is a complete win,” he said, according to Xinhua, adding that the situation remained grim and complex.“No victory should be lightly announced until there is a complete win,” he said, according to Xinhua, adding that the situation remained grim and complex.
The comments came amid growing concern about the effect that a prolonged outbreak could have on both the Chinese and the global economy. The Chinese leader said Sunday that the outbreak would inevitably deal a relatively big blow to China’s economic and social development, but it would ultimately be temporary and managable, Xinhua reported.The comments came amid growing concern about the effect that a prolonged outbreak could have on both the Chinese and the global economy. The Chinese leader said Sunday that the outbreak would inevitably deal a relatively big blow to China’s economic and social development, but it would ultimately be temporary and managable, Xinhua reported.