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Coronavirus live updates: fourth Diamond Princess passenger dies as Japan closes some schools Coronavirus live updates: fourth Diamond Princess passenger dies as Japan closes some schools
(32 minutes later)
Concerns mount that the spread of Covid-19 cannot be stopped as stock markets fall amid investor fears. Follow latest newsConcerns mount that the spread of Covid-19 cannot be stopped as stock markets fall amid investor fears. Follow latest news
British engineering company Meggitt warned that its growth in 2020 would be constrained by factors including the disruption caused by coronavirus.The company said that organic revenue growth in 2020 would come in at between 2% to 4%. That compared with the 8% rise in organic revenue growth for 2019 which it posted on Tuesday, helping drive underlying operating profit up by 10% to £402.8 million.
Here’s a summary of what we know about the coronavirus so far:
South Korea plans to test about 200,000 members of a secretive church believed to be at the centre of the country’s outbreak. More than 890 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the country, with nine fatalities.
China reported 71 new deaths and 508 new infections and vowed to “comprehensively” ban the trade and consumption of wild animals,.
A Chinese university research team said it had developed an oral vaccine for the virus and appealed for partners in clinical trials.
The latest Mission Impossible film halted production in Venice over virus fears.
Italy has moved all Serie A football games and Europa League games behind closed doors to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Japan postponed J-League matches.
Asian stocks fell on opening on fears of the virus spreading.
The Australian government said the impact of coronavirus will be worse than the recent bushfires.
A fourth Diamond Princess passenger has died in Japan.
Hong Kong has extended the closure of schools until 20 April. It also closed its borders to South Korea arrivals.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has raised its warning level for trips to South Korea to “avoid non-essential travel”.
Two more people have died in Iran from Covid-19, according to the Reuters news agency, taking the number of fatalities in the country to 14.Two more people have died in Iran from Covid-19, according to the Reuters news agency, taking the number of fatalities in the country to 14.
On Monday, Iranian officials scrambled to deny that 50 people had died of the virus in the shrine city of Qom, which is thought to be a hub of the disease in the country.On Monday, Iranian officials scrambled to deny that 50 people had died of the virus in the shrine city of Qom, which is thought to be a hub of the disease in the country.
You can read our full story on fears gripping the Middle East over the virus outbreak below:You can read our full story on fears gripping the Middle East over the virus outbreak below:
Catholic churches in the South Korean capital have suspended all masses and events until 10 March.Catholic churches in the South Korean capital have suspended all masses and events until 10 March.
“All churches of the Archdiocese of Seoul will stop holding Masses and all indoor and outdoor events for the next 14 days from 26 February through 10 March,” Archbishop of Seoul Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung said in a statement. “All churches of the archdiocese of Seoul will stop holding masses and all indoor and outdoor events for the next 14 days from 26 February through 10 March,” the archbishop of Seoul, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, said in a statement.
This includes the city’s Myeongdong cathedral. Seoul’s archdiocese has 232 chapels and churches under its jurisdiction.This includes the city’s Myeongdong cathedral. Seoul’s archdiocese has 232 chapels and churches under its jurisdiction.
Earlier, the Seoul city government banned all gatherings of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a minor Christian sect believed to be responsible for a surge in coronavirus infections in the country. Earlier, the Seoul city government banned all gatherings of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a minor Christian sect believed to be responsible for a surge in the number of coronavirus infections in the country.
At Tianjin University, near Beijing, scientists say they had developed an oral vaccine for Covid-19, according to the Global Times. At Tianjin University, near Beijing, scientists say they have developed an oral vaccine for Covid-19, according to the Global Times.
The professor who led the project, Huang Jinhai, said the vaccine could also serve as a potential therapy for infected patients. The outlet said Huang had taken four doses himself and had not experienced any side effects. The professor who led the project, Huang Jinhai, said the vaccine could also serve as a potential therapy for infected patients. The outlet said Huang had taken four doses himself and had not experienced any side-effects.
“The oral vaccine uses food-grade saccharomyces cerevisiae as a carrier and the spike protein of the coronavirus as a target spot to produce antibodies to fight COVID-19, according to a statement Tianjin University,” the Global Times said. “The oral vaccine uses food-grade saccharomyces cerevisiae as a carrier and the spike protein of the coronavirus as a target spot to produce antibodies to fight Covid-19, according to a statement from Tianjin University,” the Global Times said.
The university is reported to be looking for partners to run clinical trials.The university is reported to be looking for partners to run clinical trials.
Vietnamese garment makers will face a severe shortage of materials in the second quarter of this year, because of disruption to their supply chains, the chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association says.Vietnamese garment makers will face a severe shortage of materials in the second quarter of this year, because of disruption to their supply chains, the chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association says.
Garments and textiles are Vietnam’s third-largest export earner, and the industry is heavily reliant on materials from China. An estimated 50% of materials are shipped from China.Garments and textiles are Vietnam’s third-largest export earner, and the industry is heavily reliant on materials from China. An estimated 50% of materials are shipped from China.
Japan’s J-League says it has postponed seven Levian Cup matches scheduled for Wednesday, due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak and is considering postponing all domestic soccer games through the first half of March. Japan’s J-League says it has postponed seven Levian Cup matches scheduled for Wednesday due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak and is considering postponing all domestic soccer games through the first half of March.
The J-League said the decision to postpone Wednesday’s matches was part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus. The J-League said the decision to postpone Wednesday’s matches was part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus. “The J-League will make maximum efforts to prevent infection and prevent its spread,” it said in a statement.
“The J-League will make maximum efforts to prevent infection and prevent its spread,” it said in a statement.
The spread of the coronavirus has forced the cancellation of many sports events in recent weeks, including Serie A soccer matches in Italy, and raised alarm bells for Tokyo 2020 organisers.The spread of the coronavirus has forced the cancellation of many sports events in recent weeks, including Serie A soccer matches in Italy, and raised alarm bells for Tokyo 2020 organisers.
Japan’s health minister, Katsunobu Kato, said on Tuesday it was still too early to talk about cancelling the Olympics, which are due to start on 24 July.Japan’s health minister, Katsunobu Kato, said on Tuesday it was still too early to talk about cancelling the Olympics, which are due to start on 24 July.
The International Olympic Committee has said it had been advised by the World Health Organization that there is no case for contingency plans to cancel or relocate the Games.The International Olympic Committee has said it had been advised by the World Health Organization that there is no case for contingency plans to cancel or relocate the Games.
You may recall that yesterday we reported that Wuhan was lifting some restrictions for people who wanted to leave the city. However, it was reversed a few hours after being announced and Ying Yong, the newly appointed party chief in Hubei, called for strict control of the exit routes. The province’s health commission has reiterated that on Tuesday.You may recall that yesterday we reported that Wuhan was lifting some restrictions for people who wanted to leave the city. However, it was reversed a few hours after being announced and Ying Yong, the newly appointed party chief in Hubei, called for strict control of the exit routes. The province’s health commission has reiterated that on Tuesday.
Schools in Hong Kong will stay closed until after the Easter holidays have finished in April, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.Schools in Hong Kong will stay closed until after the Easter holidays have finished in April, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.
They were due to reopen on Monday 16 March but the Post says the government will keep them shut until after Easter, which is the weekend of 11/12 April.They were due to reopen on Monday 16 March but the Post says the government will keep them shut until after Easter, which is the weekend of 11/12 April.
However, they may allow students to sit university exams set to start on 27 March.However, they may allow students to sit university exams set to start on 27 March.
South Korea’s numbers for coronavirus infections has gone up again – 60 new infections were announced on Tuesday, bringing the country’s total to 893. Nine people have died in the country.South Korea’s numbers for coronavirus infections has gone up again – 60 new infections were announced on Tuesday, bringing the country’s total to 893. Nine people have died in the country.
China’s national health commission says strict control and prevention measures will remain in place in Hubei province, the epicentre of the global outbreak.
The national health commission added it would also strictly control the outbound movement of people in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province with existing traffic controls.
It follows an announcement yesterday – later reversed – that non-infected people who required medical operations would be able to leave Wuhan.
Here are some more figures from state media on the scale of the fight against the virus in China.
Some sobering statistics from Chinese state media on the economic impact of the virus – 60% of firms face difficulties, with 6% facing bankruptcy.
The China Global TV network has made an interesting graphic on the spread of the virus in Italy.
The Wall Street Journal reporter in Beijing makes a good point about the difficult choice facing Chinese migrant workers: stay at home without a job, or return to cities where they will face quarantine.
A passenger from the Diamond Princess in their 80s has died, the Japanese broadcaster NHK has reported. The country’s education minister has also asked asked education boards with reported coronavirus cases to temporarily close schools.
Koichi Hagiuda told reporters on Tuesday that education boards of Hokkaido in northern Japan and Chiba City near Tokyo have been told to take this preventive measure, NHK says.
He also said some schools without confirmed infections should also consider closing.
Trading is now well under way in Hong Kong where the index is down slightly, and China where the Shanghai Composite is off 1.17%.
But Asia Pacific has continued to recover lost ground elsewhere with the Nikkei down a mere 2.84% and Australia off 1.3%. Seoul is up 0.5%.
We heard in that news conference questions about the impact of the virus on the Olympics. Brendan Murphy, the country’s chief medical officer said it was too early to tell, but the Australian Olympic team’s medical director, David Hughes, has told the Sydney Morning Herald that human-to-human transmission of Covid-19 in Japan was a “far from ideal” situation.
He has warned that the next two weeks will be “the real test” in assessing what risk the coronavirus poses to this year’s event in Tokyo, and says the Australian team has begun drawing up contingencies for training in “safe areas”.
Dr Hughes told the news outlet the virus was a “significant challenge that we would rather not have” but was proceeding on the basis the Games would go ahead.
“The next couple of weeks is going to be the real test in seeing whether this local transmission can be brought under control,” he said.
Japan has 851 confirmed cases of the virus. Of those, 691 were passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The Tokyo Olympics are due to be held from 24 Jul to 9 August.
Shane Oliver, chief economist of the wealth manager AMP in Sydney, says in a note today that he now expects the global economy to stagtnate or possibly shrink a bit in this quarter.
His base case is that the outbreak will be contained by March and that markets will bounce back.
But there is still uncertainty as he notes that “some estimates suggest that as much as 50% of China’s economy has been locked down for the last three weeks which means nearly 12% knocked off Chinese GDP this quarter”. Containment measures across large economies such as Italy and South Korea “will spread the economic disruption globally”.
As such, he says:
He concludes:
In a big picture sense, the fall in share markets should be seen as just another correction after markets ran hard and fast into record highs this year from their last decent correction into August last year.
Australia’s chief medical officer is asked about the impact on the Olympics of the virus. He says it’s too early to tell.