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Coronavirus live updates: fourth Diamond Princess passenger dies as Japan closes some schools Coronavirus: fourth Diamond Princess passenger dies as Japan closes some schools – live news
(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
Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that new measures – including companies letting their employees work from home – will determine if Japan can control its coronavirus outbreak.
“We are at an extremely important time in ending the spread of infection at an early stage,” Abe said at a meeting of a task force on the outbreak.He said sporadic cases of unknown transmission routes and small clusters were occurring, but slowing down the pace of new infections was crucial to stopping its spread. Japan has confirmed 850 cases, third highest among nations behind China and South Korea.They include people infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Abe’s government has been widely criticized after the quarantine of the ship was seen to have failed to stop the virus from spreading. Three former passengers on the ship died, and more than a dozen people who were evacuated from it by their home countries later tested positive for new coronavirus.
Hancock added that the government was not aware of any Britons who were in the quarantined areas of northern Italy.However, he said that anyone who is should make contact with the embassy in Rome. “We are not aware of any British citizens who are within the quarantined area, if they are we would ask them to get in contact with the consulate in Rome,” he said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that the official advice around coronavirus is being updated so that people returning to the UK from any areas quarantined by the Italian government should self-isolate whether they show symptoms or not
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Hancock said: “Yes, the official advice which will be formally updated at 8am is going to change so that those who have been to northern Italy – north of Pisa – if they have flu-like symptoms should self-isolate.
“If people have been to the affected areas that the Italian government have quarantined then they should self-isolate whether or not they have symptoms.”
Caitlin Fletcher, an Australian living and studying in Seoul, said:
One of three Wall Street Journal reporters ordered to leave China has been told by the government that she can remain.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, told a daily briefing that Chao Deng, who has been unable to leave the Wuhan –the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak – following a lockdown that sought to contain the spread of the virus, is being allowed to remain on humanitarian grounds.
She can comply with the order to leave China after the epidemic ends, he said, adding that she cannot do any reporting work while there.Deng and two other Wall Street Journal reporters were ordered to leave last week after the newspaper did not comply with Beijing’s repeated demands for an apology and investigation into a Feb 3 column that called China the “real sick man of Asia.”
Kuwait reports three new cases of coronavirus, raising total to eight.Kuwait reports three new cases of coronavirus, raising total to eight.
The outbreak has now affected 80,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.The latest figures reported by each government’s health authority as of Tuesday in Beijing:Mainland China: 2,663 deaths among 77,658 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei.Hong Kong: 81 cases, two deaths.Macao: 10 cases.Japan: 850 cases, including 691 from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, four deaths.South Korea: 893 cases, eight deaths.Italy: 229 cases, seven deaths.Singapore: 89 cases.Iran: 61 cases, 12 deaths.United States: 35 cases; separately, one US citizen died in China.Thailand: 37 cases.Taiwan: 30 cases, one death.Australia: 23 cases.Malaysia: 22 cases.Vietnam: 16 cases.Germany: 16 cases.France: 12 cases, one death.United Arab Emirates: 13 cases.United Kingdom: 13 cases.Canada: 11 cases.Philippines: 3 cases, one death.Kuwait: 3 cases.There have been three cases in India, two in Russia, three in Sprain, two in Israel, two in Oman, two in Bahrain, one in Lebanon, one in Belgium, one in Nepal, one in Sri Lanka, one in Sweden, one in Cambodia, one in Finland, one in Egypt and one in Afghanistan. The outbreak has now affected 80,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.The latest figures reported by each government’s health authority as of Tuesday in Beijing:Mainland China: 2,663 deaths among 77,658 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei.Hong Kong: 81 cases, two deaths.Macao: 10 cases.Japan: 850 cases, including 691 from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, four deaths.South Korea: 893 cases, eight deaths.Italy: 229 cases, seven deaths.Singapore: 89 cases.Iran: 61 cases, 12 deaths.United States: 35 cases; separately, one US citizen died in China.Thailand: 37 cases.Taiwan: 30 cases, one death.Australia: 23 cases.Malaysia: 22 cases.Vietnam: 16 cases.Germany: 16 cases.France: 12 cases, one death.United Arab Emirates: 13 cases.United Kingdom: 13 cases.Canada: 11 cases.Philippines: 3 cases, one death.Kuwait: 3 cases.There have been three cases in India, two in Russia, three in Spain, two in Israel, two in Oman, two in Bahrain, one in Lebanon, one in Belgium, one in Nepal, one in Sri Lanka, one in Sweden, one in Cambodia, one in Finland, one in Egypt and one in Afghanistan.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in south Korea is approaching 900 as the president Moon Jae-in said the outbreak is “very grave”.The number of novel coronavirus cases in south Korea is approaching 900 as the president Moon Jae-in said the outbreak is “very grave”.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 60 new cases in its morning update – after three days of triple-digit increases – taking the tally to 893, the largest national total anywhere outside China.The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 60 new cases in its morning update – after three days of triple-digit increases – taking the tally to 893, the largest national total anywhere outside China.
The latest numbers come as the country announced its smallest rise in cases for several days.The latest numbers come as the country announced its smallest rise in cases for several days.
On Tuesday, president Moon Jae-in visited the outbreak’s epi-centre in South Korea’s fourth-largest city Daegu. More than 80% of the infections have been in Daegu and neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.On Tuesday, president Moon Jae-in visited the outbreak’s epi-centre in South Korea’s fourth-largest city Daegu. More than 80% of the infections have been in Daegu and neighbouring North Gyeongsang province.
“The situation is very grave,” President Moon Jae-in said, wearing the uniform of a government emergency official. “We will achieve a victory in the fight against this virus,” he added.“The situation is very grave,” President Moon Jae-in said, wearing the uniform of a government emergency official. “We will achieve a victory in the fight against this virus,” he added.
The streets of Daegu - which has a population of 2.5 million - have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at the few shops with masks for sale.The streets of Daegu - which has a population of 2.5 million - have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at the few shops with masks for sale.
South Korea’s parliament cancelled sessions Tuesday as it closed for cleaning after confirmation a person with the coronavirus had attended a meeting last week.South Korea’s parliament cancelled sessions Tuesday as it closed for cleaning after confirmation a person with the coronavirus had attended a meeting last week.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised travellers to “avoid all nonessential travel” to South Korea.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised travellers to “avoid all nonessential travel” to South Korea.
Hong Kong has said it will not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents, while a Mongolian ban on flights to and from the South came into force Tuesday.Hong Kong has said it will not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents, while a Mongolian ban on flights to and from the South came into force Tuesday.
I am now taking over the live blog from the Guardian’s London office. If you want to share any thoughts or news tips with me about the coronavirus then please email: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com or tweet me @sloumarsh.I am now taking over the live blog from the Guardian’s London office. If you want to share any thoughts or news tips with me about the coronavirus then please email: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com or tweet me @sloumarsh.
Dubai International airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, says UAE will limit Iran flights over the virus outbreak.Dubai International airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, says UAE will limit Iran flights over the virus outbreak.
The British engineering company Meggitt warned that its growth in 2020 would be constrained by factors including the disruption caused by coronavirus.The company said organic revenue growth in 2020 would come in at between 2% to 4%. That compares with the 8% rise in organic revenue growth for 2019 which it posted on Tuesday, helping drive underlying operating profit up by 10% to £402.8m.The British engineering company Meggitt warned that its growth in 2020 would be constrained by factors including the disruption caused by coronavirus.The company said organic revenue growth in 2020 would come in at between 2% to 4%. That compares with the 8% rise in organic revenue growth for 2019 which it posted on Tuesday, helping drive underlying operating profit up by 10% to £402.8m.
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.
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:
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,” 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.