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Coronavirus latest updates: WHO mission director warns world is 'simply not ready' for pandemic Coronavirus latest updates: WHO mission director warns world is 'simply not ready' for pandemic
(32 minutes later)
Expert tells nations to access the expertise of China and prepare for a potential pandemic as the outbreak spreads across Europe. Follow live newsExpert tells nations to access the expertise of China and prepare for a potential pandemic as the outbreak spreads across Europe. Follow live news
Back to the Australian authorities, who are giving a lot of detail about the response plans and current situation in the island country.
Minister Greg Hunt says more than 3,000 tests have been done in Australia, of which only 15 in the general population have come back positive.
Under Australian law and the official declaration by Murphy, the federal government has quarantine powers, as well as the individual states, and that includes forcible quarantining of people. (The context to this is a discussion on ABC TV’s Q&A program on Monday, which saw disturbing footage of Chinese authorities forcibly taking people from their homes and to quarantine. Expert panellists noted that Australia had the power to do the same.)
“The states themselves have their own bio security arrangements and, for example, they have been monitoring the home isolation and they have powers. If they need them. We have powers if we need them.”
Just to jump in, while the Australian press conference continues, we brought you the updated infection numbers from China a short time ago.
The death toll of 52 people on Tuesday is the lowest daily figure from mainland China in more than three weeks, AFP is reporting.
The number of fresh cases has declined in China, with multiple provinces reporting zero new infections in recent days.
Only five cases were reported outside the epicentre, the lowest in over a month.
Amid questions on how long an event they are preparing for, Murphy notes that a slow paced outbreak puts far less pressure on the health system, even if it has a longer impact.
“There’s always a possibility with a new virus that it could persist and come back on a seasonal basis. We don’t know these things.”
Health minister Greg Hunt says it is a possibility that events like AFL matches could be cancelled, but that it was a “last resort”.
Asked about this year’s Olympics in Japan, Hunt says the health of the general population and athletes is the priority, and assessments would be made closer to the date. Athletes will be the first to know, but in the meantime “just keep training”.
Australia is still contained, with no community transmissions, the country’s chief medical officer has said. This means Australians don’t need to start behaving in ways other than normal, or wear masks.
But authorities are preparing “because of the developing international scenario”, and based on modified pandemic plans that have been developed for years.
“We are working very closely with the states and territories who run the public hospitals with primary care, the general practices. Aged care is a big part of our plan,” Professor Brendan Murphy has told reporters.
Asked about the growing likelihood that a pandemic would be declared, Murphy said that “doesn’t really change what we’re doing at all”.
“More cases in Australia, more community transmissions in Australia, definitely does.”
In the eventuation of that, public health authorities would do contact tracing if it was a small outbreak. If it was bigger then authorities would respond differently where they were “not trying to fully contain but limit the spread of transmission”.
If it got to a certain size they might start closing schools or changing configurations of hospitals, he says.
The message, essentially, is that authorities are flexible and will adapt to the circumstances.
Chinese authorities have reported that 406 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday, a drop on Monday’s 508, bringing the total number of cases in mainland China to 78,064, and 2,715 dead.Chinese authorities have reported that 406 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday, a drop on Monday’s 508, bringing the total number of cases in mainland China to 78,064, and 2,715 dead.
Of the 406, 401 were in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. The previous day saw 499.Of the 406, 401 were in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. The previous day saw 499.
52 people died from Covid-19 in Hubei province on Tuesday, fewer than the 68 reported on Monday.52 people died from Covid-19 in Hubei province on Tuesday, fewer than the 68 reported on Monday.
There was one new confirmed case in the province of Shandong, two in Sichuan, one in Heibei, as well as four new confirmed cases in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan, according to Tencent.
More Chinese provinces have downgraded their emergency response levels, within China’s four-tiered alert system, Reuters is reporting.More Chinese provinces have downgraded their emergency response levels, within China’s four-tiered alert system, Reuters is reporting.
The northwestern Chinese regions of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang and the southwestern province of Sichuan have downgraded their emergency response level after assessing that health risks from the coronavirus outbreak have receded, state media has reported.The northwestern Chinese regions of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang and the southwestern province of Sichuan have downgraded their emergency response level after assessing that health risks from the coronavirus outbreak have receded, state media has reported.
The provinces of Gansu, Yunnan, Guangdong, Shanxi, Guizhou and Anhui have also cut their emergency response levels in the last few days.The provinces of Gansu, Yunnan, Guangdong, Shanxi, Guizhou and Anhui have also cut their emergency response levels in the last few days.
Some regions, including Fujian in the southeast, are also starting to dismantle emergency roadblocks designed to screen incoming vehicles and curb the contagion.Some regions, including Fujian in the southeast, are also starting to dismantle emergency roadblocks designed to screen incoming vehicles and curb the contagion.
China has quarantined 94 air passengers arriving from Seoul after three people on the flight were discovered to have fevers, state media reported Wednesday.China has quarantined 94 air passengers arriving from Seoul after three people on the flight were discovered to have fevers, state media reported Wednesday.
The three passengers, all Chinese, arrived in the city of Nanjing on Tuesday morning and were discovered after customs personnel boarded the aircraft on landing to screen passengers for symptoms, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.The three passengers, all Chinese, arrived in the city of Nanjing on Tuesday morning and were discovered after customs personnel boarded the aircraft on landing to screen passengers for symptoms, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.
The three were immediately sent by ambulance to a hospital for isolation and testing, while 94 people who had sat near them on the plane were sent to a hotel to be quarantined, CCTV said.The three were immediately sent by ambulance to a hospital for isolation and testing, while 94 people who had sat near them on the plane were sent to a hotel to be quarantined, CCTV said.
None of the three people with fevers had any history of travel to Wuhan, where the outbreak originated.None of the three people with fevers had any history of travel to Wuhan, where the outbreak originated.
Agence France-Presse has further detail from South Korea:Agence France-Presse has further detail from South Korea:
An 11th person had died of the disease, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) added in a statement on its website - a Mongolian man in his 30s who became the first foreign national to fall victim to the outbreak.An 11th person had died of the disease, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) added in a statement on its website - a Mongolian man in his 30s who became the first foreign national to fall victim to the outbreak.
Yonhap news agency reported that he had been in hospital in the South awaiting a liver transplant.Yonhap news agency reported that he had been in hospital in the South awaiting a liver transplant.
The vast majority - 90% - of the new infections were in Daegu, the country’s fourth-largest city and the epicentre of the outbreak, and the neighbouring province of North Gyeongsang.The vast majority - 90% - of the new infections were in Daegu, the country’s fourth-largest city and the epicentre of the outbreak, and the neighbouring province of North Gyeongsang.
Between them they account for more than 80% of the national total.Between them they account for more than 80% of the national total.
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.
Authorities urged the public to exercise extra caution, advising citizens to stay home if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms.Authorities urged the public to exercise extra caution, advising citizens to stay home if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms.
“The government will mobilise all resources and means” to try to control the outbreak, Prime Minster Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting in Daegu, where he is leading the government response, Yonhap news agency reported.“The government will mobilise all resources and means” to try to control the outbreak, Prime Minster Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting in Daegu, where he is leading the government response, Yonhap news agency reported.
Here’s a bit more detail on the new cases in South Korea:Here’s a bit more detail on the new cases in South Korea:
Of the 169 new cases, 134 were from Daegu city, where a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has been linked to outbreaks, is located.Of the 169 new cases, 134 were from Daegu city, where a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has been linked to outbreaks, is located.
The BBC’s correspondent in South Korea is reporting that an official in Daegu who had a meeting with the president has tested positive for coronavirus.The BBC’s correspondent in South Korea is reporting that an official in Daegu who had a meeting with the president has tested positive for coronavirus.
South Korea has reported 169 more cases of new coronavirus, mostly in and around Daegu, bringing total infections to 1,146, according to the Associated Press.South Korea has reported 169 more cases of new coronavirus, mostly in and around Daegu, bringing total infections to 1,146, according to the Associated Press.
The impact of months of civil unrest and now coronavirus has seen Australian airline, Virgin, lose more than $130m in earnings on its flight routes to Hong Kong, my colleague Alyx Gorman reports from the company’s half yearly call.The impact of months of civil unrest and now coronavirus has seen Australian airline, Virgin, lose more than $130m in earnings on its flight routes to Hong Kong, my colleague Alyx Gorman reports from the company’s half yearly call.
The company had already said last year it would wind up its Melbourne-Hong Kong route, but keep the daily Sydney-Hong Kong flight, however then in February said the Sydney route would also end.The company had already said last year it would wind up its Melbourne-Hong Kong route, but keep the daily Sydney-Hong Kong flight, however then in February said the Sydney route would also end.
The inpact of Hong Kong’s months of protests and now coronavirus has prompted the airline to exit early. Virgin will cease all services to Hong Kong in March.The inpact of Hong Kong’s months of protests and now coronavirus has prompted the airline to exit early. Virgin will cease all services to Hong Kong in March.
CEO Paul Scurrah said: “the coronavirus meant we moved faster on a withdrawal.”CEO Paul Scurrah said: “the coronavirus meant we moved faster on a withdrawal.”
“It’s pretty much across the board with a leaning towards leisure destinations heavily reliant on Chinese tourism,” said Scurrah of the other affected routes.“It’s pretty much across the board with a leaning towards leisure destinations heavily reliant on Chinese tourism,” said Scurrah of the other affected routes.
The company said there was a potential $50m-55m impact on the Virgin Group’s domestic earnings in 2H20, including $14m on Tigerair and $35m-40m on Virgin Australia Domestic. The domestic demand was impacted by low GDP growth and the Australian bushfire crisis.The company said there was a potential $50m-55m impact on the Virgin Group’s domestic earnings in 2H20, including $14m on Tigerair and $35m-40m on Virgin Australia Domestic. The domestic demand was impacted by low GDP growth and the Australian bushfire crisis.
Air Canada announced Tuesday it is extending its suspension of flights between Canada and the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai until April 10.
The foreign ministry has advised Canadians against non-essential travel to China in light of the virus’s rapid spread there.
Australia’s health authorities are well prepared in the event WHO declares a pandemic.
Two weeks ago, the federal health department published an ‘Emergency Response Plan’.The document is periodically updated as more is understood about the virus, who is most at risk, and potential treatments.It states that “the novel coronavirus outbreak represents a significant risk to Australia”.“It has the potential to cause high levels of morbidity and mortality and to disrupt our community socially and economically... the response to the novel coronavirus outbreak is now in the Initial Action stage,” the document states.“The level of impact that the novel coronavirus has on the Australian community will depend on a number of factors. The most influential will be the clinical severity and transmissibility of the disease, and the capacity of the health system to cope with the demand and the need for specialist services.”It is important to remember that for most people infected, symptoms are mild and most people recover. Some people show no symptoms at all.
However as with influenza, vulnerable people including those with other illnesses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the elderly are at risk of more severe symptoms and even death. So even if coronavirus proves to have a relatively low death rate once more data is collected, that can still represents thousands of deaths if millions become infected.“Public communication will be used to provide an opportunity both to address any public concern caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak and to engage the public in strategies to manage the impact of the disease,” the response plan states.“It is suspected that individuals with the novel coronavirus may be less infectious prior to the onset of symptoms than those with influenza. This would make isolation of identified cases more effective at reducing onward spread.
The majority of cases are likely to experience mild to moderate clinical features. People in at-risk groups and those with comorbidities may experience more severe illness. At the peak of the outbreak, and increasingly when transmissibility is higher, primary care and hospital services may become stretched in areas associated with respiratory illness and acute care. Existing legislation is likely to be sufficient to support activities.”
I wanted to tell you that I got corona,” said Iran’s deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi.
“We’ll defeat corona. Be assured. I’m saying this deep from my heart. This virus is democratic, and it doesn’t distinguish between poor and rich or statesman and an ordinary citizen.
“Many might get infected, but we have enough effective medicine, take care of yourselves. Take care of the nurses and doctors who work heroically.”
Iran is emerging as a place of particular focus, where there are 95 confirmed cases and 16 deaths.
Iran’s deputy health minister said he has contracted the coronavirus and placed himself in isolation, a day after appearing feverish at a press conference, Martin Chulov reported.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, expressing serious concern that Tehran “may have suppressed vital details” about the outbreak there.
Neighbouring nations have reported cases among people who came from Iran, including nine in Kuwait.
Kuwait’s civil aviation authority announced on Tuesday it had suspended all flights with Singapore and Japan over coronavirus fears, state news agency KUNA reported.
This follows the decision on Monday to suspend flights with South Korea, Iran, Thailand, Italy and Iraq.
Food giant Nestle is postponing all business trips until 15 March, AFP reports.
“We have asked all of our employees worldwide not to travel for business purposes until March 15 2020. We will review this measure in light of external developments,” a company spokesman told AFP, quoting an internal note.
The spokesman said that the company was not calling back expatriate employees but added: “We monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety of our employees.”
The benchmark ASX200 index opened down for the third day in a row, falling 1.7% by 11am as the coronavirus crisis continued to scare investors.
There were falls across the board but companies exposed to China or international travel led the bourse down.
Shares in Treasury Wine Estates, which makes prestigious wine Penfolds Grange and is a big exporter to China, dropped 4.3%. They’ve been falling since last week and yesterday afternoon the company warned that it would fall short of its previous profit forecasts due to the outbreak.
Fund manager Magellan was smashed for a third day running, falling almost 5%.
Also facing a third day running of losses was stock in travel agency Flight Centre, which was down 3.9%. Airline Qantas fell 2.8%, its fourth loss in as many days.
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation fell 4.75% amid general weakness in the media sector - both Nine, which owns the former Fairfax papers, and Seven West Media, which owns the West Australian, have reported poor half-year results in the past couple of weeks.
As mentioned earlier, this blog is a continuation of our coverage of the coronavirus. You can catch up on the earlier updates here, but below is a quick summary of the most recent developments.
Italian authorities updated the death toll in the country to 11.Four additional deaths were reported in the country on Tuesday.
New cases were confirmed in Spain and Switzerland. Concerns were growing at the spread of the virus on mainland Europe.
A hotel in Tenerife where an Italian man who has tested positive for coronavirus was staying has been put on lockdown.One thousand guests at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel have been placed in isolation to halt any further spread of the disease. One British holidaymaker has described the situation as a “holiday from hell”.
Travellers returning to the UK from northern Italy may need to self-isolate as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus. Official government advice has been changed to say that those who have been to northern Italy, north of Pisa, should self-isolate if they develop flu-like symptoms on their return to the UK.
Britons who have been in lockdown regions of Italy, including those in the Lombardy and Veneto region, should self-isolate at home for 14 days even if they have no symptoms.
Some schools in the UK have closed or sent pupils homebecause they had recently returned from skiing visits to northern Italy.
In Iran, the death toll due to the coronavirus has reached 16, a health ministry official told state TV on Tuesday. Iran has the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China, where the virus emerged late last year. The deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, has been infected and is under quarantine.
Italian authorities announced on Tuesday the first positive coronavirus case in the south of Italy. A woman from Bergamo, who was on holiday with her friends in Sicily, has tested positive for Covid-19.
Croatia and Austria became the latest European countries to confirm cases of coronavirus.
Latin America has recorded what would be its first confirmed case of coronavirus on Tuesday as Brazilian authorities reported that a 61-year-old man in São Paulo had tested positive for the illness. According to the O Globo newspaper the man recently arrived back in Brazil’s economic capital from Italy. He was being treated at one of Brazil’s top hospitals, the Albert Einstein in São Paulo, on Tuesday.
The results of a second test to confirm the virus are expected on Wednesday, Brazil’s health ministry said.
There are 80,415 confirmed cases across the world, and 2,708 deaths.
The UN’s health agency, WHO, has called for countries to “prepare for a potential pandemic” - a term used to describe an epidemic that spreads throughout the world - with poor countries at particular risk. From AFP:
Even as the number of fresh cases declines at the epicentre of the disease in China, there has been a sudden increase in parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Towns and cities in different parts of the world have been sealed off in an attempt to stop the contagion, while hotels in the Canary Island and Austria were locked down on Tuesday because of suspected cases.
At the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Bruce Aylward, who headed an international expert mission to China, hailed measures taken there but told reporters that other nations were “simply not ready” for reining in the outbreak.
“You have to be ready to manage this at a larger scale... and it has to be done fast,” Aylward said.
Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the coronavirus.
You can read our earlier updates here.
The focus has been on Europe, where the outbreak is worsening, but we’ll soon be hearing the latest from China, South Korea and Japan.
Switzerland, Austria and Croatia have reported their first cases, and the death toll has risen in Italy to 11.
Algeria has also confirmed its first case of the virus.
In Geneva, Dr Bruce Aylward, who headed the joint WHO-Chinese mission to Wuhan, called for countries to “prepare for a potential pandemic”.
He hailed the measures taken in China, but told reporters that other nations were “simply not ready” for reining in the outbreak.
He said countries needed to shift their mindset to preparing for an outbreak of the novel coronavirus and be ready to respond rapidly when it arrived, Reuters reported.
Aylward told reporters on his return to Switzerland from Wuhan that China’s “extraordinary mobilisation” to handle the virus outbreak showed how aggressive policy steps could curb the disease’s spread.
Authorities should prepare hospital beds, isolation zones and respirators for severe cases, Aylward said, adding: “China knows how to keep people alive.”
He said hundreds of thousands of people did not get the Covid-19 illness because of China’s aggressive response.
“Access the expertise of China. They have done this at speed and they know what they are doing. They are really, really good at it.”
The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has warned it is a matter of when, not if, the virus spreads to US communities.