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Coronavirus latest updates: US postpones Asean summit, South Korea reports 594 new cases – latest news Coronavirus latest updates: US postpones Asean summit, South Korea reports 594 new cases – latest news
(30 minutes later)
Italian civil protection chief confirms 820 cases in the country as number of fresh cases in China declines. Follow live newsItalian civil protection chief confirms 820 cases in the country as number of fresh cases in China declines. Follow live news
Health minister Steven Miles said the risk of the virus spreading in Queensland remained very low.
There are nine confirmed cases in Queensland. This latest case brings the number of confirmed cases in Australia to 25.
Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said that with the novel coronavirus spreading to an increasing number of countries, anyone who feels unwell shortly after arriving in Australia from overseas should contact their doctor for advice.
The number of affected countries has spread to 49, and the World Health Organisation has elevated the risk of spread of the virus to “very high”. A pandemic has not been declared, but Young said it would happen.
Young said that more than 80% of all recorded cases of the Covid-19 virus were mild, and the mortality rate had fallen from 2-3% when the virus was first reported, as more mild cases are detected. It’s now estimated to be about 1%.
Said Young:
Young said the demographic at the highest risk from the virus were the elderly and those with co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular conditions.
She said children had a “minimal risk” — not an elevated risk, as they have with other respiratory conditions like the flu — and the risk to pregnant women is understood to be the same as the general population.
Miles said Queensland had asked the federal government to declare the coronavirus a disaster, because of its broader economic impacts.
The Queensland health minister, Steven Miles, spoke just now in Brisbane now about the latest coronavirus case in Australia, which is a 63-year-old woman who recently returned from Iran.
The woman flew back on Monday, 24 February, and was not unwell on the flight. She began to feel unwell on Thursday, 27 February, and authorities are trying to trace anyone who may have come into contact with the woman while she was working as a beautician on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
The beauty salon is at the Australia Fair shopping centre on the Gold Coast. Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said they believe she saw 30 to 40 clients on Thursday, mostly for very short appointments. Interactions of less than 15 minutes have a low risk of transmitting the virus, Young said.
Young said the woman mainly gave facials, and that customers often did not book and paid cash — so they have made a public call-out for anyone who attended the beauty salon on Thursday to come forward.
On the risk of transmission, Young said:
She said there was “no need to have any concerns prior to that,” because the woman was not symptomatic. She said that once she began to feel unwell, the woman immediately notified her doctor that she had returned from Iran — which has the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside of mainland China — and was at risk.
If you are unsure about the seriousness of the coronavirus — and there has been some fairly confused information about this — science correspondent Hannah Devlin has busted some of the most common myths.If you are unsure about the seriousness of the coronavirus — and there has been some fairly confused information about this — science correspondent Hannah Devlin has busted some of the most common myths.
For one, she writes that while we do not know a precise fatality rate for Covid-19, current estimates are a fatality rate of about 1%.For one, she writes that while we do not know a precise fatality rate for Covid-19, current estimates are a fatality rate of about 1%.
Hannah writes:Hannah writes:
So: worse than flu. You can read the full fact-check here.So: worse than flu. You can read the full fact-check here.
Postponing the ASEAN summit a ‘difficult decision’: US officialsPostponing the ASEAN summit a ‘difficult decision’: US officials
Here is a bit more on that announcement from the United States to delay a regional ASEAN summit scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in two weeks time.Here is a bit more on that announcement from the United States to delay a regional ASEAN summit scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in two weeks time.
From AFP:From AFP:
More from AFP:More from AFP:
Hello and welcome to our continued live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.Hello and welcome to our continued live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.
This is where the situation stands:This is where the situation stands:
The World Health Organisation says that the coronavirus could reach most “if not all countries.” It has already spread to 49 countries. You can check our map of the outbreak here.The World Health Organisation says that the coronavirus could reach most “if not all countries.” It has already spread to 49 countries. You can check our map of the outbreak here.
The latest figures from mainland China report 427 new cases, all but four of which were in Hubei province. There have been about 80,000 confirmed cases in mainland China. The death toll rose by 47, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,835.The latest figures from mainland China report 427 new cases, all but four of which were in Hubei province. There have been about 80,000 confirmed cases in mainland China. The death toll rose by 47, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,835.
South Korea reported 594 new cases on Saturday, the biggest increase to date for the country, taking the national total to 2,931 infections. 90% of the cases are in the outbreak centre of Daegu. Three women are confirmed to have died, taking the national death toll to 16.South Korea reported 594 new cases on Saturday, the biggest increase to date for the country, taking the national total to 2,931 infections. 90% of the cases are in the outbreak centre of Daegu. Three women are confirmed to have died, taking the national death toll to 16.
The US government will reportedly suspend a planned meeting of Asean leaders in Las Vegas on 14 March over coronavirus fears.The US government will reportedly suspend a planned meeting of Asean leaders in Las Vegas on 14 March over coronavirus fears.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has risen to 20, with the first death of a UK citizen — a 70-year-old passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, who lived abroad — confirmed on Friday.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has risen to 20, with the first death of a UK citizen — a 70-year-old passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, who lived abroad — confirmed on Friday.
Australian authorities have reported two new confirmed cases, including a 63-year-old woman now in hospital on the Gold Coast who travelled to Queensland from Iran, where infection rates are suspected to be much higher than reported.Australian authorities have reported two new confirmed cases, including a 63-year-old woman now in hospital on the Gold Coast who travelled to Queensland from Iran, where infection rates are suspected to be much higher than reported.
The US has confirmed its second case of the virus in a patient who had not travelled to affected areas or come into known contact with an infected person. The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has promised it will have working test kits in every state by the end of next week after the first test was found to be faulty.The US has confirmed its second case of the virus in a patient who had not travelled to affected areas or come into known contact with an infected person. The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has promised it will have working test kits in every state by the end of next week after the first test was found to be faulty.
You can read all our in-depth coronavirus coverage here.You can read all our in-depth coronavirus coverage here.
My name is Calla Wahlquist. You can reach me on twitter @callapilla or via email at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.comMy name is Calla Wahlquist. You can reach me on twitter @callapilla or via email at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.com