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Coronavirus latest updates: US, Australia and Thailand record first deaths Coronavirus latest updates: US, Australia and Thailand record first deaths
(31 minutes later)
Australian man in late 70s was passenger on Diamond Princess; two more doctors have die in China. Follow live newsAustralian man in late 70s was passenger on Diamond Princess; two more doctors have die in China. Follow live news
An interesting report from Reuters, about Indonesia, which continues to say it has seen no cases, despite some infections around the world linked to travel to or through Bali:
Indonesia has the resources to cope with a coronavirus outbreak, the director of its leading infectious diseases hospital said, defending detection procedures in the Southeast Asian nation of more than 260 million, where no cases have been reported.
The world’s fourth most populous nation has tested 141 suspected cases, a small figure for its population, sparking concern among some medical professionals of a lack of vigilance and a risk of undetected cases.
Neighbouring Malaysia has reportedly run about 1,000 tests, and Britain more than 10,000.
“We can’t doubt our skills and the facts we gather,” said Muhammad Syahril, director of the Sulianti Saroso hospital in Jakarta, the capital, when asked why Indonesia had detected no cases.
“If we don’t have cases, we don’t have cases,” he said in an interview at the hospital on Friday. “Why would we cover it up?”
Reuters:Reuters:
The coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong has not reached its peak yet, he Dean of the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine, Professor Gabriel Leung, warned on Sunday.The coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong has not reached its peak yet, he Dean of the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine, Professor Gabriel Leung, warned on Sunday.
RTHK reports Leung said it was too soon to tell when the outbreak would be end, and people should remain vigilant.RTHK reports Leung said it was too soon to tell when the outbreak would be end, and people should remain vigilant.
“The rest of the world actually views Hong Kong, along with Singapore, as the gold standard in epidemic control,” he said. “If you look at these two places, we have very similar absolute numbers of confirmed cases, yet we have a population that is one third bigger then Singapore, so - on a per capita basis - we’re not doing too badly.”“The rest of the world actually views Hong Kong, along with Singapore, as the gold standard in epidemic control,” he said. “If you look at these two places, we have very similar absolute numbers of confirmed cases, yet we have a population that is one third bigger then Singapore, so - on a per capita basis - we’re not doing too badly.”
Hong Kong has reported 95 cases and two deaths.Hong Kong has reported 95 cases and two deaths.
Samsung Electronics has closed one of its factories in South Korea, according to Yonhap news agency.Samsung Electronics has closed one of its factories in South Korea, according to Yonhap news agency.
The mobile device factory in Gumni, near Davey, was closed after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus.The mobile device factory in Gumni, near Davey, was closed after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus.
It has been closed for a short time last month after an earlier case was discovered.It has been closed for a short time last month after an earlier case was discovered.
From Reuters:From Reuters:
Some more details on that death in Thailand.Some more details on that death in Thailand.
Dr. Teerawat Hemachutha, Thiravat Hemachudha, Head of Emerging Disease Health Science Center Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn Hospital, the Thai Red Cross, posted on Facebook earlier today that the victim was a 35-year-old male retail worker who also tested positive to dengue fever.Dr. Teerawat Hemachutha, Thiravat Hemachudha, Head of Emerging Disease Health Science Center Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn Hospital, the Thai Red Cross, posted on Facebook earlier today that the victim was a 35-year-old male retail worker who also tested positive to dengue fever.
Citing an unnamed health official, Reuters is reporting that Thailand has seen its first Covid-19 death.Citing an unnamed health official, Reuters is reporting that Thailand has seen its first Covid-19 death.
I’ll be handing over to my colleague, Helen Davidson, shortly, but before that, here’s a summary of the top points so far.I’ll be handing over to my colleague, Helen Davidson, shortly, but before that, here’s a summary of the top points so far.
Australia recorded its first Covid-19 death on Sunday – a 78-year-old man who had been a passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. He died in Perth and his wife is infected with the virus.Australia recorded its first Covid-19 death on Sunday – a 78-year-old man who had been a passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. He died in Perth and his wife is infected with the virus.
The US also recorded its first death, a man in his 50s from Seattle who had underlying medical issues. Washington state’s governor declared a state of emergency. The man had no history of travel to affected areas or contact with a known COVID-19 caseThe US also recorded its first death, a man in his 50s from Seattle who had underlying medical issues. Washington state’s governor declared a state of emergency. The man had no history of travel to affected areas or contact with a known COVID-19 case
Two more doctors have died in China and the country’s death tally has risen by 35 to 2,870. Infections have risen 573 to 79,824 (of which 41,825, or 52%, are listed as recovered).Two more doctors have died in China and the country’s death tally has risen by 35 to 2,870. Infections have risen 573 to 79,824 (of which 41,825, or 52%, are listed as recovered).
South Korea has recorded 376 more Covid-19 cases, taking the country’s total to 3,526. Seventeen people have died.South Korea has recorded 376 more Covid-19 cases, taking the country’s total to 3,526. Seventeen people have died.
WHO has raised the global risk level to “very high” over coronavirus.WHO has raised the global risk level to “very high” over coronavirus.
Thailand reports 42nd case of Covid-19.Thailand reports 42nd case of Covid-19.
Armenia has reported its first case of Covid-19.Armenia has reported its first case of Covid-19.
Thailand now has 42 cases of Covid-19, after a 21-year-old man tested positive on Saturday, the Bangkok Post reports.Thailand now has 42 cases of Covid-19, after a 21-year-old man tested positive on Saturday, the Bangkok Post reports.
Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, the permanent secretary for public health, said the man’s job brought him into contact with foreign tourists and he fell ill on 24 February, before seeking treatment the following day. He’s currently in hospital in Bangkok.Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, the permanent secretary for public health, said the man’s job brought him into contact with foreign tourists and he fell ill on 24 February, before seeking treatment the following day. He’s currently in hospital in Bangkok.
The country has not reported any deaths from the virus but, as of Sunday, authorities will have greater powers to act after the Public Health Ministry designated Covid-19 a dangerous communicable disease.The country has not reported any deaths from the virus but, as of Sunday, authorities will have greater powers to act after the Public Health Ministry designated Covid-19 a dangerous communicable disease.
Tourism in many parts of Thailand has suffered, with travellers curtailing their journeys amid fears of the virus’s spread.Tourism in many parts of Thailand has suffered, with travellers curtailing their journeys amid fears of the virus’s spread.
American Airlines will suspend all US flights to Milan. It announced the move just hours after the US State Department said it was raising its travel warning for parts of Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak to Level 4 or “do not travel”. This covers travel to Lombardy and Veneto, in Italy’s north.American Airlines will suspend all US flights to Milan. It announced the move just hours after the US State Department said it was raising its travel warning for parts of Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak to Level 4 or “do not travel”. This covers travel to Lombardy and Veneto, in Italy’s north.
American said it will suspend flights to and from Milan, from New York-JFK and Miami until 24 April, citing a reduction in demand.American said it will suspend flights to and from Milan, from New York-JFK and Miami until 24 April, citing a reduction in demand.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is heading the US response to the virus, said on Saturday that the State Department will work with Italy to coordinate medical screening of any individuals coming to the United States.Vice President Mike Pence, who is heading the US response to the virus, said on Saturday that the State Department will work with Italy to coordinate medical screening of any individuals coming to the United States.
Chinese state media is reporting that a doctor – 32-year-old Zhong Jinxing – has died “from overwork”.
The People’s Daily repots that another doctor, Jiang Xueqing, 55, also died on Sunday.
I’m just doubling back on those Chinese figures announced today, that I mentioned at the start of the blog.
Another 35 deaths were reported on Sunday, and 573 new confirmed cases. Of the deaths, all but one were in Hubei province, the centre of the outbreak. All but three of the new confirmed cases were also in Hubei.
The total confirmed cases in China is 79,824, of which 41,825 (or 52%) are listed as recovered, and a total of 2,870 deaths have been recorded.
Based on those figures, the case fatality rate for Covid-19 is 3.6%, which is something Chinese state media is also reporting. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that there is a direct link between deaths and the number of cases reported in calculating that rate, so if people are having mild symptoms and don’t go through the testing process, there’s a likelihood that the eventual rate case fatality rate will be lower. We will only know this in hindsight.
You may have seen reports last week that a dog in Hong Kong had tested “weak positive” to Covid-19. Experts in the UK told the Guardian they thought it was unlikely to be an actual infection, and that one possible explanation was that a dog had produced a false positive test as a result of close contact with a human who had the virus, or from coming in contact with the virus via touch.
The dog showed no relevant symptoms of the virus authorities said and Hong Kong health authorities advised that it had no evidence that pets can be infected with Covid-19 or a source of the infection. But a spokesman from the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), said: “To ensure public and animal health, the department strongly advise mammalian pets of patients confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 virus to be put under quarantine by the AFCD.”
The WHO says it is working with its partner agencies for human/animal health and is “waiting for further tests from Hong Kong”, but the WHO boss, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said past experience with coronavirus and “our current understanding of Covid-19 does not indicated that common household pets spread the disease or make people sick”.
If you’re just catching up with the latest news on the virus, outbreak, a reminder that the World Health Organization has raised the risk assessment “very high” globally. It also said the risk within #China remains unchanged as “very high.”
The WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the risk level had been elevated for two reasons
difficulty in identifying cases due to non-specific symptoms & the potential of undetected transmission
potential for major impact on healthcare systems in some affected & potentially affected countries.
The WHO also released virus advice on the social media app, TikTok, in an effort it said to beat the “infodemic”.
South Korea has recorded 376 more Covid-19 cases, taking the country’s total to 3,526. Seventeen people have died.
Of the 376 new cases, 333 were in Daegu, 300km southeast of Seoul, which has been at the centre of the outbreak linked to the. Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
The Yonhap agency says there were also 26 new cases reported in neighbouring North Gyeongsang Province.
As of Sunday morning, South Korea was carrying out tests on 32,422 people nationwide, while 61,037 people have tested negative in total.
Still on Australia, and on Sunday, the country’s Home Affairs minister, Peter Dutton, said it was not possible to extend travel bans to all countries affected by the coronavirus outbreak, but he defended Australia’s decision to restrict entry to people who had travelled from Iran, but not South Korea, which has many more cases.
“If you look at the underreporting or the lack of reporting coming out of Iran ... there was a real concern as to whether they had a handle on the numbers,” Dutton said, adding that South Korea has a more advanced health system.
We are hearing a news conference from Australia, where officials have confirmed that a Western Australian man has confirmed the country’s first death from Covid-19.
Dr Andrew Robertson, Western Australia’s chief health officer, confirms that the man travelled back to Australia from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. The man was diagnosed in the Howard Springs quarantine facility outside Darwin 9 or 10 days ago.
The man, in his late 70s, passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning in intensive care in a West Australian hospital. His wife is also infected with Covid-19.
Robertson who is giving the news conference, has confirmed that there is still no community transmission in Australia.
The man’s wife is in isolation in hospital and being monitored.
Robertson is asked what Australians can do to protect themselves from the virus. He says handwashing is important but also says people should consider getting the flu shot this year.
We are getting unconfirmed reports that an Australian man has died in Western Australia from Covid-19 – the country’s first fatality.
We are waiting for official confirmation, but media reports say he is a 78-year-old passenger from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, and was one of the 164 Australians to be repatriated from the ship around two weeks ago.
We will bring you confirmation on this as soon as we have it – we are expecting a news conference shortly.
First to the US where the first death from Covid-19 has been recorded. The man was in his 50s and had underlying health issues. He died at a hospital in Kirkland, near Seattle. Officials are unsure how he was exposed to the virus. Washington state has two other presumed cases at a long-term care facility in Kirkland where more than 50 residents and staff could be showing symptoms, according to Jeffrey Duchin, head of the Washington health department’s communicable disease unit.
“At this point we do not have widespread community-wide transmission locally. We have transmission that’s associated with an outbreak at this long-term care facility,” Duchin said.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Before we get underway with this blog, here are the main points making news right now.
The US has recorded its first death from Covid-19. A man in his 50s in Washington state, who had underlying health issues but with no travel history to affected areas.
A second person in Australia has tested positive to the virus after returning from Iran. The government imposed travel restrictions on passengers coming from Iran.
France and Italy have imposed strict bans on public gatherings.
Ireland reported its first case of the virus, as did Ecuador and Luxembourg.
China has reported 573 new confirmed cases and 35 deaths.
World stock markets are expected to fall further next week, after reports indicated China’s factory output had plunged and the country’s service sectors have contracted.
You can get up to speed on all our coverage on the links below:
First coronavirus death in the US as Italy and France cancel public events
Trump fends off criticism of ‘hoax’ remark after first US coronavirus death
‘Very high risk’: Australia adds Iran to coronavirus travel ban
‘To hell and back’: my three weeks suffering from coronavirus
Yes, it is worse than the flu: busting the coronavirus myths