The death toll of the 2019-nCoV, known as the coronavirus, rose to at least 259, with nearly 12,000 confirmed cases. Most of the cases are in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. About 133 of the confirmed cases have been identified outside of China.
Wuhan has 7,153 confirmed coronavirus cases with 249 of the 259 confirmed deaths. Local media report that the situation in the city reminds of the medieval times, with mass evacuations and bodies on the streets. Economists warned about uncertainty around the impact of the virus on the global economy.
Thailand has 19 confirmed cases, followed by Singapore (16), Japan (15), South Korea (12), Australia (10), Taiwan (10), Malaysia (8), the United States (8), Germany, (8), France (6), Vietnam (5), the United Arab Emirates (4), Canada (4), Italy (2), the United Kingdom (2), Russia (2), Cambodia (1), Finland (1), India (1), Nepal (1), Philippines (1), Sri Lanka (1), Spain (1), and Sweden (1).
“Almost all of the mortality is in the over 40s, and a strong preponderance of males”, said Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organization’s Emergencies Program. About a third of the cases have pre-existing health problems.
The US government warned American citizens not to travel to China, despite the WHO’s recommendation not to impose travel restrictions. Beijing criticized the US warning as “unkind”.
The WHO declared a global health emergency over the virus but said it “does not recommend and actually opposes any restrictions” on travel and trade to China: “Travel restrictions can cause more harm than good by hindering info-sharing, medical supply chains and harming economies”, the head of the WHO said.
Australia, Russia, Japan, Pakistan, Vietnam and Italy also said they would deny entry to all foreigners who have recently visited China. Governments have already started evacuating their countries’ citizens from Wuhan.
A German evacuation plane carrying 128 evacuees from Wuhan landed in Frankfurt. The flight was delayed as the plane was diverted to Helsinki after being denied stopping in Russia for crew-change and refueling.
Coronavirus death toll reaches 259
EPA-EFE/YFC CHINA OUT
Medical staff of Concorde hospital transfer medical supplies from a helicopter in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, 01 February 2020. Hospitals in Wuhan and other parts of China are facing a shortage of protective masks, clothing and medical supplies as the novel coronavirus outbreak claimed so far 259 lives and infected close to 12,000 people worldwide.
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