US to evacuate Americans in Wuhan as coronavirus death toll hits 213

The coronavirus death toll rose to at least 213. Scientists estimate more than 75,000 people could be infected in the epicenter of the outbreak, the Chinese city of Wuhan.
The World Health Organization 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 mostly because it would disrupt needed aid.
Among the airlines that started curbing or cancelling flights to China are AirAsia, Air Austral, Air Canada, Air France, Air India, Air KBZ, Air Madagascar, Air Seoul, Air Tanzania, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, EgyptAir, Ethipoian Airlines, Finnair, IndiGo, Iberia, Kazakhstan, KLM, Lion Air, Lufthansa, Myanmar Airways International, Myanmar National Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, SAS, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SkyUp Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, United Airlines, United Parcel Service, Virgin Atlantic, and Russia’s Urals Airlines.
Russia reported its first two cases of the virus. The country’s deputy prime minister Tatiana Golikova said they were Chinese citizens who had been isolated. She added that all flights to China from Russia would be halted from 1 February.
Britain, Sweden and Italy have also reported their first cases.
The United States’ government is organizing a charter flight scheduled for 2 February to evacuate around 230 people from Wuhan, where all public transportation is halted. Following intense negotiations, the US was reportedly given special permission to defy the lock-down by China’s foreign ministry.
The US also angered China today when it warned its citizens not to travel to the country, despite the WHO’s recommenation not to impose travel restrictions.