Live updates: First person-to-person transmission of coronavirus confirmed in U.S.
Jan. 31, 2020 at 1:42 a.m. GMT+8
China added more than 1,500 new cases of the coronavirus Thursday as countries stepped up their efforts to evacuate their citizens trapped in Wuhan, at the epicenter of the growing outbreak.
The United States has announced new flights to Wuhan, with many Americans in the city expressing frustration over being stuck there. Some 50 million people in Hubei Province have been restricted to their region as authorities try to stem the spread of the virus. Japan has already sent a second flight to Wuhan, and a third is planned.
With experts saying a vaccine is still a long way off, more international cases of the illness appeared Thursday. Australia, Vietnam and South Korea all announced new coronavirus infections, while India and the Philippines had their first ones.
The World Health Organization will reconvene its emergency committee Thursday to determine whether the coronavirus outbreak amounts to a public health emergency of international concern, as the total number of people infected in mainland China surpassed those infected with SARS during the 2002-2003 epidemic. Here’s what we know so far:
● Chinese officials say the death toll in the country has reached 171, with more than 8,1oo confirmed cases of infection as of Thursday evening local time — an increase of more than 1,900 from the previous day. (The figures include nine cases in the self-governing island of Taiwan.)
● About 100 cases have been recorded outside mainland China, and four other countries have reported person-to-person transmission of the virus.
● Roughly 200 Americans evacuated from Wuhan landed in California on Wednesday, while Russia is closing its entire 2,615-mile border with China.
● Global markets declined sharply Wednesday as investors weighed the spread of the coronavirus.
● Infections also have been confirmed in France, Hong Kong, Japan, Nepal, Cambodia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Taiwan, Canada and Sri Lanka. We’re mapping the spread here.
12:56 a.m.
More than 8,100 confirmed cases, Chinese state media says
WASHINGTON — Chinese official data now shows 8,149 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country with 171 deaths, according to state media outlets.
The figure includes nine cases in the self-governing island of Tauwan.
The number of confirmed cases by Thursday evening was an increase of 400 from the morning. The earlier number had already surpassed the number of infections during the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic.
By Adam Taylor
12:18 a.m.
Hong Kong seeks to use prison labor to create more surgical masks
HONG KONG — The Hong Kong government, amid panic over a shortage of surgical masks, is looking to increase supply through one of the only domestic channels available: prison labor.
In a statement, the government said it would try to extend production in the Correctional Services Department to 24 hours, increasing production to 1.8 million masks a month from 1.1 million. Other than the prison labor program, which produces them for hospitals and government workers, Hong Kong has only one local producer of surgical masks.
Panic buying has gripped the city amid a high level of mistrust in the Hong Kong government, coming after months of political unrest over fears that the territory is losing autonomy to Beijing.
A government spokesman on Thursday had to debunk rumors that the government was hoarding significant numbers of surgical masks, and even one positing that Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam had given its domestic supply of masks to authorities in mainland China, underscoring the depth of the disaffection.
The Hong Kong government has promised millions of masks will soon arrive in the territory, but said supply will remain tight in the short term and have encouraged people to minimize contact with others and go out less often. Some universities have said they would delay their opening till early March.
By Shibani Mahtani
No comments:
Post a Comment