Coronavirus: 4 More Indians on Ship Test Positive, Total up to 12
Catch all the live updates on the Coronavirus outbreak.
Four Indian crew members, who underwent tests on board the coronavirus-stricken cruise, Diamond Princess, have tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of Indians infected on the vessel to 12, the Indian embassy said on Sunday, 23 February.
Ninety-seven more people died in China due to coronavirus, taking the death toll to 2,442, officials said on Sunday, as a team of WHO experts visited the worst-affected Wuhan city in Hubei province.
Elsewhere in Japan, a woman who tested negative and disembarked from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship later tested positive, raising questions about the effectiveness of the quarantine measures.
- Italy first European country to report deaths from coronavirus
- Japanese Emperor Naruhito, marking his 60th birthday on Sunday, offered his sympathy to those affected by the new virus
- South Korea reported two additional deaths from coronavirus and 123 more cases on Sunday, and raised its coronavirus alert level to ‘highest’
- North Korea has cancelled the Pyongyang Marathon due to the coronavirus outbreak, a leading tour company said on Friday
- Israel confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus
Catch the latest news on coronavirus here.
DGCA Expands Universal Screening of Flight Passengers
An order issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) declared that the universal screening of passengers arriving in flights has been expanded to those from Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, in addition to those from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore.
South Korea Raises Coronavirus Alert Level to 'Highest': President
South Korea is raising its alert level on the new coronavirus to the "highest", President Moon Jae-in said Sunday, in the face of a sudden spike in the number of infections, AFP reported.
"The COVID-19 incident faces a grave turning point," Moon said following a government meeting on the virus. "The government will raise the alert level to the highest level."
Four Indians on Board Cruise Ship Test Positive, Total Number of Infected Indians Rises to 12: Embassy
Four Indian crew members, who underwent tests for the coronavirus along with others still on board the cruise ship moored off the Japan coast, have tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of Indians infected with the virus on the vessel to 12, the Indian embassy said on Sunday, 23 February, as per PTI reports.
Passengers showing no signs of the deadly disease started deboarding the ship, Diamond Princess, after the quarantine period ended last week.
"Unfortunately, results received as of 1200 JST (Japan Standard Time) include 4 Indian crew members having tested positive," the Indian embassy tweeted. Earlier, eight Indians tested positive for the virus.
"All 12 Indians are responding well to treatment," the mission said.
Japan Emperor's 60th Birthday Overshadowed by Virus Fears
Japanese Emperor Naruhito, marking his 60th birthday, offered his sympathy to those affected by the new virus, as concerns over infections forced the traditional gathering of tens of thousands of well-wishers outside the royal palace to be cancelled, AP reported.
Sunday's birthday is a special one for Naruhito, his first since becoming emperor. Sixty is considered a landmark age in the Japanese zodiac calendar.
Festivities surrounding the emperor's birthday, however, have been toned down amid concerns about the virus. Plans for Naruhito to wave from the palace balcony to tens of thousands of well-wishers were among the events that were cancelled.
WHO Team Visits Wuhan City as China's Death Toll Jumps to 2,442
Ninety-seven more people died in China due to coronavirus, taking the death toll to 2,442, officials said on Sunday, 23 February, as a team of WHO experts visited the worst-affected Wuhan city in Hubei province.
By the end of Saturday, a total of 2,442 people had died of the disease and 76,936 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said in its daily update on Sunday.
Ninety-six deaths were reported from Hubei province and one from Guangdong province on Saturday besides 648 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, it said.
South Korea Reports Two More Coronavirus Deaths, 123 New Cases
South Korea reported two additional deaths from coronavirus and 123 more cases on Sunday, 23 February, with nearly two-thirds of the new patients connected to a religious sect, AFP reported.
The national toll of 556 cases is now the second-highest outside of China, apart from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, after the number of the infections soared in recent days. The two deaths take the countrywide toll to four.
Among the latest infections, 75 involved the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
Italy Clamps Down on Travel After Virus Deaths, as Cases Rise
Two deaths from the new coronavirus sparked fears throughout northern Italy, as about 50,000 people were poised for a weeks-long lockdown imposed by authorities trying to halt a further increase in infections, AFP reported.
Italy on Friday, 21 February, became the first country in Europe to report the death of one of its own nationals from the virus, triggering travel restrictions on about a dozen towns where the number of people contaminated has continued to rise.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that people living inside the affected areas in the northern regions would be restricted to those areas, while schools and businesses closed, as part of measures designed to stem new infections.
Russia Says US Claims it is Fuelling Virus Alarm 'Deliberately False'
Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday, 22 February, denied a claim by US officials that Russian-linked social media accounts were making a coordinated effort to spread alarm about the new coronavirus, branding the accusation intentionally misleading.
"This is a deliberately false story," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the TASS state news agency in Russia's first official reaction to the claims by US officials to AFP.
State Department officials tasked with combating Russian disinformation said that thousands of false personas were being used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to promote unfounded conspiracy theories that the US was behind the outbreak, writing in multiple languages.
(Source: PTI)
Quarantine Questioned as Japan Woman Tests Positive After Leaving Ship Tokyo
Japan on Sunday, 23 February, confirmed that a woman who tested negative and disembarked from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship later tested positive, raising questions about the effectiveness of the quarantine measures.
Health Minister Katsunobu Kato has also apologised after 23 passengers were allowed to leave without being properly tested. The woman in her 60s returned to her home in Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo by train after she disembarked on Wednesday, but she had a fever on Friday and tested positive on Saturday, a local official told AFP.
4 More Indians on Quarantined Japanse Cruise Ship Positive
Four more Indians on the quarantined Japan cruise ship test positive for coronavirus. As of now, 12 Indian crew on board the ship are confirmed to be infected, NDTV reported.
Italy Reports Two Death from Coronavirus
Two deaths from the new coronavirus sparked fears throughout northern Italy, as about 50,000 people were poised for a weeks-long lockdown imposed by authorities trying to halt a further increase in infections.
Italy on Friday became the first country in Europe to report the death of one of its own nationals from the virus, triggering travel restrictions on about a dozen towns where the number of people contaminated has continued to rise.
97 More Died in China
Ninety-seven more people died in China due to coronavirus, taking the death toll to 2,442, officials said on Sunday, as a team of WHO experts visited the worst-affected Wuhan city in Hubei province.
By the end of Saturday, a total of 2,442 people had died of the disease and 76,936 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said in its daily update on Sunday.
Coronavirus: Over 46,000 Screened at Mumbai Airport Since 18 Jan
As many as 46,218 people have been screened at the Mumbai international airport till Saturday, 22 February, since 18 January as part of the protocol to tackle the novel coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak, the Maharashtra government has said.
The virus outbreak was first detected in Wuhan in China in December and has since affected thousands of people across the globe.
A Maharashtra government release stated that 80 of the 82 people admitted in isolation wards in hospitals in the state for suspected exposure to covid-19 have tested negative, while two remain admitted in Mumbai hospitals.
Medical Equipment Loaded in Evacuation Aircraft That Has to Fly to Wuhan
A Special Air Force aircraft that has to fly to Wuhan (China) for the evacuation of Indians, has been loaded with medical equipment, at Hindon Air Force Station, in Ghaziabad, ANI reported.
WHO Sounds Alarm Over Africa Coronavirus Preparedness
The World Health Organisation warned on Saturday, 22 February, that African health systems would be ill-equipped to respond to the deadly coronavirus outbreak should cases start to proliferate on the continent.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on African Union member states "to come together to be more aggressive in attacking" the virus, known as COVID-19.
"Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems," Tedros, speaking by video link from Geneva, said during a meeting of African health ministers at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Uncertainty Over Evacuation Causing Mental Stress to Indians in Wuhan: Official Sources
On Saturday, 22 February, official sources said that there is uncertainty over evacuation causing anxiety, mental stress to Indians stuck in China’s Wuhan amid the coronavirus outbreak, PTI reported.
The sources further said that Indians are waiting to be brought back home and flights from Japan, Ukraine, France have been allowed to operate between 16-20 February but India's request has not been approved yet.
Coronavirus: Govt Asks Citizens to Avoid Non-Essential Travel to Singapore
In furtherance to the travel advisory issued earlier in the wake of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the government on Saturday, 22 February, advised citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore.
It also said screening at airports is now being planned for flight passengers coming to India from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia from Monday.
Currently, passengers from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Japan are screened at 21 designated airports in the country for a possible exposure to the novel coronavirus.
The decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to take a stock of the status, actions taken and preparedness of states and UTs regarding management of novel coronavirus (COVID19) on Saturday, the Union Heath Ministry said.
Coronavirus Claims Second Victim in Italy
One more person has died in Italy due to the novel coronavirus, making the death toll as two, AFP reported.
Two More Detected with Coronavirus in UAE, Toll Reaches 11
Two more people in the UAE have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, taking the total number of such cases to 11, health authorities said on Saturday, 22 February.
The two male patients include a 34-year-old from Philippines and a 39-year-old from Bangladesh, who got infected as they were in direct contact with the Chinese patients recently diagnosed with coronavirus, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said in a statement.
Iran Reports One Death Among 10 New Coronavirus Infections
Iran on Saturday, 22 February, reported one more death among 10 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the Islamic republic to five and infections to 28.
"We have 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19," health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on state television. "One of the new cases has unfortunately passed away."
100 Passengers in Close Contact With Coronavirus-Infected People Leave Japan Ship
Around 100 passengers who were in close contact with infected people on board began disembarking from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship on Saturday, 22 February, local media said, AFP reported.
They included the last batch of Japanese passengers to leave the ship while some foreign passengers were still waiting on board for chartered aircraft to be sent by their governments.
Around 970 passengers disembarked earlier this week.
No Such Thing as China Deliberately Delaying Evacuation Flights: Embassy
The spokesperson of Embassy of China in India on Saturday, 22 February, denied the reports of China “deliberately” delaying Indian application of sending flight to Wuhan to bring back Indians.
“Epidemic situation in Hubei is complicated and prevention and control entered critical stage. Departments of two countries are keeping communication in this regard. There is no such thing as China deliberately delaying granting flight permission,” the spokesperson added.
Attributing to sources, PTI had earlier reported that the delay is ‘deliberate’. However, the Chinese government has maintained the stand that there is no delay but inexplicably the clearance has not been given.
“We always attach great importance to health and safety of Indians in China and provided assistance for the return of Indian citizens,” ANI quoted the spokesperson as saying.
Indians Still on Japanese Ship to Be Tested for Coronavirus: Embassy
Indians, who are still on board a cruise ship moored off the Japanese coast, will be tested for the novel coronavirus infection along with others on the vessel by the Japanese authorities, the Indian embassy said on Saturday, 22 February, as all the healthy passengers deboarded after the quarantine period ended.
The last batch of passengers showing no signs of the deadly disease deboarded the ship, Diamond Princess, on Friday after the end of the quarantine period.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that over 1,000 passengers and crew will remain on board the ship after Friday's disembarkations.
More Than 77,000 People Affected Globally Due to Coronavirus
A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 77,000 people globally, AFP reported.
The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it.
China's Couriers Take Hands-Off Approach Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
China's armies of racing, swerving motorcycle deliverymen have been hailed as saviours during the coronavirus crisis, keeping shut-in citizens fed and stocked up.
But it has come with major adjustments for couriers like Gao Yuchao, AFP reported.
A Shanghai driver for leading meal take-out service ele.me, Gao's job has changed: his temperature is taken several times daily at restaurants and delivery points, he wears not one but two masks for protection, and frequently disinfects his delivery box.
"We're not safe for them. It's understandable that some people have courier-phobia," said Gao.
China Deliberately Delaying Clearence to Evacuation Flights: Reports
Chinese government is yet to give clearence to flights that were carrying relief supplies and had to bring back the remaining Indians from Wuhan, reported news agency PTI.
Attributing the information to sources, PTI said that the delay is ‘deliberate’. However, the chinese government has maintained the stand that there is no delay but inexplicably the clearance has not been given.
Drop in New Coronavirus Cases
Drop in new China virus cases as toll reaches 2,345, government says. Meanwhile, South Korea has reported 142 more cases.
Coronavirus Claims First Victim in Italy
A patient in the northern city of Padua in Italy has died after being infected with the Coronavirus, becoming the first Italian victim of the disease, reports Reuters, quoting ANSA news agency.
First Case of Coronavirus in Israel
Israel has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, reports AFP.
New Coronavirus Cases Shutter Italian Village
Bars, schools and offices in a small northern Italian town are shutting down for up to five days to try to quell fears over six cases of the new coronavirus.
Six people have tested positive for the virus in the town of Codogno, population 15,000. Three of those have fallen ill -- including the most serious, a 38-year-old man in intensive care -- while the other three tested positive in a first test and are awaiting results of a second.
Codogno Mayor Francesco Passerini issued a decree on Friday ordering the immediate closure of schools, municipal offices, stores selling food, bars, discos, and sports facilities.
About 80 venues will be affected. The order could last between 48 hours to five days.
Iraq, Kuwait on Alert as Coronavirus Deaths Rise in Iran
Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities were on high alert on Friday, 21 February, after banning travel the previous day to and from Iran, where authorities say the death toll from the new coronavirus has hit four.
Iran's health ministry reported two more deaths among 13 new diagnosed cases of the COVID-19 virus, doubling the total number of deaths in the Islamic republic and taking the total number of diagnosed infections there to 18.
Since December, the virus has killed more than 2,200 people in China, the epidemic's epicentre.
59 Hong Kong Police Officers Quarantined After Meal With Infected Colleague
Dozens of Hong Kong police officers have been placed in quarantine after attending a banquet with a colleague who later tested positive for the new coronavirus, officials said Friday, 21 February.
The news prompted celebrations among some pro-democracy protesters, a vivid illustration of how deeply polarised the city has become after months of rallies and thousands of arrests last year.
The 48-year-old officer found to be carrying the virus had dinner on Tuesday with 59 colleagues, police said. All have been classified as "close contacts" and ordered to undergo mandatory quarantine.
Health officials said four officers as well as the infected policeman's wife and mother-in-law showed symptoms of illness.
Israel Confirms First Case of New Coronavirus
Israel confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus on Friday, 21 February, AFP reported.
Another Virus Hotspot Surfaces in China: Prisons
More than 500 cases of the new coronavirus have been detected in prisons across China, authorities said on Friday, 21 February, prompting the sacking of a slew of officials.
Hubei said that 271 cases were reported by its prisons on Thursday, including 220 previously unknown to provincial authorities.
Most cases were at the Wuhan Women's Prison in Hubei's capital, He Ping, director for prison administration at the Ministry of Justice, told reporters. The warden of the prison has been removed for failing to prevent the outbreak, according to local Communist Party newspaper Hubei Daily.
Seven guards and 200 inmates also tested positive for the virus at Rencheng prison in eastern Shandong province, the provincial health commission said at a press conference.
Ukraine Minister Joins China Evacuees in Quarantine After Clashes
Ukraine's health minister said she will spend two weeks in quarantine with evacuees from coronavirus-hit China after protesters clashed with police and threw stones at returnees over infection fears, AFP reported.
Kiev's efforts to treat 45 nationals and 37 foreigners, mostly from Latin America, in the central Poltava region sparked unrest on Thursday, 20 February, as residents blocked roads and hurled stones at buses carrying the evacuees.
"I will spend the next 14 days with them, in the same premises, under the same conditions," Health Minister Zoryana Skaletska said late Thursday in a statement addressed to the residents of Novi Sanzhary, adding that she was shaken by the panic and aggression.
Plane Lands With Canadians Evacuated From Japan Virus Ship
A chartered plane carrying more than 200 Canadians evacuated from the coronavirus-quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship landed at a military base in Ontario province early Friday, 21 February, AFP reported.
All the passengers who arrived at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, 200 kilometers southwest of Ottawa, had tested negative for COVID-19, CBC reported.
They will however be quarantined for a further 14 days at the Nav Centre in Cornwall, Ontario, a hotel and conference center which has previously been used by the government as an emergency shelter, the national broadcaster said.
Iran Says Two More Deaths Among 13 New Coronavirus Cases
Iran's health ministry on Friday, 21 February, reported two more deaths among 13 new cases of coronavirus in the Islamic republic, bringing the total number of deaths to four and infections to 18.
"Thirteen new cases have been confirmed," ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Twitter, as per AFP. "Unfortunately two of them have lost their lives."
Tokyo Blasts 'Not Appropriate' London Olympic Hosting Offer
Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike hit back on Friday at a London mayor candidate who offered to host this year's Olympics due to the coronavirus epidemic affecting Japan.
Shaun Bailey had tweeted: "London can host the Olympics in 2020. We have the infrastructure and the experience. And due to the coronavirus outbreak, the world might need us to step up."
In rare undiplomatic comments, Koike blasted Bailey's offer, saying it is "not appropriate to try to make it an issue in a mayoral election."
Organisers have stressed it is far too early to consider changes to the Tokyo Olympics, which start on July 24, because of the coronavirus. "I can confirm Tokyo 2020 remains on track," top IOC official John Coates said last week in Tokyo, while Games CEO Yoshiro Mori has criticised "irresponsible rumours" about the Games.
North Korea Cancels Marathon Over Virus: Travel Firm
North Korea has cancelled the Pyongyang Marathon because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, a leading tour company said Friday, 21 February.
Beijing-based Young Pioneer Tours, which specialises in budget trips to the isolated country, said on its website it had "received confirmation from our travel partners" that the April event had been cancelled, AFP reported.
The move was "due to the current borders of the DPRK (North Korea) being closed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus", it added.
Death Toll in China's Coronavirus Jumps to 2,236; Confirmed Cases Cross 75,400
The death toll in China's novel coronavirus has gone up to 2,236 with 118 more deaths reported, mostly from the hard-hit Hubei province, while the overall confirmed infection cases have climbed to 75,465, Chinese health officials said on Friday.
The number of deaths is higher than the previous day when 114 people died of the disease, but the country reported the lowest number of new infection cases in nearly a month, fuelling hopes that Beijing's epidemic control efforts were working.
52 More Coronavirus Cases Confirmed in South Korea
South Korea confirms 52 more coronavirus cases, bringing total to 156 in the country, AFP reports.
Odisha: Locals Fear of Coronavirus After Hong Kong Ships Dock at Dharma Port
The residents of Bhadrak district of Odisha have expressed concern that the crew members of the two Hong Kong ships, that anchored at the Dhamra Port two days ago, might have been exposed to the deadly coronavirus, PTI reported.
Assuaging their concern, Bhadrak Additional District Magistrate Shyambhakt Mishra said the crew had undergone screening for the virus and there was no reason to panic. "I have also spoken to Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) authorities on the matter," he said.
The port authorities made it clear that the crew members will not be allowed to disembark from the ship as they do not have immigration passes.
Pakistani Parents Want Children Back From Virus-Struck Wuhan Within 3 Days; Serves Ultimatum
Angry parents of hundreds of Pakistani students stuck in China's coronavirus-hit Hubei province have served a three-day ultimatum to the government to evacuate their children as they confronted senior officials for being insensitive to their plight, according to media reports on Thursday, 20 February, PTI reported.
Many students and their families have expressed frustration as the death toll in China mounted, as countries like India and Bangladesh are evacuating their citizens from Wuhan city and Hubei province, The Express Tribune reported.
The government has so far ruled out bringing home the over 1,000 students in Hubei province, where three-quarters of the more than 2,000 deaths from the outbreak of the flu-like virus had been recorded.
Iran Announces 3 New Cases of Coronavirus After 2 Deaths
Iran said on Thursday, 20 February, that 3 more people have been infected with coronavirus, following an announcement the day before that two people had died of the illness in the city of Qom. All schools and universities were shut down in Qom, according to the official IRNA news agency. Other news reports said Iran had evacuated 60 Iranian students from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of the epidemic, AP reported.
An official in Iran's health ministry, Kiyanoush Jahanpour, said on his Twitter account that there were 5 confirmed cases of the virus in Iran, including the two elderly citizens who died on Wednesday in Qom.
Mohammad Mahdi Gouya, Iran's deputy health minister, said they did not appear to have had any contact with Chinese nationals. Iranian authorities are investigating the origin of the disease, and its possible link with religious pilgrims from Pakistan or other countries.
FM Sitharaman, Govt Officials Meet to Assess India's Coronavirus Preparedness
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assessed the impact and reviewed India's preparedness for Coronavirus, during a meeting with various secretaries and senior officials of the stakeholder departments of the Government of India on Thursday, 20 February, ANI reported.
13 More Coronavirus Cases Reported on Cruise Ship, Total 634 Diagnosed On Board
13 more coronavirus cases have been reported on the quarantined Japanese cruise ship 'Diamond Princess,' AFP reported on Thursday, 20 February. This brings the total cases on the ship to 634, the health ministry confirmed, after 52 additional test results diagnosed the passengers.
Air India Cancels All Flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong
Air India announced that all flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong have been further cancelled till 30 June, in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, ANI reported.
The announcement came even as the Ministry of External Affairs said that there was no ban on travel to or from China due to the coronavirus outbreak.
South Korea Reports First Coronavirus Death, Citizens Urged to Stay Home
South Korea reported its first death from the novel coronavirus on Thursday while Mayor Kwon Young-jin urged the 2.5 million citizens to refrain from going outside as viral infections, linked to a church congregation, spiked, reported PTI.
The death of a previously confirmed patient in South Korea marked the world's ninth coronavirus fatality outside mainland China. Other deaths have occurred in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and France.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the South Korean man, believed to be around 63 years old, died at a hospital on Wednesday and posthumously tested positive for coronavirus.
MEA Gives Updates on Indians Stranded on Quarantined Cruise Ship, Announces Aid Plans
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that there are 132 crew members and six passengers of Indian nationality on board the cruise ship, Diamond Princess, that has been quarantined off the coast of Japan. As per the latest information, he added, eight Indian nationals have been infected with coronavirus, and are being treated at the local hospital.
Kumar added that the Government of India has decided to send a consignment of medical supplies on a relief flight to Wuhan, as a way to express support to China in its fight against the epidemic. On its return journey, the aircraft will be used to bring back Indians who couldn't board the first two evacuation flights. Subject to capacity limitations and other logistics, the flight will accommodate nationals of other countries as well, he said.
India's Third Coronavirus Patient Discharged From Hospital in Kerala
A woman medico, who was India's first novel coronavirus patient being treated at the Government Medical College hospital in Kerala’s Thrissur was discharged on Thursday, 20 February, official sources cited by PTI said.
The decision to discharge her from the hospital was taken by the Medical Board, which met and examined the results of the woman's samples that had tested negative for the second time, they said.
The discharge of the student marked the recovery of all three cases of infection in India reported from Kerala.
Two other students – one from Alappuzha and another Kasaragod – had been discharged recently after they too tested negative for the virus in fresh tests days after being infected by it.
Two Coronavirus Patients from Japan Cruise Ship Dead, Say Reports
Two elderly coronavirus patients from a quarantined cruise ship off Japan have died, news agency AFP cited media reports as saying on Thursday. However, no immediate confirmation was available from the Health Ministry.
A man and a woman in their 80s who had been infected have died, public broadcaster NHK and other media said.
They would be the first fatal cases among more than 600 confirmed on the ship.
China Announces Biggest Drop in New Virus Cases in Almost a Month
China on Thursday reported the lowest number of new daily cases from the coronavirus in nearly a month. The National Health Commission reported 628 new cases in central Hubei province and 45 cases elsewhere in the country.
Two Die in Iran of Coronavirus
Two people have died in Iran after testing positive on Wednesday for the new coronavirus, the health ministry said, in the Islamic republic's first cases of the disease, according to AFP.
They are also the first deaths from the COVID-19 virus in the Middle East and only the seventh and eighth outside China where the outbreak has killed more than 2,000 people.
WHO Declares 'Progress' in Fight Against Coronavirus
The World Health Organization today hailed “tremendous progress” in the fight against the deadly new coronavirus since it emerged in China in December.
"We are making tremendous progress in a short period of time ... trends are very encouraging but we are not at a turning point yet," said Richard Brennan, WHO's regional emergency director, at a press conference in Cairo.
The death toll from the COVID-19 virus jumped past 2,000 on Wednesday, almost all of them in mainland China where 74,185 cases of infection have been confirmed.
Egypt's health ministry announced last week the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Africa, a foreigner whose nationality was not revealed.
One More Indian Tests Positive for Coronavirus on Cruise Ship off Japan
One more Indian aboard a quarantined cruise ship off Japan was tested positive for the novel coronavirus and shifted to hospital, taking the number of Indian nationals infected with the virus on the vessel to seven, according to the Indian Embassy, reported PTI.
Among the 3,711 passengers and crew, 621 people were found to be infected with the new coronavirus as of Wednesday. On Tuesday, 88 people tested positive and a day earlier 99 others were found to have been infected.
Indian Auto Industry to Be Negatively Impacted, Supply Chain Disrupted If Coronavirus Persists: ICRA
India's automobile industry is likely to be negatively impacted and supply chain disrupted if the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China and South-East Asia persisted longer, according to ratings agency ICRA.
These countries play a critical role in automotive supply chain and domestic OEMs source critical components and sub-components including fuel injection pumps, EGR modules, electronic components, turbo chargers from these markets which in turn directly or indirectly depend on China, reported PTI.
China accounts for 27 percent of India's auto component imports valued at USD 4.8 billion and, the impact is estimated to be higher for high value-add and customised components, while commoditised products could shift to alternative suppliers, ICRA said in a statement.
Coronavirus: Final Batch of Inmates at ITBP Quarantine Facility Discharged
The third and final batch of inmates quarantined at an ITBP facility in Delhi after being evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan was discharged, a senior official said today.
With the latest release, all 406 people at the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility have been discharged after being declared free of coronavirus by the doctors.
The release of the inmates that began on 17 February ended on Wednesday morning with the last departure of a family of six people, ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said.
The discharge process was initiated after the final coronavirus reports of all the 406 people living at the facility tested negative, reported PTI.
2 Crew Members of Chinese Ship Under Isolation in TN
Two Chinese crew members of a ship, which arrived from China, have been kept in isolation due to fever, while the vessel has been "kept away from access", the Chennai Port Trust said on Wednesday.
The blood samples of the isolated individuals have been collected and sent to a city-based institute for further tests, a release from the Port Trust said.
All 406 People Discharged from ITBP Quarantine Facility
The last batch of six people (who came from China’s Wuhan) at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) quarantine facility in Chhawla, Delhi, left for their homes after completing screening for coronavirus on Wednesday.
All 406 people have been discharged from the camp now, the ITBP said.
WHO Chief Condoles Death of Chinese Doctor in Fight Against Coronavirus Outbreak
World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has condoled the death of a Chinese hospital chief who died of the coronavirus in Wuhan, PTI reported.
Dr Liu Zhiming, president of the Wuhan Wuchang Hospital in Hubei province died of the novel coronavirus pneumonia on Tuesday despite medical efforts to revive him, the state-run CCTV reported, the latest fatality among medical workers as they rush to save tens of thousands of patients at the epicenter of the outbreak.
Hong Kong Reports Second Coronavirus Fatality
An elderly Hong Kong man who contracted the coronavirus died on Wednesday, authorities announced, the second fatality from the outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
"A 70-year-old male patient who was infected with the novel coronavirus deteriorated and succumbed in Princess Margaret Hospital this morning," the Hospital Authority said in a statement, according to AFP.
Officials said the man was taken to hospital on 12 February after a fall at home. He had a fever and tested positive for the virus, dying a week later.
Passengers Start Leaving Japan Ship After 14-Day Quarantine
Passengers who tested negative for the new coronavirus and are not showing symptoms on Wednesday began leaving a cruise ship in Japan that has seen more than 500 cases of the potentially deadly disease.
Some 500 passengers were expected to disembark in the coming hours after the start of an operation that authorities say could take up to three days as test results are processed.
Coronavirus Death Toll Surges to 2000
The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak surges to 2,000, as Chinese and international health officials warn against excessive measures to contain the epidemic, reports AFP.
Hope India Reviews Travel Curbs, Resumes Normal Trade, Says China
Urging countries to “refrain from overreaction”, Chinese ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, on Tuesday expressed the hope that the Indian side could “review” the situation with regard to the novel coronavirus epidemic in an “objective, rational and calm manner” and “resume” normal personnel exchanges and trade.
The Chinese envoy’s remarks came as India has put travel restrictions and cancelled visas for Chinese nationals visiting India, in the wake of the outbreak.
Too Early to Say Whether Virus Threatens Olympics: WHO
Despite a virus outbreak spreading from China, a top World Health Organisation official said it's much too soon to say whether the Tokyo Olympics are at risk of being cancelled or moved.
Tokyo organisers and the International Olympic Committee have repeatedly said they have no contingency plans for the 24 July - 9 August Summer Games since the WHO declared a global health emergency last month.
The UN agency's emergencies programme director, Michael Ryan, said Tuesday the sporting event was way too far away to consider giving advice that would affect Tokyo's hosting of the Olympics.
Russia Bans Chinese Citizens From Entering Its Territory
Russia bans Chinese citizens from entering its territory over coronavirus, AFP reports, quoting agencies.
China Remembers Fernandes' Help When It Was Hit by SARS
China on Tuesday recounted the 2003 visit of India's then Defence Minister George Fernandes to the country when it was reeling under SARS epidemic even as it urged New Delhi to review restrictions imposed on trade and movement of people between the two countries in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, PTI reported.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong referred to the gesture by Fernandes, who was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, while briefing journalists about the way China was dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.
Coronavirus Outbreak: IAF To Evacuate Indian Nationals from Wuhan on 20 February
Indian Air Force's C-17 military aircraft willl visit China on 20 February to evacuate Indian nationals from coronavirus-hit Wuhan, ANI quoted Indian Air Force as saying.
Virus-Hit Province Rewards Doctors' Children With Extra Exam Points
Children of China's frontline medical workers battling the deadly coronavirus will be awarded extra exam points when applying for schools and higher education, local officials said on Tuesday, 18 February.
Doctors and nurses in Hubei province -- where the outbreak originated and which has reported the majority of deaths -- have been lionized online and by state media.
The measures will "further care for the province's frontline medical staff" and encourage them to be more "resolute" in their fight to contain the virus, the province said in a statement.
UN Chief: New Virus Outbreak Is 'a Very Dangerous Situation'
The UN secretary general has said that the virus outbreak that began in China “is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation.” Antonio Guterres said in an interview to the Associated Press on Tuesday, 18 February, that “the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that.”
The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. The UN chief was in Pakistan for a conference on 40 years of refugees fleeing neighboring war-torn Afghanistan.
Govt Reviewing Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak on Industries: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
The government is reviewing the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on industries, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday, 18 February, PTI reported. Based on comprehensive consultation, some measures would be announced shortly, she said, adding that the pharma, chemical and solar equipment sectors have been vocal about some disruption due to the outbreak.
However, she said that there are no concerns about price rise so far, and that it was too early to talk about impact of the epidemic on the Make in India initiative.
Vietnam F1 Grand Prix Gets Go-Ahead Despite Virus Fears
Vietnam's inaugural Formula One Grand Prix will take place in Hanoi in April as planned, organisers told AFP on Tuesday, 18 February, avoiding the fate of the Chinese Grand Prix which was postponed over the deadly coronavirus.
The race will be held as "scheduled" on April 5, Le Ngoc Chi, CEO of Vietnam Grand Prix told AFP.
The virus, which has killed more than 1,800 people in China, has trashed Asia's sporting calendar, forcing the postponement of top events including the Shanghai grand prix and the Hong Kong Sevens rugby. But Vietnamese authorities said the country's inaugural Formula One race would go ahead on schedule.
Around 500 to Leave Quarantined Japan Cruise Ship on Wednesday: Official
Around 500 people will leave quarantined Japan cruise ship Diamond Princess on Wednesday, 19 February, AFP quoted an official as saying. The news comes in the wake of another 88 people aboard the ship testing positive for coronavirus.
The new cases took the total cases on board the Diamond Princess to 542 - the biggest cluster outside the epicentre in China.
Will Win Battle Against Coronavirus: Chinese Envoy
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong on Tuesday, 18 February, asserted that China has put in place multi-level control and prevention mechanisms and will win the battle against coronavirus, reported PTI.
The envoy said China has allocated RMB 80 billion to contain the disease and the government has sufficient resources and policy tools to cope with economic fluctuations following the epidemic. He said the number of confirmed cases outside Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic, is coming down.
"China has full confidence that it will win the battle against coronavirus epidemic," he told reporters. He added that the outbreak has not been able to impact the strong fundamentals of China's strong economy.
Singapore Announces US$4.6 Billion Boost to Fight Virus
Singapore unveiled US$4.6 billion in financial packages on Tuesday, 18 February, to deal with the impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has battered the city-state's economy and sparked fears of a recession, AFP reported.
The financial hub has reported 77 cases of the virus, one of the highest figures outside mainland China, where the pathogen has killed hundreds and infected tens of thousands.
The money was earmarked to help companies and families ride out the looming slowdown, with a large chunk set to go to firms in the most affected sectors including aviation, tourism and retail. There was also money to help families, which will come in the form of cash payouts and grocery vouchers for the needy. An additional part was set aside to support virus-fighting efforts, with most going to the health ministry.
Six Infected Indians on Quarantined Ship off Japan Coast Responding Well to Treatment: Embassy
The six Indians infected with the novel coronavirus on board the quarantined cruise ship off the Japanese coast were responding well to the treatment, the Indian embassy in Tokyo said on Tuesday, 18 February, as 88 new cases of the deadly disease were reported on the vessel.
A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the ship that arrived at the Japanese coast earlier this month.
"Till 1800 (Japan Standard Time) today, no new #COVID-19 positive cases confirmed on #DiamondPrincess since yesterday," the Indian embassy tweeted. "All six Indian crew members already receiving treatment for COVID – 19 are responding well to the treatment and their conditions are improving," it said.
Coronavirus Cases Top 500 on Cruise Ship off Japan
Another 88 people aboard a cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities said Tuesday, 18 February, as those free of the disease hoped they were spending their last night on board before disembarking.
The new cases take the total from the Diamond Princess to 542 (the biggest cluster outside the epicentre in China) as the cruise ship has proved an especially virulent breeding ground for the virus despite quarantine.
The new cases will be sent to specialised hospitals, the ministry said in a statement, without giving further details such as their nationalities. 65 of those who tested positive were not yet showing symptoms.
Number of Coronavirus Cases Outside Hubei Province Falling: Chinese Ambassador
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases outside Hubei province is coming down, said Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong. reported by PTI.
Shanghai Virus Hospital Tries Array of Treatments in 'Big Test'
The Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center is the designated facility for coronavirus cases in China's biggest city, which was previously used to treat victims of the 2002-03 SARS epidemic and was expanded to handle the current outbreak.
Doctors at the centre are still treating 184 people, including 14 in critical condition. They are using many methods including anti-viral medications, corticosteroids, blood plasma from recovered patients, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Western experts have questioned TCM, saying its efficacy remains unproven by science, making it a potentially dangerous placebo.
But a doctor said two severe cases who did not respond to anti-viral drugs alone were also administered TCM, after which their condition improved, AFP reported. Shen Yinzhong, the hospital's director of medical services, cautioned that more study was needed, saying "we still need to do more clinical trials to prove (TCM's) safety and efficacy.”
Macau Casinos to Reopen After Virus Ban Lifted
Macau's casinos will reopen on Thursday, 20 February, after authorities lifted a city-wide two-week closure aimed at stopping the spread of the deadly new coronavirus, AFP reported. The resumption of the lynchpin industry comes after the city reported no new infections in the last two weeks, with the number confirmed cases at just ten people.
UK to Repatriate Citizens From Ship Quarantined off Japan
The British government on Tuesday, 18 February, became the latest country to announce it will evacuate its citizens stranded on board a cruise ship quarantined off Japan because of the new coronavirus.
Britain said it would organise a flight to repatriate its nationals from the Diamond Princess vessel, where more than 450 people have tested positive for COVID-19. That follows the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea all saying they will evacuate their citizens from the boat.
China to Waive Tariffs on US Medical Imports Amid Virus Outbreak
China will waive trade-war tariffs on imports of selected US medical equipment from March 2, the government said Tuesday, 18 February, as the country battles to contain the new coronavirus epidemic.
The move comes as doctors and nurses treating virus patients in China's overstretched hospitals struggle to deal with the health crisis amid a shortage of basic medical items
Cambodia PM Defends Ship Docking Despite Virus Diagnosis
Cambodia's premier defended his decision to allow a US cruise ship to dock despite at least one passenger later being diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus, AFP reported. The ship was turned away by several Asian ports before Cambodia agreed to allow its more than 2,000 passengers and crew to disembark. Later, an 83-year-old American woman passenger was stopped at a Malaysian airport and diagnosed with the virus, but by the time she was diagnosed, scores of fellow passengers had moved through different countries.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen remained defiant. "Some people say it brings the virus to Cambodia, but Cambodia has not had the disease (among its people)," he said in a speech. Cruise operator Holland America said tests for 406 passengers now at a Phnom Penh hotel were negative, and they could continue their journeys home.
Coronavirus Epidemic: Paracetamol Prices up by 40 percent in India
Prices of paracetamol, the most commonly used analgesic, have jumped by 40 percent in India, while the cost of azithromycin, an antibiotic used for treating a variety of bacterial infections, has risen by 70 percent, said Pankaj R. Patel, chairman of Zydus Cadila. The pharma industry could face shortages in finished drug formulations starting April if supplies aren’t restored by the first week of next month, he said, reported by the Indian Express.
Singapore Airlines to Cut Flights as Coronavirus Outbreak Hits Demand
Singapore Airlines on Tuesday, 18 February, said that it will temporarily cut flights across its global network, including Mumbai, in the three months to May as the deadly coronavirus outbreak has impacted the flight demand to the city-state, PTI reported. Key affected destinations include Mumbai, Frankfurt, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo, the airline said in a statement.
China Arrests Activist Who Criticised Xi Over Virus, Says Amnesty Intl
Police in China have arrested a prominent activist who had been a fugitive for weeks and criticised President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus epidemic while in hiding, AFP reported. Anti-corruption activist Xu Zhiyong was arrested on Saturday, 15 February, after being on the run since December, according to Amnesty International.
People Quarantined in Manesar Tested Negative, to Be Discharged: Health Ministry
The 220 people who had been rescued from Wuhan and then quarantined in Manesar have all tested negative for coronavirus, ANI reported the Union Health Ministry as saying. They will be discharged on Tuesday, 18 February, from the Indian Army facility they had been quarantined in.
After rescue efforts, the passengers had been brought back from China by Air India flights on 31 January and 1 February, and then put in the facility to undergo testing. They have all tested negative in their latest tests for coronavirus.
Previously, the 406 people at the ITBP quarantine facility in Delhi, had also tested negative for the virus on 16 February and were cleared to be discharged, PTI had reported.
Wuhan Hospital Director Dies of Coronavirus
A hospital director at the epicentre of China's virus epidemic died on Tuesday, 18 February, AFP reported, the latest medical worker to fall victim to the coronavirus which has spread across the country. Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died in the morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported.
He is the first known hospital director to have died from the coronavirus. Liu's death was initially reported by Chinese media and bloggers shortly after midnight on Tuesday -- but the stories were later deleted and replaced with reports that doctors were still attempting to save him. Doctors in Wuhan face shortages of masks and protective bodysuits, with some even wearing makeshift hazmat suits and continuing to work despite showing respiratory symptoms, because of a lack of medical staff.
Virus Fears Rise After Cambodia's Acceptance of Cruise Ship
The feel-good story of how Cambodia allowed a cruise ship to dock after it was turned away elsewhere in Asia for fear of spreading a new disease took an unfortunate turn after a passenger later tested positive for the virus. An 83-year old American woman is the affected passenger, reported AP.
Cambodia's government had originally earned kudos from the head of the UN's World Health Organization and the US ambassador there for allowing the ship to dock at Sihanoukville after it was turned away by Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam and Thailand. The move was seen as a victory for the image of Cambodia's authoritarian leader, who welcomed the ship's passengers with handshakes and flowers.
13 US Citizens at 'High Risk' of Coronavirus Being Treated in Nebraska
Thirteen US citizens deemed "high risk" for the deadly novel coronavirus are being treated at a federally designated facility in the University of Nebraska following their evacuation from a cruise ship in Japan, officials said, AFP reported.
A total of 338 Americans were flown home from the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan's Yokohama, touching down first at Travis Air Force Base in California shortly before midnight Sunday.
The second flight arrived early Monday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Coronavirus Death Toll Passes 1800
The death toll from China's coronavirus epidemic climbed to 1,868 on Tuesday, 18 February, as 98 more people died while the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436, officials said.
Of the new deaths, 93 were reported from Hubei Province, the epicentre of the virus, three from Henan, and one each from Hebei and Hunan, said the National Health Commission.
Hubei reported 1,807 new confirmed cases, taking the total number of such cases to 59,989 in the province. Another 1,432 new suspected cases were reported from the rest of China.On Monday, 1,097 patients became seriously ill and 11,741 patients remained in severe condition, the commission said.
14 People Who Tested Positive On Board Quarantined Ship in Japan Airlifted
Fourteen people who had tested positive for the new coronavirus were among more than 300 US citizens and family members evacuated by plane from a quarantined ship in Japan, the US State Department said, according to AFP.
WHO Warns Against Novel Coronavirus ‘Blanket Measures’
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned against "blanket measures" over the novel coronavirus outbreak, pointing out the epidemic outside of China was only affecting a "tiny" proportion of the population.
WHO also said that - with a mortality rate of around 2 percent -- COVID-19 was "less deadly" than other coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
WHO officials rejected the suggestion that all cruises should be halted to avoid risking a new nest of infection like the one on the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess off Japan.
"Measures should be taken proportional to the situation. Blanket measures may not help," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.
New Virus Has Infected More Than 71,000 People Globally
A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 71,000 people globally. The World Health Organisation has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it, AP reports.
ITBP Offers Roses to People Being Released From Quarantine
Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officials offered roses to the 200 people who were released from quarantine on Monday, 17 February.
Chinese Wrestlers Not to Compete in Asian Championships in Delhi
Chinese wrestlers will not compete in the Asian Championships beginning in Delhi on Tuesday as they have not been granted visas by the government due to the novel coronavirus outbreak there, a top official of the national federation said on Monday.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told PTI that the government has denied visas to the 40-strong Chinese contingent.
"We have got to know that the government has not granted visas to the Chinese contingent and so they are not taking part in the Championships," Tomar said.
"The world is grappling with the issue of coronavirus and so health of the athletes is the primary concern now. It is understandable why the government has not given visas to them," he added.
Organisers Cancel Tokyo Marathon for 38,000 Runners Over Coronavirus
Organisers said Monday, 17 February, they are cancelling the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.
"We reached the conclusion that unfortunately it is difficult to organise the event... after several cases (of the virus) were confirmed in Tokyo," the Tokyo Marathon Foundation said in a statement.
The decision will not affect elite runners, including elite wheelchair participants, the organisers said. But they only account for around 200 of the tens of thousands of people who had registered for the 1 March race.
4 Infected Indians on Board Cruise Ship Responding Well to Treatment: Indian Embassy
The Indian embassy in Tokyo on Monday said the four Indians infected with the novel coronavirus on board the quarantined cruise ship moored off the Japanese coast were responding well to treatment even as 99 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, taking the number of those infected to 454 on the vessel.
The embassy in a tweet on Sunday said the number of infected Indians on the ship, iamond Princess, rose to five with two more testing positive for the disease.
However, on Monday, the mission revised the figure to four.
New Coronavirus Is ‘Preventable and Treatable’: China Health Official
The novel coronavirus that has killed more than 1,700 people in China is “preventable and treatable”, an official from the country’s National Health Commission told Reuters on Monday.
Guo Yanhong, a hospital administration supervisor at the commission, made the remarks at a daily press conference, in which she also said the percentage of infected patients in virus epicentre Wuhan who are critically ill had dropped to 18 percent now from 38 percent at the beginning of the outbreak.
Union Health Minister Visits ITBP Quarantine Site
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Monday, 17 February, met the first batch of Indians who were evacuated from Wuhan, China at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Quarantine Facility in Chhawla. The patients were discharged after completing all virus screening and were tested negative.
PM Modi Writes to Air India Medical Evacuation Crew Member
Prime Minster Modi on Monday wrote to Manju Josheph, a nursing officer at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, who was part of the medical evacuation crew on the Air India Flight sent to Wuhan, China to evacuate Indian citizens.
Congratulating the evacuation team on their determination and compassion dring the evacuation.
China May Postpone Annual Parliament Session
China is considering a rare move to postpone its annual parliament session scheduled to be held in early March as the country grapples with the coronavirus outbreak.
The NPC Standing Committee is to discuss postponing this year's NPC plenary session, the state-run China Daily said in a brief report.
If the NPC, which is held every year along with the advisory body Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is postponed, it will be regarded as an unprecedented move.
India to Send Consignment of Medical Supplies to China
India will send a consignment of medical supplies on a relief flight to Wuhan city later this week to support China in combating the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the country, Indian Embassy in China said on Monday.
"GoI will send a consignment of medical supplies on a relief flight to Wuhan later this week to support China to fight the COVID-19 epidemic. On its return, the flight will have limited capacity to take on board Indians wishing to return to India from Wuhan/Hubei," the embassy tweeted.
14 Test Positive Among US Plane Evacuees From Japan Virus Ship: State Dept
Fourteen people who had tested positive for the new coronavirus were among the more than 300 US citizens and family members evacuated by plane from a quarantined ship in Japan, the US State Department said on Monday, 17 February.
The passengers had already disembarked from the Diamond Princess and were preparing to return to the United States on chartered aircraft when US officials were informed 14 of them who had been tested days earlier were positive for COVID-19, it said in a joint statement with the Department of Health and Human Services.
"These individuals were moved in the most expeditious and safe manner to a specialized containment area on the evacuation aircraft to isolate them in accordance with standard protocols," it said.
"During the flights, these individuals will continue to be isolated from the other passengers."
Coronavirus: Nepalis Evacuated From China Sent to Quarantine Facility
As many as 175 Nepalis were evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Chinese province of Hubei and were sent to a quarantine facility set up at Kharipati in Nepal’s Bhaktapur district, ANI reported.
The group of Nepali nationals includes 170 students, one employee, two visitors, and two children, who arrived in Kathmandu on the morning of Sunday, 16 February, on a chartered flight of Nepal Airlines.
Taiwan Confirms First Coronavirus Death
In Taiwan, a 61-year-old taxi driver died after being infected from Coronavirus, making it the first such death on the island, Reuters reported.
In a news conference held on Sunday, 16 February, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said that the man had diabetes and hepatitis B. Taiwan has to date accumulated 20 confirmed cases.
Coronavirus: US Evacuates Its Citizens From Japan Cruise Ship
The US flew home its citizens from a coronavirus-infected cruise ship in Japan on Monday, 17 February, with other nations preparing to follow suit as global concerns grow over the spread of the disease and the death toll at its Chinese epicentre topped 1,700, AFP reported.
Outside China, the biggest cluster of infections is on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Yokohama, where coronavirus cases have climbed quickly to 355 despite passengers being confined to their cabins during a 14-day quarantine.
In the early hours of Monday morning, a convoy of buses driven by people in head-to-toe protective suits removed American passengers from the ship after a makeshift passport control.
Kerala: One More Coronavirus Patient Discharged, Currently Under Home Isolation
Another patient in Kerala, who was earlier found to be coronavirus positive, has been discharged from the hospital and is presently under home isolation, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said on Monday, 17 February.
Earlier, one patient was discharged and now the number of patients discharged has risen up to two.
China Virus Death Toll Rises to 1770; Total Cases Climb to Over 70,500
China reported 105 new deaths due to the new coronavirus on Monday, 17 February, pushing the overall death toll to 1,770, as officials announced stringent measures such as closing non-essential public venues and traffic restrictions to control the epidemic in the worst-hit Hubei province.
The National Health Commission said 2,048 new cases of the virus have been confirmed, taking the total number of COVID-19 infected cases to 70,548, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Of the new deaths, 100 were from Hubei Province, three in Henan, and two in Guangdong.
Recovered Coronavirus Patients Donate Plasma To Save Others: Chinese Media
Twenty recovered coronavirus patients donated their plasma to those in severe condition in Wuhan, capital of the hard-hit province of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said the province's COVID-19 scientific research team on Sunday, 16 February.
The donors are doctors and nurses who have recovered from the disease for 10 days at the Jiangxia District's No. 1 people's hospital and traditional Chinese medicine hospital, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Twelve patients in severe condition have received the plasma treatment. An expert with Jiangxia District's No. 1 people's hospital said that the patients have shown improved clinical symptoms about 12 to 24 hours after they received the treatment.
Egypt Becomes the First Country in Africa to Confirm Coronavirus
Egypt has become the first country in Africa to confirm a case of coronavirus, local media reported.
In a statement issued by the Egyptian Health Ministry, it mentioned that the affected person is a foreigner, however, did not reveal the nationality of the affected person.
Coronavirus Could Damage Global Growth in 2020: IMF
The coronavirus epidemic could damage global economic growth this year, the IMF head said Sunday, but a sharp and rapid economic rebound could follow, according to an AFP report.
"There may be a cut that we are still hoping would be in the 0.1-0.2 percentage space," the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, told the Global Women's Forum in Dubai.
Coronavirus Death Toll Reaches 1,765
The death toll from China's new coronavirus epidemic jumped past 1,700 on Monday, 17 February, after 100 more people died in the hard-hit Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, AFP reported.
In its daily update, the province's health commission also reported 1,933 new cases. At least 70,400 people have now been infected nationwide.
Most are in Hubei, where the virus first emerged in December before spiralling into a nationwide epidemic.
40 Americans on Cruise Ship in Japan Infected With Coronavirus
40 Americans on cruise ship in Japan have been infected with coronavirus, an official has said, according to AFP.
All 252 Students at Manesar Facility Who Had Come From China Test Negative
All the 252 students who had come from China and were staying in the Indian Army facility in Manesar have tested negative in their latest tests for coronavirus.
2 More Indians On Board Cruise Ship off Japanese Coast Test Positive
Two more Indians on board a quarantined cruise ship off the Japanese coast have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, as India assured that it will provide all possible assistance to its nationals on the ship to return home after they test negative in the final coronavirus tests that would begin on Monday, the Indian Embassy said on Sunday, according to PTI.
A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the ship, Diamond Princess, that arrived at the Japanese coast earlier this month.
The total number of people infected with COVID-19 on the ship rose to 355 on Sunday.
Earlier, three Indian crew members tested positive for the virus and are receiving treatment.
All 406 People Housed at Quarantine Facility in Delhi Test Negative
All 406 people, who are housed at an ITBP quarantine facility in Delhi after being brought back from Wuhan, have tested negative for novel Coronavirus in the latest sample examination and will be discharged in a phased manner beginning Monday, officials said, according to PTI.
The final samples of all the people quarantined at the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility here were collected by a team of doctors on Friday.
Coronavirus Outbreak: India Says It Will Do Everything to Help China
India will do everything within its means to assist the people of China to combat the deadly coronavirus outbreak and would soon send a consignment of medical supplies, Indian Ambassador Vikram Misri said on Sunday, according to PTI.
The death toll from COVID-19 outbreak in China has climbed to 1,665 after 142 more people died, mostly in the worst-hit Hubei province, officials said on Sunday.
"As a concrete step to tackle the outbreak, India will soon send a consignment of medical supplies to China," Misri said, adding that this is a concrete measure which will fully demonstrate the goodwill, solidarity and friendship of the people and Government of India with the Chinese people.
Govt Sets Up Teams to Inspect Villages Bordering Nepal for COVID-19
The Union Health Ministry has constituted central teams of experts for examination of villages bordering Nepal for novel coronavirus infection, PTI reported.
Villages bordering Nepal in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim and West Bengal will be inspected by central teams for community-level Information Education Communication (IEC) activities for coronavirus in regard to the novel coronavirus, an order by the Health Ministry dated 15 February said.
Five separate teams of doctors from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Safdarjung Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital among others have been set up.
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