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CHINA-HEALTH-VIRUS,CHRONO
Coronavirus: latest developments worldwide
PARIS, Feb 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – More than 1,500 dead from the novel
coronavirus in China. The first fatality recorded outside Asia and the first
case in Africa. Here are the latest developments.
– More than 1,500 dead –
The death toll from China’s epidemic jumps to 1,523, with more than 66,000
people now infected from the virus that emerged in central Hubei province in
December, before spreading through China and around the world.
The number of new cases on Saturday was 2,641, or about half the number of
the previous day. The vast majority in Hubei.
– First death outside Asia –
France announces the first death confirmed outside of Asia and the first in
Europe — an 80-year-old Chinese tourist hospitalised since late January.
Only three deaths had so far been recorded outside mainland China — in the
Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan.
– First case in Africa –
Egypt’s health ministry announces the first confirmed case of the novel
coronavirus in Africa. Not Egyptian, the person is placed in quarantine in
hospital.
– WHO defends Beijing –
The World Health Organization (WHO) defends China, after Washington
criticised it for a lack of transparency in its response to the new
coronavirus outbreak.
“From our perspective, we have a government that’s cooperating with us,”
Michael Ryan, head of WHO’s health emergencies programme, says, listing
various ways in which China has collaborated, including inviting in
international experts.
– US tightens controls –
The United States, which is in the midst of the seasonal flu season,
expands its response to the coronavirus, by announcing it will begin testing
people identified as having flu-like symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention starts working with five
public health labs across the US: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco and Seattle, with more sites planned.
– Diamond Princess –
Another 67 people on board a cruise ship quarantined off Japan’s coast
since early February have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The new cases bring the number of people diagnosed on the Diamond Princess
to 285, out of the 3,700 people originally onboard. The US embassy says it
will evacuate Americans stranded on the vessel.
– Chinese banknotes quarantined –
China’s central bank says that used banknotes are being disinfected with
ultraviolet light or high temperatures, and stored for up to 14 days before
the yuans are put back into circulation.
Increasing numbers of Chinese people have preferred mobile payments over
cash in recent years.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1745 hrs