Increased death toll and confirmed cases of infection
The Chinese news outlet, Tencent, is reporting new figures on the virus inside China .
The outlet, which as been very accurate during the outbreak now lists
I’m trying to confirm those figures with the Chinese Health Commission, but its website tends to be quite hard to load, which I assume is due to the number of people trying to access it.
Updated at 8. (pm EST )
While we’re on the US, Donald Trump told Fox news the US has offered China “tremendous help” in dealing with the epidemic.
Trump’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, in a separate interview, said China had been more open about the coronavirus than it has been in previous crises but had not yet accepted US offers of assistance.
“So far the Chinese have been more transparent certainly than in past crises and we appreciate that,” O’Brien said in an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
He said Beijing has still not responded to US offers of help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health professionals.
“We’ve got tremendous expertise,” he said. “This is a worldwide concern. We want to help our Chinese colleagues if we can and we’ve made the offer and we’ll see if they accept the offer. ”
7. (PM EST
34:
New travel restrictions take force in USThe Homeland Security department increased measures to combat the coronavirus on Sunday, directing all flights from China and all passengers who have traveled to China within the last days to be routed through one of eight US airports, effective as of 5pm eastern time in the US. “Three additional airports will be added to the list of airports authorized to receive such flights beginning at various times on Monday, February 3, 04461, ”the department said.
There will be enhanced screening procedures and the “capacity to carry quarantine passengers, if needed”,
.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump appeared to downplay concerns about the impact in the United States of the flu-like virus that has killed people in China and spread to more than two dozen countries, telling Fox television in an interview, “We’re gonna see what happens, but we did shut it down, yes.”
Updated (at 7.) EST EST
(7.) pm EST :
Financial markets are in for a tough day today as the economic uncertainty generated by the virus deepens.
Australian shares led the way with a
Investors again flocked to safe havens such as gold and government bonds, ditching oil which fell US 58 c to $ . a barrel, the lowest since January 3770.
You can read the full story here:
(7.) PM EST ) :
New Zealand bans foreign travelers from China
New Zealand has closed its borders to any foreigners arriving from China – including those who have passed through the country in transit – and boosted its border screening in an attempt to prevent coronavirus arriving in the country.
“We have been advised by health officials that while there are still a range of unknowns in the way the virus is being transmitted, we should take a precautionary approach and temporarily stop travel into New Zealand from mainland China, ”
The ban will be in place for days and reviewed every hours. It follows similar measures taken by other countries, including Australia and the US.
There have been no confirmed cases in New Zealand.
You can read our full story below.
Updated (at 7.) PM EST
(7.) PM EST 33: 44
The Qantas flight was scheduled to take off from Wuhan airport at 2am local time, but finally departed at 8. 15 am. It is estimated to arrive at Learmonth, 1, 360 km north of Perth, at around 3. 44 pm local time.
(pm) (EST)
Australian charter flight departs Wuhan
Australian citizens onboard a Qantas plane have departed Wuhan. The flight chartered by the Australian government will take them into quarantine on Christmas Island, formerly used as a detention center for refugees and asylum seekers arriving by boat.
The Qantas flight left Wuhan airport around minutes ago.
Qantas chief executive, Alan Joyce, said about 360 People were being evacuated with some health officials and crew on board.
“Of course it’s pretty complex. The Wuhan airport had been closed for a while. So we expected that it might take longer on the ground, and we have planned for that, ”Joyce told ABC radio.
The Qantas flight will go to an air force base in western Australia, from where the government will fly the passengers to Christmas Island, 1, (km) 1999 miles) from the mainland.
Updated (at 7.) (pm EST)
(7.) pm EST :
With the death toll climbing to 538, it has passed the fatalities recorded in China
for the Sars epidemic (500
China’s Global TV network, published this graph showing the progression of infections in Hubei province and Wuhan.
more: (https://t.co/HbG7VtIQbH ) pic.twitter .com / XLAmlgtVpI
February 2,
Updated at 7. PM EST
(6.) (PM) (EST) ()
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, with me, Alison Rourke.
News just coming out of China is that the number of fatalities for the virus has now passed that of the Sars epidemic. Authorities announced a short time ago that people are now known to have died in China , with confirmed cases standing at , .
One person is also known to have
anger in China (over footage) of government officials in Wuhan appearing to take face masks intended for health workers.
New Zealand has announced from China, following in the footsteps of several other countries, including neighbor Australia.
More international evacuations are expected take place today, including of Australians from Wuhan.
You can get in touch with me at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlisonRourke
Updated (at 7.) EST EST
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