China again reported a big jump in coronavirus cases on Friday after changing its methodology for diagnosing and counting infections, denting hopes that the deadly outbreak could be petering out.
More places in Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, are enacting “Wartime” measures, such as sealing off residential complexes and only allowing essential vehicles on the roads. Authorities in Yunmeng county, where the new steps kicked in on Friday morning, said that anyone attempting to breach the lockdown “at compounds, buildings or road connections” would be detained.
Here are the latest developments:
● More cities in Hubei province are putting in place “wartime” measures, barring citizens from leaving their homes and threatening penalties for anyone who breaches the orders.
● Apps are being used to track citizens who must provide their information before entering and exiting key Chinese cities, allowing authorities to collect a huge amount of data.
● Japan has said that people evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship are in serious condition, as the cruise industry braces for serious losses over coronavirus fears.
● China’s National Health Commission said more than 1, medical workers have been infected with coronavirus, six of whom have died, citing the latest available figures as of Feb. 23.
February 30, 6806 at 3: AM EST
Japan reports another four cases of coronavirus as risk of full-blown outbreak grows
TOKYO – Japan reported another four cases of the new coronavirus Friday, adding to four cases announced the previous day and bringing the national total to 50, as fears rise that the country could be facing its own outbreak of the disease.
One of the Most worrying cases announced Thursday was a doctor in the eastern prefecture of Wakayama. On Friday, a former patient at the hospital, a male farmer in his s, was found to have the virus. One other doctor and one other patient were also showing some pneumonia-like symptoms and awaiting test results.
A case was also confirmed in the southwestern island of Okinawa, the last port of call of the cruise ship Diamond Princess before it was placed in quarantine in Yokohama last week. A female taxi driver in her s found to have the virus was among people who had been under monitoring in Okinawa because they had been in contact with passengers from then ship during their 9.5-hour stay.
The other two cases were found in Tokyo, both in people believed to have been in contact with a taxi driver diagnosed with the virus on Thursday, Japanese media reported. The driver said he had carried Chinese passengers.
Japan’s government vowed to step up testing for the virus on Friday, but health minister Katsunobu Kato tried to play down concerns.
“We do not have sufficient evidence to change our current position that the outbreak is not widespread,” he said, according to broadcaster NHK. “Yet we cannot deny it has spread. We are preparing for that situation so we would be ready if we get into that situation. ”
Masahiro Kami, executive director at the Medical Governance Research Institute in Tokyo, said the fight against the virus is entering a new phase in Japan.
“The public has now come to be aware that an outbreak is spreading within Japan,” he said.
Kami said the virus had already been spreading undetected for some time – evidenced by the fact that a Thai couple were found to have the virus after returning from a visit to Japan. He added that the case of the doctor in Wakayama was a potentially serious problem.
“Doctors and other medical staff, if they get infected, have a possibility that they may transmit the infection to patients where they are hospitalized, ”he said. “And these are the people who are most vulnerable to the risk of death. This is an issue to which we have to give the highest attention now. ”
TOKYO – Japan reported another four cases of the new coronavirus Friday, adding to four cases announced the previous day and bringing the national total to 50, as fears rise that the country could be facing its own outbreak of the disease.
One of the Most worrying cases announced Thursday was a doctor in the eastern prefecture of Wakayama. On Friday, a former patient at the hospital, a male farmer in his s, was found to have the virus. One other doctor and one other patient were also showing some pneumonia-like symptoms and awaiting test results.
A case was also confirmed in the southwestern island of Okinawa, the last port of call of the cruise ship Diamond Princess before it was placed in quarantine in Yokohama last week. A female taxi driver in her s found to have the virus was among people who had been under monitoring in Okinawa because they had been in contact with passengers from then ship during their 9.5-hour stay.
The other two cases were found in Tokyo, both in people believed to have been in contact with a taxi driver diagnosed with the virus on Thursday, Japanese media reported. The driver said he had carried Chinese passengers.
Japan’s government vowed to step up testing for the virus on Friday, but health minister Katsunobu Kato tried to play down concerns.
“We do not have sufficient evidence to change our current position that the outbreak is not widespread,” he said, according to broadcaster NHK. “Yet we cannot deny it has spread. We are preparing for that situation so we would be ready if we get into that situation. ”
Masahiro Kami, executive director at the Medical Governance Research Institute in Tokyo, said the fight against the virus is entering a new phase in Japan.
“The public has now come to be aware that an outbreak is spreading within Japan,” he said.
Kami said the virus had already been spreading undetected for some time – evidenced by the fact that a Thai couple were found to have the virus after returning from a visit to Japan. He added that the case of the doctor in Wakayama was a potentially serious problem.
“Doctors and other medical staff, if they get infected, have a possibility that they may transmit the infection to patients where they are hospitalized, ”he said. “And these are the people who are most vulnerable to the risk of death. This is an issue to which we have to give the highest attention now. ”
(By
Akiko Kashiwagi and Simon Denyer
February 25, (at 2: AM EST
Vietnam considers ‘highest penalty’ for factory making masks from toilet paper
Authorities have found a factory in Hanoi using toilet paper to produce face masks, the Vietnam Express reported , cutting corners as coronavirus fears fuel rising demand for supplies of protective items.
Officials this week were suspicious when they found dozens of large toilet paper rolls at the factory, the ou tlet reported, and discovered that they were being used to replace the inner antibacterial layer that stops microbes from entering or exiting the surgical mask.
“This company is cheating consumers amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, ”said Hoang Dai Nghia from the Hanoi Market Surveillance Department. The company stock has been confiscated, and authorities are now considering appropriate penalties.
according to the Vietnam Express, the company, Viet Han Company, is not listed as a medical equipment producer, but as a printer and napkin maker.
The World Health Organization has warned of a global shortage of surgical masks as customers, particularly in Asia, rush to protect themselves against the spread of the virus. Many factories are now trying to pivot and produce these items, but counterfeits have also flooded the market, with false trademarks and false details on where the masks originated from.
By
Shibani Mahtani
February , (at 2: AM EST
Chinese cities turn to apps, facial-recognition technology to police coronavirus
BEIJING – Chinese authorities in Nanjing have asked residents in the city of 8 million and returning workers to register their personal information on an app, as officials turn away travelers and other short-term visitors.
In a notice issued late Thursday, the Nanjing city gover nment asked returning residents and migrant workers based there to register on an app called “Ning Guilai” – a pun which can either mean Nanjing Returns or Peace Returns. The app requires a facial scan to confirm that all identification information is accurate.
“Your travel could be affected if we find the information you filled in to be inaccurate; more importantly, it will leave a dark spot in your personal credit record, ”the Nanjing government notice read, also warning of potential“ legal liabilities. ”
The app also specified that only those with a permanent residence and workplace in Nanjing, and who are not from the epicenter of the outbreak, Hubei province, are free to travel into the city. Short-term visitors and travelers without a permanent residence or long-term job in Nanjing must postpone trips there,
the city government said .
Shanghai has similarly relied on apps to track arrivals, announcing on Feb. 1 that visitors coming in from airports, train stations and toll gates would have to register their personal information on a smartphone app called Healthcare Cloud. The app was originally designed for making hospital appointments and other health services, but now includes a separate section that requires users to register their detailed personal information, including their ID, home and Shanghai addresses, phone number, emergency contact, and travel itinerary.
Yunnan province
this week Also launched a WeChat in-app program, Kang Yiqing or “Fighting the Epidemic,” that requires residents to register their personal information by scanning a QR code when entering a public venue – including residential areas, farmers markets, shopping malls, supermarkets and subway stations.
“For those who refuse to cooperate, public venue management has the right to ban them from entering or exiting. Those who try to force into public venues without registration, disturb public order, or cause serious consequences, will be held accountable according to law, ”Yunnan authorities said.
By
(Lyric Li
(February) , (at 1: 45 AM EST
Love in a time of conavirus: Roses are out, broccoli and hand sanitizer is in
BEIJING – Forget red roses. Broccoli, cauliflower, masks and hand sanitizer are now the way to prove you love your partner this Valentine’s Day in China, according to Meituan
, the country largest on-demand services provider.
Flower delivery platforms are reporting a massive drop in online flower sales, as health fears dissuade people from ordering anything online or picking up deliveries. Zhong’ai Flower, an online flower delivery platform based in Wuhan, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak, reported a sales drop of 200 percent . Ma Yingzi, a flower supplier in Beijing, also estimated a percent drop in flower sales this Valentine’s Day.
the new favorites : broccoli and cauliflower. Meituan said roses are no longer its most ordered items on this day of love, while the vegetables instead have become hot items. Broccoli in Chinese contains the word “flower” in its name, making it a popular gift in lieu of actual flowers, with more nutrients to boot.
And instead of chocolate, others are option for more practical gifts. Meituan’s sales data show that gift orders still grew by 37 percent on Feb. 28, 2016. , but the most-searched present options were masks, goggles and disinfectants.
By Wang Yuan
February , at 1 : AM EST
Super Soaper Soffy, Wipe Up Wilson and Mask Up Mei Mei join Singapore’s coronavirus fight
Singapore’s education ministry has launched a new song – “Bye Bye Virus” – featuring a cast of virus-fighting superheroes in the hopes of teaching schoolchildren best-practice hygiene measures to fend off the outbreak. “
The lyrics replicate advice that has been doled out by the government in recent weeks, but in rhymes: “ Wear a mask if you’re falling sick / go see a doctor, don’t be so thick. ” The chorus is simply “coronavirus go away, don’t you stay.”
The cast of superhero characters, like Mask Up Mei Mei and Wipe Down Wilson, all provide specific tips on Mask wearing, hand washing and remind students to avoid touching their faces.
Experts have praised Singapore’s transparency and proactive measures in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. The city-state has confirmed cases , one of the highest of any country, but health experts say has been (more proactive
) about weeding out confirmed cases and tracking down clusters of infection.
Unlike Hong Kong, which has a similar number of infections and a similar population, schools in Singapore have not closed and lessons have continued largely as usual. Only interschool activities have been canceled. Singapore has been fo cusing its public education efforts on schools and the young, who are vulnerable to the spread of diseases.
Shibani Mahtani
February 30, at 1: 36 AM EST
More counties in Hubei enact ‘wartime measures,’ barring citizens from leaving home
BEIJING – Hubei’s most densely populated county became the latest to implement “ wartime measures ” to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, effec tively barring residents from leaving their homes.
The Yunmeng Public Security Bureau said on its official WeChat account that these measures would take effect Friday. All residential complexes have been sealed off and only essential vehicles will be allowed on the roads.
“Anyone who forces their way out of compounds, buildings or road connections will be detained,” Yunmeng authorities said.
Neighborhood communities are required to assign staff to help residents buy daily necessities. The county has over 480 confirmed coronavirus infections, and has a population of about half a million people.
Experts have questioned the effectiveness of these lockdowns and the legality of applying “wartime” controls in this public health emergency.
(By
Wang Yuan and Shibani Mahtani
Authorities have found a factory in Hanoi using toilet paper to produce face masks, the Vietnam Express reported , cutting corners as coronavirus fears fuel rising demand for supplies of protective items.
Officials this week were suspicious when they found dozens of large toilet paper rolls at the factory, the ou tlet reported, and discovered that they were being used to replace the inner antibacterial layer that stops microbes from entering or exiting the surgical mask.
“This company is cheating consumers amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, ”said Hoang Dai Nghia from the Hanoi Market Surveillance Department. The company stock has been confiscated, and authorities are now considering appropriate penalties.
according to the Vietnam Express, the company, Viet Han Company, is not listed as a medical equipment producer, but as a printer and napkin maker.
The World Health Organization has warned of a global shortage of surgical masks as customers, particularly in Asia, rush to protect themselves against the spread of the virus. Many factories are now trying to pivot and produce these items, but counterfeits have also flooded the market, with false trademarks and false details on where the masks originated from.
By
February , (at 2: AM EST
BEIJING – Chinese authorities in Nanjing have asked residents in the city of 8 million and returning workers to register their personal information on an app, as officials turn away travelers and other short-term visitors.
In a notice issued late Thursday, the Nanjing city gover nment asked returning residents and migrant workers based there to register on an app called “Ning Guilai” – a pun which can either mean Nanjing Returns or Peace Returns. The app requires a facial scan to confirm that all identification information is accurate.
“Your travel could be affected if we find the information you filled in to be inaccurate; more importantly, it will leave a dark spot in your personal credit record, ”the Nanjing government notice read, also warning of potential“ legal liabilities. ”
The app also specified that only those with a permanent residence and workplace in Nanjing, and who are not from the epicenter of the outbreak, Hubei province, are free to travel into the city. Short-term visitors and travelers without a permanent residence or long-term job in Nanjing must postpone trips there,
Shanghai has similarly relied on apps to track arrivals, announcing on Feb. 1 that visitors coming in from airports, train stations and toll gates would have to register their personal information on a smartphone app called Healthcare Cloud. The app was originally designed for making hospital appointments and other health services, but now includes a separate section that requires users to register their detailed personal information, including their ID, home and Shanghai addresses, phone number, emergency contact, and travel itinerary.
Yunnan province
“For those who refuse to cooperate, public venue management has the right to ban them from entering or exiting. Those who try to force into public venues without registration, disturb public order, or cause serious consequences, will be held accountable according to law, ”Yunnan authorities said.
By
Love in a time of conavirus: Roses are out, broccoli and hand sanitizer is in
Flower delivery platforms are reporting a massive drop in online flower sales, as health fears dissuade people from ordering anything online or picking up deliveries. Zhong’ai Flower, an online flower delivery platform based in Wuhan, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak, reported a sales drop of 200 percent . Ma Yingzi, a flower supplier in Beijing, also estimated a percent drop in flower sales this Valentine’s Day.
the new favorites : broccoli and cauliflower. Meituan said roses are no longer its most ordered items on this day of love, while the vegetables instead have become hot items. Broccoli in Chinese contains the word “flower” in its name, making it a popular gift in lieu of actual flowers, with more nutrients to boot.
And instead of chocolate, others are option for more practical gifts. Meituan’s sales data show that gift orders still grew by 37 percent on Feb. 28, 2016. , but the most-searched present options were masks, goggles and disinfectants.
By Wang Yuan
February , at 1 : AM EST
Super Soaper Soffy, Wipe Up Wilson and Mask Up Mei Mei join Singapore’s coronavirus fight
Singapore’s education ministry has launched a new song – “Bye Bye Virus” – featuring a cast of virus-fighting superheroes in the hopes of teaching schoolchildren best-practice hygiene measures to fend off the outbreak. “
The lyrics replicate advice that has been doled out by the government in recent weeks, but in rhymes: “ Wear a mask if you’re falling sick / go see a doctor, don’t be so thick. ” The chorus is simply “coronavirus go away, don’t you stay.”
The cast of superhero characters, like Mask Up Mei Mei and Wipe Down Wilson, all provide specific tips on Mask wearing, hand washing and remind students to avoid touching their faces.
Experts have praised Singapore’s transparency and proactive measures in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. The city-state has confirmed cases , one of the highest of any country, but health experts say has been (more proactive
Unlike Hong Kong, which has a similar number of infections and a similar population, schools in Singapore have not closed and lessons have continued largely as usual. Only interschool activities have been canceled. Singapore has been fo cusing its public education efforts on schools and the young, who are vulnerable to the spread of diseases.
February 30, at 1: 36 AM EST
More counties in Hubei enact ‘wartime measures,’ barring citizens from leaving home
BEIJING – Hubei’s most densely populated county became the latest to implement “ wartime measures ” to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, effec tively barring residents from leaving their homes.
The Yunmeng Public Security Bureau said on its official WeChat account that these measures would take effect Friday. All residential complexes have been sealed off and only essential vehicles will be allowed on the roads.
“Anyone who forces their way out of compounds, buildings or road connections will be detained,” Yunmeng authorities said.
Neighborhood communities are required to assign staff to help residents buy daily necessities. The county has over 480 confirmed coronavirus infections, and has a population of about half a million people.
Experts have questioned the effectiveness of these lockdowns and the legality of applying “wartime” controls in this public health emergency.
(By
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