he death toll in China from the new coronavirus rose to 213 on Friday, as more countries announced plans to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak.
Beijing said there are at least 9,692 people confirmed to have the infection, which has spread from Wuhan's Hubei province to every one of China's 31 provinces.
Another 102,000 people were also reportedly under medical observation with possible symptoms of the respiratory ailment.
More:
On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global emergency. The virus has spread to at least 18 other countries.
Here are the latest updates:
Friday, January 31
US gov't warns Americans against China travel over virus
The US State Department increased its travel advisory for China, as the death toll from a fast spreading virus rose to over 200 and the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency.
In a notice posted on its website, the State Department said: "Do not travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China."
LPGA event cancelled, Olympic football qualifiers changed
The outbreak of the new coronavirus caused further disruption to the international sporting calendar on Friday with the elite women's LPGA golf tour cancelling an event in China and Olympic soccer qualifying matches in Australia having to be shuffled.
The four-team women's soccer tournament involving China, Australia, Taiwan and Thailand was moved from Wuhan - the centre of the outbreak of the virus - and hastily rearranged to be held in Australia by the Asian Football Confederation.
Organisers were forced to change their match schedule after China's team, who arrived in Australia on January 29, were placed in quarantine in Brisbane until after February 5.
Meanwhile, the LPGA said its Blue Bay tournament due to be held on Hainan island from March 5-8 had been cancelled.
Several other international sports events have been affected by the outbreak, including the world indoor athletics championships, which were due to be held in Nanjing from March 13-15. The championships have been postponed until next year.
Qualifying tournaments in boxing and basketball for this year's Tokyo Olympics were also moved from China, while other events have been cancelled or postponed.
Japan to enforce special measures for coronavirus from Saturday: NHK
Japan plans to bring forward the date that the coronavirus will become a "designated infectious disease" to Saturday from February 7, public broadcaster NHK said.
Japanese health minister Katsunobu Kato said on Friday that the government was considering moving up the date, without elaborating.
The government classified the virus as a designated infectious disease on Tuesday, a move that allows compulsory hospitalisation, stricter screening of people entering the country, and the use of public funds for treatment, among other measures.
In line with regulations, the designation was only set to take effect on February 7 after ordinances are issued.
China has confidence to win war against coronavirus: foreign ministry
China has confidence and capability to win the war against the new coronavirus, said the country's foreign ministry spokeswoman in responding to WHO's decision to declare the virus outbreak in China as a global emergency.
Hua Chunying, the ministry spokeswoman, also said China will continue to work with the WHO and other countries to maintain global and regional public health security.
The epidemic has killed at least 212 and infected at least 9,692 in China as of Friday.
Charter flight carrying South Koreans from Wuhan arrives home
A charter flight carrying 367 South Koreans from Wuhan, the epicentre of a virus outbreak in China, landed at the Gimpo International Airport on Friday, South Korea's foreign ministry said.
The first of up to four flights planned to evacuate South Koreans from Wuhan departed on Friday morning, after an unexpected hours-long delay because China had only approved one flight.
Around 700 South Koreans have signed up for the charter flights.
More French citizens evacuated from Wuhan
A jet carrying approximately 200 French citizens flew out of the virus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan on Friday, according to AFP journalists on board the flight.
The French military aircraft is bound for southern France, where the passengers will undergo a 14-day quarantine.
The French military aircraft is bound for southern France, where the passengers will undergo a 14-day quarantine.
More Canadians ask for help to leave China
The number of Canadians looking to flee China because of the coronavirus epidemic rose to nearly 200 on Thursday while a third suspected case in Canada was confirmed.
Officials told a parliamentary committee that 196 Canadians in Wuhan - the epicentre of the epidemic - have requested help getting back home, an increase from Wednesday when the government announced an airlift for 160.
The Globe and Mail newspaper said the families of Canadian diplomats in China who were "vulnerable" to infections were also being repatriated. The foreign ministry was not immediately available to confirm the report.
They include people with existing medical conditions, over the age of 65 or under five, said the daily.
Canada has an embassy in Beijing and consulates in Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.
Read updates from Thursday, January 30 here.
No comments: