The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China rose to 490 as of Wednesday, after Hubei, the province where the virus is thought to have originated, reported 65 people had died from the flu-like infection.
China's National Health Commission said on Wednesday the number of confirmed infections in the country rose to 24,324 after an additional 3,887 people were diagnosed with the virus.
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Other countries have rushed to evacuate their citizens from Hubei and its capital city, Wuhan, while many have also imposed extraordinary travel restrictions on travellers to and from China.
Countries outside China continue to report more cases, with Hong Kong and the Philippines reporting one death each from the disease.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for greater solidarity among the international community, and criticised governments for being "well behind" in sharing data on virus cases. He said he had received complete case report forms for only 38 percent of the cases outside China.
Here are the latest updates:
Wednesday, February 5
Two Malaysians brought from Wuhan test positive for virus
Two Malaysians who were flown back from Wuhan have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Southeast Asian nation's health ministry said, raising the tally of confirmed cases in the country to 12.
A 45-year-old woman and her 9-year-old son did not show any symptoms when subjected to health screening on arrival in Kuala Lumpur but lab tests confirmed on Wednesday they had contracted the virus, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
"Both are receiving treatment in an isolation ward ... and they are in stable condition," Dzulkefly said.
Russia not considering restricting food from China
Russia is not considering restricting the supply of food from China, the deputy head of the agriculture ministry said, according to Russian news agencies.
"We are not considering it," Maxim Uvaydov said, adding that there has not yet been any information about whether the coronavirus can be transferred through food.
Qatar Airways continuing cargo operations to China
Akbar Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways, said the airline that suspended passenger flights to and from mainland China from February 3 will continue its cargo operations to the country.
Speaking at an aviation event in Doha, he also said Qatar Airways hopes other countries will soon ease entry restrictions on people who recently visited China.
The airline is donating medical supplies to China, Al Baker added.
Thai taxi driver sends encouraging message to Wuhan
A Thai cab driver who recovered from the new coronavirus after catching it from Chinese tourists said he wanted to encourage the city of Wuhan to keep fighting the virus.
"I watched the news everyday from my quarantine room and send my support to Wuhan," said the 50-year-old driver, who wore a surgical mask to conceal his identity at a news conference.
"Even I can beat it. So can you," the driver said as he was discharged from hospital.
Tokyo Olympics chief expresses worry for this year's Games
Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers expressed growing concerns about the effect of the coronavirus from China on this year's Games, which kick off in less than six months.
"I'm very worried that the spread of the infectious disease could throw cold water on the growing momentum towards the Games," Tokyo Olympics chief executive Toshiro Muto said at a meeting with officials of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), broadcaster NHK reported.
Tokyo organisers will coordinate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IPC, the Japanese government and Tokyo's city government to take measures against the virus, Muto added.
Cathay Pacific asks 27,000 staff to take unpaid leave
Hong Kong's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific is asking its 27,000 employees to take up to three weeks of unpaid leave, CEO Augustus Tang said, as the airline faces a crisis in the wake of the new coronavirus outbreak.
"I am hoping all of you will participate, from our frontline employees to our senior leaders, and share in our current challenges," Tang said in a video message posted online.
In his video message to employees, Tang warned Cathay was experiencing "one of the most difficult Chinese New Year holidays we have ever had" because of the virus.
"And we don't know how long it will last," he added. "With such an uncertain outlook, preserving our cash is now the key to protecting our business."
Foxconn sees full China production resuming late-February
Taiwan's Foxconn aims to "gradually" restart factories in China next week but it could take at least one to two weeks from then to resume full production due to the coronavirus outbreak, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Taiwan's Foxconn, which makes smartphones for global vendors including Apple, has filed requests to reopen factories with local Chinese governments, the source said, adding that full resumption was not possible until late-February due to various travel bans to curb the virus.
China to support virus-hit firms to raise funds via debt instruments
China's bond market regulator said it will actively support debt financing and debt issuance by companies heavily affected by a fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak.
The National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors (NAFMII) said it will also support the companies who have participated in containing the spread of the virus, according to a statement published on the central bank's official WeChat account.
NAFMII is backed by the People's Bank of China (PBOC). The association also said it will allow virus-hit firms to issue bonds and raise funds via other instruments including asset-backed notes (ABN).
In addition, the association encouraged a lenient approach to debt repayments for firms affected by the epidemic.
Vietnam setting up field hospitals for possible virus influx
Vietnam is setting up field hospitals with thousands of beds to handle a potential influx of coronavirus cases, health officials said, as it prepares to receive its nationals from China.
In the southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh city, two existing facilities are being converted into field hospitals with a total capacity of 500 beds.
In Hanoi, two military facilities have been turned into quarantine centres for up to 1,500 people as the country prepares to receive 950 people from China to be isolated at the sites.
Two provinces in northern Vietnam near the China border have also set up beds for close to 3,000 patients. Central Vietnam has centres ready for as many as 3,700.
African students trapped in coronavirus-hit Wuhan plead for help
Stuck in the epicentre of a viral outbreak, young people from Africa urge their governments to evacuate them.
Read the full story here.
China races to build more hospitals as coronavirus outbreak grows
Two infectious disease hospitals were built in a matter of days at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, authorities taking pains to publicise the work, with live streams of the construction and the arrival of the first patients at Huoshenshan field hospital in Wuhan on Tuesday.
The 1,000-bed Huoshenshan hospital and the 1,600-bed Leishenshan hospital have been the main focus of attention for the country's state-run media, with round-the-clock coverage.
Less known, however, are the other hospitals now under construction elsewhere in the country to address the shortage of beds and facilities needed to treat the outbreak.
Read the story here.
China lab seeks patent on use of Gilead's experimental treatment
A state-run Chinese research institute has applied for a patent on the use of Gilead Sciences' experimental US antiviral drug, which scientists think could treat the coronavirus that has killed hundreds and infected thousands.
The Wuhan Institute of Virology, based in the city where the outbreak is believed to have originated, said it had applied to patent the use of remdesivir, an antiviral drug developed by Gilead, to treat the virus.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week reported a coronavirus patient in the US had shown improvement after taking remdesivir, which is also used to treat infectious diseases such as Ebola.
Uzbekistan evacuates 84 people from China's Wuhan
Uzbekistan has evacuated 84 people from the Chinese city of Wuhan and will place them in quarantine upon arrival in Tashkent, the Central Asian nation's state airline said.
Uzbekistan Airways said in a statement the passengers were being accompanied by doctors and specialists with protective equipment.
Philippines confirms third case of coronavirus infection
A third person, a 60-year-old female from China, has tested positive for coronavirus, the Philippine Department of Health said.
One of the three infected Chinese nationals in the Philippines died on Saturday, becoming the first death outside mainland China. There are currently 133 individuals with suspected cases of infection, including 115 who have been hospitalised and are in isolation.
Wuhan carries out city-wide sterilisation campaign
Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, has started a city-wide sterilisation campaign in an effort to curb the spread of the infection.
A video posted on social media by the state-owned Global Times showed a truck spraying mist in one city block, and a motorised rickshaw making rounds and shooting thick white fumes in the air in a residential area in the city.
Wuhan, the epicenter of the #coronavirus outbreak, began a city-wide sterilization campaign. Chinese netizens hail the move, hoping it will lead the city back to safety.
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Hong Kong: 30 crew members on cruise ship showing symptoms including fever
The Hong Kong health department has announced that 30 members of a cruise ship, carrying 1,800 people, are showing some symptoms, including fever.
The ship docked in Hong Kong earlier on Wednesday, after it was refused entry in Taiwan.
Officials said none of the passengers in the ship came in contact with three mainland Chinese with coronavirus who were onboard the ship from January 19 to 24.
Vietnam says virus will hurt economy
Vietnam's gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year will likely slow by 1 percent from a year earlier as a result of the coronavirus and the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, the government said on Wednesday.
Vietnam's aviation, tourism, agriculture industries and exports are all expected to be harmed by the epidemic, it said in a statement.
"If (the) Chinese economy slowed significantly, it would continue to impact Vietnam," the statement said.
China is Vietnam's largest trading partner
Japan prepares ferry to be used as quarantine ship
Japan's military prepared a chartered ferry on Wednesday to use as a quarantine ship that could house hundreds of suspected coronavirus cases.
The Hakuo was docked at the Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo.
"Around 300 people could comfortably live on the ship and it has a maximum capacity for 500, although that would mean queues for the baths and other facilities," a Japan Self Defense Force official told Reuters.
Japan has not yet forcibly quarantined people who may carry the coronavirus, including Japanese returning on evacuation flights from Wuhan.
People quarantined on the Hakuo will be confined to quarters for around 10 days and provided with a tablet computer and wi-fi to help them pass the time, the Japanese defence official said. Each will be provided with toiletries and other necessities during their stay, with meals brought to their rooms, he added.
Japan to send fourth chartered flight to Wuhan on Thursday
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Wednesday that Japan would send a fourth chartered flight to Wuhan to bring back about 200 people.
The passengers could include Japanese nationals as well as their Chinese spouses, Motegi told reporters. The flight is expected on Thursday.
Tokyo Olympics CEO: "I'm seriously worried" over China virus
Tokyo Olympics organisers on Wednesday said they were increasingly concerned about the disruption the coronavirus is causing ahead of the games, which open in just under six months.
Chief Executive Officer Toshiro Muto sounded a grave note while speaking at a meeting with officials of the International Paralympic Committee.
"I am seriously worried that the spread of the infectious disease could throw cold water on the momentum toward the games," Muto said, speaking in Japanese.
Saburo Kawabuchi, mayor of the Athletes Village where 11,000 Olympians will stay, also had concerns.
"I truly hope that the infectious disease will die down ... so that we will be able to operate the Paralympics and Olympics smoothly," he said. "In the worst case - we will do our utmost for the athletes so that they will be able to concentrate on performing their best."
New Zealand evacuation flight on way to Auckland from Wuhan
A flight carrying New Zealanders, Australians and citizens of smaller Pacific countries leaving Wuhan is expected to arrive in Auckland later on Wednesday, authorities said.
The Air New Zealand government-chartered flight is expected to arrive in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, at approximately 6:30pm local time (05:30 GMT).
The Air New Zealand government-chartered flight is expected to arrive in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, at approximately 6:30pm local time (05:30 GMT).
New Zealand's foreign ministry said 193 passengers boarded the plane in Wuhan, including 100 New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, 23 Australian citizens and 70 nationals of other countries, mostly Pacific islands.
UK plans second and final evacuation flight for citizens
Britain's Foreign Office said late on Tuesday that it would charter another civilian aircraft to evacuate British nationals and their dependants from Wuhan on Sunday. It will be their last chance to leave.
"The Foreign Office is chartering a second and final UK flight with space to help all British nationals and their dependants remaining in Hubei to leave," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.
Britain had earlier advised its citizens to leave China if they were able to, to minimise their risk of exposure to the virus.
At least 10 on quarantined cruise ship confirmed with virus
At least 10 people on a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama have tested positive for the coronavirus, Japan's Health Minister said on Wednesday.
The Diamond Princess, with 3,700 people on board, was quarantined after a passenger who got off the liner in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus.
The number of infected could rise as screening continues.
Read more here.
US may stage additional evacuation flights in China's virus-hit Wuhan
The Department of State said it may operate additional evacuation flights for US citizens in Wuhan on Thursday.
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