Coronavirus: Death toll risen to 304 in China's coronavirus. (File)
India reported its second case of coronavirus in Kerala, where the first case of the infectious disease, which has killed over 300 people in China, was reported earlier this week.
Earlier this morning, second batch of 324 Indians were evacuated by an Air India plane from China's Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.
China is facing mounting international travel bans and flight suspensions as the death toll due to deadly novel coronavirus rose to 304. As the virus has now spread to more than two dozen nations including Russia, Britain, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of coronavirus a global health emergency.
Many countries have sort to evacuation of its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.
Here are the highlights on Coronavirus outbreak
G7 countries To Discuss On Joint Response To Coronavirus Epidemic: Germany
Germany's health minister Jens Spahn said that he talked over phone with the US counterpart and agreed on to discuss with the G7 health ministers on ways to deal with coronavirus. The Group of Seven (G7) comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. (AFP)
China Has Not Yet Accepted US Help To Contain Coronavirus: White House
White House adviser Robert O'Brien said that Beijing has not yet accepted a US offer of help to contain the coronavirus epidemic. He said that US has got great expertise and they want to help their Chinese colleagues. At least 171 cases have been reported in more than two dozen other countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Britain. (Reuters)
"Double Blow To Economy": Hong Kong's Top Official On Coronavirus Threat
Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan said that the coronavirus outbreak will have a "double blow" on its economy. The coronavirus outbreak will also have an effect on the government revenue. It will also lead to an increase in expenditure. Authorities have announced 15 confirmed infections in Hong Kong but no deaths. (Reuters)
Maldives President Thanks India For Evacuating Its Citizens From China
Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked India for evacuating seven of its citizens from China's Wuhan. He said it was an "outstanding" example of friendship between the two countries. Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid also expressed his "deep gratitude" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. The evacuated Indians and Maldivians have been quarantined for 14 days in special camps. (PTI)
Israel PM Netanyahu Said Country Is Preparing For CoronavirusIsrael Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country is preparing for the "unavoidable" cases of coronavirus. However, Israel has not reported any coronavirus cases as of now. All flights from China have been suspended. The country has instructed its Biological Institute to try and produce a vaccine against the virus and set up a vaccination network in Israel. (AFP)
250 French, Europeans Landed In Southern France Leaving China
A plane with 250 French and European nationals from China landed at the military airbase in southern France. Nearly 65 French nationals will be quarantined, an official told reporters. French Foreign Minister said that the plane was carrying nationals from 30 countries who will return to their own countries. (Reuters)
Cocktail Of Flu, HIV Drugs To Help Fight Coronavirus: Thailand DoctorsThai doctors have seen success in treating severe cases of the new coronavirus with combination of medications for flu and HIV, with initial results showing vast improvement 48 hours after applying the treatment, they said on Sunday.
The doctors from Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok said a new approach in coronavirus treatment had improved the condition of several patients under their care, including one 70-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan who tested positive for the coronavirus for 10 days.
The drug treatment includes a mixture of anti-HIV drugs lopinavir and ritonavir, in combination with flu drug oseltamivir in large doses."This is not the cure, but the patient's condition has vastly improved
Bangladesh halts visa-on-arrival for Chinese nationalsBangladesh has temporarily suspended its visa-on-arrival services for Chinese nationals and issued directions not to recruit them for ongoing projects in the country after the coronavirus outbreak.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen during a media briefing on Sunday said the government has requested Chinese nationals in Bangladesh not to go on leave especially over the next month while the global health emergency is in place, the BD News reported.
"At the same time, we have requested the authorities not to recruit any Chinese national for ongoing projects in Bangladesh," he was quoted as saying.
China Bans Funerals, Farewell Events For Coronavirus VictimsChina on Sunday banned funerals, burials and farewell ceremonies for the victims of the novel coronavirus in an effort to control the outbreak as the death toll rose to 304 in the country.
The bodies should be cremated at designated funeral homes near their location, they cannot be transported between regions and cannot be preserved by burial or other means, said the trial guidelines issued by the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security.
Funeral traditions such as farewell ceremonies are prohibited and bodies must be disinfected and placed by medical workers into a sealed bag, which thereafter cannot be opened, reports Efe news.
Only one swab sample enough for coronavirus testing: WHO The World Health Organisation has said that testing of only one swab sample is enough, as against the earlier two, in suspected novel coronavirus cases, a senior Maharashtra health official said. The new WHO instructions will ensure faster testing of samples which will quicken the fight against the 2019-nCoV outbreak, the official said.
"We have received a new set of instructions from the WHO recommending that one swab sample is sufficient for testing of novel coronavirus infection. Earlier, we were sending two samples of each patient to NIV (National Institute of Virology in Pune) for testing," Maharashtra state disease surveillance officer Dr Pradeep Awate.
"This will ensure faster testing of samples, which will quicken the fight against coronavirus. We are tracking passengers arriving from China for a period of 28 days from the date of their arrival," he added.
Afghanistan seeks to quarantine any coronavirus casesAfghan health authorities are establishing isolation wards across the country ahead of a potential influx of coronavirus cases, an official said Sunday, as governments worldwide monitor the disease's spread.
No cases have been recorded in Afghanistan so far, and the war-torn country's health services have set up screening units at airports and borders, public health minister Ferozuddin Feroz said.
"We have put serious measures in place," Feroz told reporters.
Chinese army to oversee Coronavirus hospitalChina's army on Sunday was given control of a nearly-finished field hospital that will treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus epidemic that has severely strained medical facilities. The official Xinhua news agency said many of the staff were involved in the fight against another coronavirus, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed some 650 people in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
Coronavirus: India Temporarily Suspends E-visa Facility For Chinese And Foreigners Residing In ChinaIndia on Sunday temporarily suspended e-visa facility for Chinese travellers and foreigners residing in China in view of the virulent coronavirus that has killed more than 300 people, infected 14,562 others and spread to 25 countries, including India, the US and the UK.
"Due to certain current developments, travel to India on e-visas stands temporarily suspended with immediate effect," the Indian Embassy announced, news agency PTI reported. Read
here.
Coronavirus: "Won't Turn You Into A Zombie", Says Malaysia On CoronavirusThe deadly coronavirus will not cause victims to act like zombies, Malaysia's government said on social media, as officials act to correct the spread of misinformation surrounding the outbreak, news agency AFP reported.
Coronavirus: 3 More Japan Citizens Tested Positive For Coronavirus Evacuated From Wuhan
Japan confirmed an additional three cases of the new coronavirus among evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan, including one who initially tested negative, the health ministry said on Saturday, bringing the country's total to 20 cases. One of the three, a man in his 40s who had symptoms such as fever and coughing, first tested negative for coronavirus, according to news agency Reuters.
Coronavirus: South Korea To Bar People Who Visited Virus-Hit Province In China
South Korea will bar entry by foreigners who have visited Hubei Province, the epicentre of a new coronavirus outbreak in China, South Korea's prime minister said on Sunday, news agency Reuters reported quoting local media.
Coronavirus: Virus Restrictions Hit Australia AFC Champions League GamesThe AFC Champions League was thrown into further chaos Sunday with Australia advising fixtures due to be held in Perth and Sydney can no longer take place due to travel restrictions over the deadly coronavirus, news agency AFP reported.
Coronavirus: "Wash your hands," Tokyo Governor to Residents Ahead Of Olympics Amid Virus SpreadTokyo governor Yuriko Koike called on residents on Sunday to wash their hands and wear surgical masks to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus which has infected thousands around the world as the city prepares to host the 2020 Olympics, news agency Reuters reported. Read here. Coronavirus: The Global Spread Of The CoronavirusOutside mainland China, there have been more than 100 infections reported in more than 20 countries.
Here is the list of countries outside China which have have confirmed cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus:
- The Asian-Pacific region includes India, Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
- The North American countries include Canada and United States.
- The European countries- Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden and Spain.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Middle-East.
Coronavirus: Philippines Reports First Death From Coronavirus Outside ChinaThe Philippines on Sunday reported the first overseas death from the growing epidemic of a coronavirus that originated in China, where new confirmed infections jumped by a daily record to top 14,000 cases, news agency Reuters reported. Read
here.
Coronavirus: New Zealand To Bar Entry To Foreigners Travelling From ChinaNew Zealand announced on Sunday it would bar entry into the country from all foreign nationals arriving from mainland China due too the increasing threat from the coronavirus epidemic, news agency Reuters reported.
Coronavirus Outbreak: In Second Batch, India Evacuates 324 Indians Stuck In Wuhan India airlifted 323 Indians today from Wuhan as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the deadly coronavirus a global health emergency. Read
here
.
Coronavirus Outbreak: 50,000 Screened At Airports Across IndiaIn India, over 52,000 passengers from 326 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus at various airports across the country till Saturday, said the government.