Coronavirus wrap: India reports second patient; China death toll over 300

The novel virus has sent ripples of fear across the world, especially in Asia. The death toll has now risen to 259 in China. Catch LIVE updates on Coronavirus outbreak

9:09 AM

Coronavirus death toll in China rises to 259; Wuhan quarantine continues

The total number of deaths from a coronavirus epidemic in China had reached 259 by the end of Friday, an increase of 46, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing numbers from the country's National Health Commission.

 

There were 2,102 new confirmed infections in China during the day, bringing the cumulative total to 11,791. The local health commission of Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic, earlier on Saturday reported 45 new deaths from the outbreak on Friday. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Photo: PTI

11:26 PM

Counters setup to check for infected passengers at Guwahati airport

In view of the coronavirus outbreak in China, the Airports Authority of India, North East Region, has set up counters at the international airport here to screen for infected passengers, according to a release issued on Friday. The Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport is the only in the North East region with international flight movement from Singapore and Bhutan, it said. Special screening, testing and checking counters have been set up with the help of the Assam government, the release said.

11:09 PM

Coronavirus: Counters setup to check for infected passengers at Guwahati airport

In view of the coronavirus outbreak in China, the Airports Authority of India, North East Region, has set up counters at the international airport here to screen for infected passengers, according to a release issued on Friday.

 

The Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport is the only in the North East region with international flight movement from Singapore and Bhutan, it said.

11:03 PM

China slams US for travel warning over coronavirus: Statement

Beijing on Friday sharply criticised the United States for warning American citizens to avoid China and for urging those already there to leave due to the coronavirus health emergency.

 

"Certain US officials' words and actions are neither factual nor appropriate," China's foreign affairs ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

10:58 PM

14 students return from Wuhan to Akola in Maharashtra

Fourteen students who were studying at Wuhan in China, the epicenter of novel coronavirus outbreak, have returned to Akola district in Maharashtra in the last two weeks, health officials said on Friday. These students were screened at the Mumbai airport and then again at local hospitals, and none of them had symptoms of coronavirus, officials said.

 

After their return, each of them underwent medical examination at least four times, but none was hospitalised as they did not show infection symptoms. 

10:30 PM

Panic in markets: If Coronavirus is not tamed, trade with China may slump

With the outbreak of coronavirus causing panic in the global financial markets, Indian exporters see a reason to worry if the situation in China deteriorates and the virus is not tamed soon. The real impact of trade can be gauged after February 8 when the Chinese New Year holidays end. READ MORE HERE

9:10 PM

Procedure for incoming students from Wuhan

Indian Army officials said the procedure of screening and quarantining of people being evacuated from China will comprise two steps. The first one will be at the Indira Gandhi International airport, followed by their detailed screening at the Manesar facility, an official said. "If any individual is suspected to be infected, he/she will be shifted to the isolation ward at Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment (BHDC)," he said. Any individual with any sign of fever, cough or any respiratory distress will be directly transferred to BHDC.

 

People who have no symptom of the coronavirus infection but have met any suspected coronavirus-infected person will be escorted in an earmarked vehicle directly to the quarantine facility.

8:53 PM

Chinese official says slow response made virus epidemic worse

China's delayed response to the discovery of a deadly new coronavirus infection worsened the epidemic, the most senior official from the city at the centre of the outbreak said Friday.

 

More than 210 people have died and nearly 10,000 others have been infected in China by the SARS-like virus and new cases have been found abroad, with more than 20 countries now affected by the disease.

8:49 PM

China ambassador says no need for 'unnecessary panic' over virus

China is decisively working to control the deadly outbreak of the novel coronavirus, its ambassador in Geneva said Friday, insisting there was no need for countries impose "excessive measures" like border closures.

"There is no need for unnecessary panic, and no need for excessive measures," Ambassador Chen Xu told reporters in Geneva.

8:31 PM

Four more samples from Tamil Nadu sent for tests

Four more samples of patients with symptoms of the novel coronavirus have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for tests, Telangana Minister E Rajender said here on Friday. No positive case of the virus has so far been detected in the state, he said. The coronavirus epidemic in China has so far claimed 231 lives and total number of infections have touched 9,692.

8:29 PM

EAM Jaishankar thanks Chinese FM Wang Yi for help in evacuation of Indians from Wuhan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday thanked his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi for China's cooperation in the evacuation of a group of Indians from Wuhan city in Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

 

After his telephonic conversation with Wang, Jaishankar, in a tweet, said both sides agreed to stay in touch as China dealt with the challenge of the novel coronavirus.

8:16 PM

Kerala: Condition of Coronavirus patient improving

The condition of the girl, who had tested positive for novel Coronavirus (nCov) in Kerala is improving and has been shifted to the Thrissur Medical College for better treatment and care, said Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja. The Minister said those admitted to hospital with symptoms are not critical and asked people not to get panic. She once again requested people who have returned from China to report at the nearest health centres, and urged them not to attend public functions, including marriages.  

 

 

 

8:07 PM

Facebook working to provide helpful coronavirus information

Facebook says it's working to help limit the spread of misinformation and harmful content about the coronavirus and will focus on providing helpful information to people. Kang-Xing Jin, Facebook's head of health, said in a post that the social media platform's third-party fact-checkers are reviewing content and debunking false claims related to the coronavirus. Facebook is also removing content with false claims or conspiracy theories that have been flagged by global health organisations and local health authorities, particularly focusing on claims designed to discourage treatment or taking appropriate precautions.

7:32 PM

India bans export of protection equipment, including clothing, masks

India bans export of all kinds of personal protection equipment, including clothing and masks used to protect people from air borne particles, amid coronavirus outbreak in China. 

7:29 PM

Air India flight lands in Wuhan for evacuation