Coronavirus wrap: Toll crosses 1,000; 'public enemy number 1', says WHO

The death toll from the novel coronavirus in China jumped to 811 on Saturday, with the number of confirmed cases rising to 34,646. Catch LIVE update

7:56 PM

Nissan to halt production at Japan factory due to coronavirus

7:54 PM

'Logistical nightmare': Indian envoy describes evacuation of Indians from Wuhan

India's efforts to evacuate its citizens from the coronavirus-hit Hubei province and its capital Wuhan were a logistical nightmare since the entire operation had to be done in a region sealed from all sides, Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri said

 

7:52 PM

Wuhan aims to test all suspected coronavirus cases by tomorrow

China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, has not been able to confirm all existing suspected cases of the coronavirus despite a rush to speed up testing

 

Wuhan government said they would however, aim to test all suspected cases by Tuesday. There have been growing complaints that many patients in the city of 11 million have not been tested or admitted for full-time treatment due to the pressure on medical resources.

7:50 PM

Russian authorities quarantine Chinese diplomat as precautionary measure

Russian authorities have quarantined a Chinese diplomat as a safety precaution against the coronavirus outbreak, the Interfax news agency reported

 

Consul General Cui Shaochun arrived in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on Thursday to take up his new post but was told to stay at home for two weeks, Russian foreign ministry official Alexander Kharlov was quoted as saying.

7:49 PM

WeWork shuts down 100 buildings in China fearing virus threat

7:26 PM

Coronavirus has infected more than 40,600 people globally

Hong Kong has had 36 cases, including one death. Macao has had 10 cases. Most of the illnesses and deaths have been in central Hubei province

 

• Japan: 161

• Singapore: 43

• Thailand: 32

• South Korea: 27

• Malaysia: 18

• Taiwan: 16

• Australia: 14

• Germany: 14

• Vietnam: 14

• United States: 12. Separately, one U.S. citizen died in China — France: 11 — United Kingdom: 8

• United Arab Emirates: 7

• Canada: 6

• Philippines: 3 cases, including 1 death — India: 3 — Italy: 3

• Russia: 2

• Spain: 2

• Belgium: 1

• Nepal: 1

• Sri Lanka: 1

• Sweden: 1

• Cambodia: 1

• Finland: 1 

7:10 PM

China's President Xi Jinping said he will prevent major layoffs

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the government would prevent large-scale layoffs amid the coronavirus outbreak, as he appeared among the public for the first time since the epidemic started.

 

Xi inspected efforts by community workers in Beijing to contain the virus, visited a local hospital that offers treatment to coronavirus patients and video-chatted with frontline medical staff in Wuhan.

 

6:58 PM

First coronavirus positive case in Kerala tested negative

The latest test result of the woman medical student, who arrived here from China's Wuhan region and was the first positive case from India for the Coronavirus, has come out negative

 

5:57 PM

65 more cases confirmed on Japan cruise ship

Another 65 people aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Japan have been diagnosed with coronavirus, taking the total number of known infections to 135

5:56 PM

Over 197,000 travellers from 1,818 flights screened so far

Over 197,000 passengers travelling in 1,818 flights have been screened for coronavirus, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said 

 

Screening of passengers has been initiated at 12 major seaports and all minor ports in the country to identify passengers and crew members coming from China and to isolate them in case they are found symptomatic

5:54 PM

India lifts ban on some medical gear exports to China

India has cleared some consignments of medical gear placed by China to combat coronavirus.

 

The decision came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping offering solidarity and assistance to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in China that has claimed over 900 lives.

4:42 PM

Alibaba to offer $2.86 bn low-interest loans to firms hit by coronavirus

Alibaba Group said its affiliate Ant Financial's MYBank unit would offer $2.86 billion in low-interest loans to companies in China in light of the coronavirus 

4:29 PM

China to speed up medicinal provisions

China will speed up the provision of medicines that show clinical effects against the coronavirus, state media reported, citing a meeting chaired by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

 

4:04 PM

Indians among passengers, crew on board Japan cruise ship

Indians were among the nearly 3,000 passengers and crew members on board a cruise ship quarantined off Japan, according to the Indian Embassy 

 

Cruise ship Diamond Princess, carrying 3,711 people, arrived at the Japanese coast early last week and was quarantined after a passenger who de-boarded last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of Coronavirus

 

Total number of those infected on the ship rose to 130. 

3:42 PM

Companies feel the pinch of Coronavirus in China

• Airbnb has suspended bookings in Beijing until February 29

• Amazon has pulled out of this month's Mobile World

• Congress in Barcelona, following Ericsson and LG Electronics

• Singapore Airshow and US defence firms Lockheed Martin and Raytheon said they would not attend.

• Chinese gaming giant Tencent has asked its employees to continue working from home until February 21, extending the period from Feb. 14 announced previously.

• Singapore's central bank said it had advised financial institutions in the city-state to take additional measures and precautions after the government raised its coronavirus alert level.

• State carrier Air China said late on Saturday it will "adjust" its flights between China and the US

• Apple is extending its retail store closures in China, even as it worked toward opening its corporate offices and contact centres.

• Facebook said production of its Oculus virtual reality headset would be hit.