Coronavirus wrap: Chinese doctor who first warned about virus outbreak dies

Coronavirus has sent ripples of fear across the world, especially in Asia. The death toll has now risen to 564 in China. Catch LIVE updates on Coronavirus outbreak

10:43 PM

Oil and gas giant Shell restricts travel to Hubei Province on virus

Royal Dutch Shell has banned business travel to and from China's Hubei province due to the coronavirus, the company said in a statement.

 

Shell has restricted non-essential business travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

10:35 PM

Central team visits Gujarat, 246 under watch in Gujarat

As many as 246 people, who have returned to Gujarat recently from coronavirus-hit China, are under observation at their homes, but no positive case of the infection has been found in the state so far, a senior health department official said on Wednesday.

 

They are among 900-odd people who have returned to Gujarat from China after the outbreak of the new strain of the coronavirus which has taken nearly 500 lives till now in the neighbouring country.

 

10:31 PM

Three foreign nationals among 2528 under observation in Kerala

The Kerala government on Wednesday said three foreign nationals were among the 2,528 people under observation in the state for the novel coronavirus infection and no new cases have been reported.

 

At least 93 people with minor symptoms of the virus have been lodged in isolation wards of various hospitals, state Health Minister K K Shailaja told reporters here.

 

India's three positive cases for the virus has been from the state's three districts of Thrissur, Alappuzha and Kasaragod.

 

All the three are students of China's Wuhan university, the epicentre of the virus.

10:20 PM

Equatorial Guinea offers China $2 million for virus fight

The tiny central African state of Equatorial Guinea said Wednesday it would give $2 million (1.8 million euros) to China to help it tackle coronavirus.

 

The government, which has developed close ties with Beijing, said the donation was a mark of "support and solidarity." The new coronavirus has claimed nearly 500 lives, infected more than 24,000 people in mainland China and spread to more than 20 countries since it appeared in late December.

10:10 PM

Pharmacies profiteering from coronavirus will be shut: Vladimir Putin

Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered the closure of pharmacies accused of hiking prices of face masks, as demand soars over fears that the deadly coronavirus could spread.

 

Speaking at a government meeting, Putin said profiteering from the brisk sales of masks was wrong and pharmacies that engage in price gouging should be punished.

10:07 PM

Coronavirus drives Alrosa to shift diamond sales from Hong Kong

Russia's Alrosa, the world's largest diamond mining company, will hold its March auctions in Moscow and Israel after Hong Kong postponed two jewellery shows because of the coronavirus outbreak, the company said on Wednesday.

 

Demand for diamonds in China, the world's second largest market after the United States, had already weakened last year because of trade tensions and democracy protests in Hong Kong.

 

Consumption is expected to fall further as China's actions to halt the coronavirus slow the economy and stores are temporarily closed.

 

10:01 PM

Gates Foundation announces $100 mn for coronavirus response

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged Wednesday to commit up to $100 million for the global response to the novel coronavirus epidemic that has claimed nearly 500 lives.

 

The funding will be used to strengthen detection, isolation and treatment efforts, the foundation said, including protecting at-risk populations and developing vaccines and diagnostics.

9:55 PM

"There are no current therapeutics that are thought to be highly effective against coronaviruses in general," says WHO official

9:53 PM

WHO issues appeal for $675 mn to fight novel coronavirus

The World Health Organization on Wednesday called for $675 million (613 million euros) in donations for a plan to fight the novel coronavirus, mainly through investment in countries considered particularly "at risk".

 

"Today we're launching a strategic preparedness and response plan.... We're requesting $675 million to fund the plan for the next three months," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conference in Geneva.

9:43 PM

Clarity on supplies from China to emerge by next week, says Tata Motors

Tata Motors on Wednesday said clarity about supply constraints of components from China will only emerge by the next week, when workers in the coronavirus hit country are expected to rejoin the work.

 

The company, which imports certain components for both Nexon EV and other traditional models from China, said if the workers don't join work next week then it could lead to supply issues for not only for Tata Motors but for the entire global automobile industry.

 

9:33 PM

Avoid frozen meat; shaking hands while greeting in public: Delhi govt advisory on coronavirus

The Delhi government on Wednesday issued a health advisory on the novel coronavirus (nCov) and prescribed do's and dont's for the public to ward off any infection, including avoiding frozen meat, officials said.

 

A round-the-clock control room has also been set up at the Directorate General of Health Services' headquarters to address queries related to the virus.

 

In its health advisory, the Delhi government has asked people to exercise caution, like cleaning hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub; covering nose and mouth while coughing; sneezing using tissue; avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu like symptoms; avoiding frozen meat, besides isolation of symptomatic patients for at least 14 days.

9:24 PM

Huawei India indefinitely suspends travel to, from China

Chinese telecom gear maker Huawei India on Wednesday said it has suspended travel to and from China to combat the deadly novel coronavirus infection.

 

The company has also quarantined Chinese employees along with their family members in India with recent travel history to China.

 

"The recent outbreak of respiratory illness caused by novel coronavirus (nCoV) first detected in Wuhan, China, has concerned Huawei. In accordance with instructions from authorities, Huawei has initiated contingency plans to help contribute to the health and safety of our staff and the communities in which we operate," Huawei India said in a statement.

9:23 PM

LG, ZTE withdraw from Mobile World Congress, others may follow

With the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus showing no signs of slowing down, Chinese tech major ZTE and South Korean giant LG Electronics have decided to withdraw their participation from the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 event in Barcelona later this month.

 

While LG has become the first major South Korean company to give MWC 2020 a miss, others may soon follow suit, considering the threat that the virus poses, according to industry watchers.

 

"LG Electronics is closely monitoring the situation related to the novel coronavirus outbreak, which was recently declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation as the virus continues to spread outside China," the company said in a statement.

9:18 PM

UP health department keeping close tabs on 704 returnees from coronavirus affected countries

Uttar Pradesh health authorities are monitoring over 700 people who have returned to the state from coronavirus affected countries.

 

Till date, 704 travellers from affected countries have been identified and tracked by the health department's district surveillance units, a senior health official told PTI.

 

However, there is no confirmed case of coronavirus in the state.

9:17 PM

WHO issues appeal for $675 mn to fight novel coronavirus