Covid-19 Headlines Feb 29, 2020

This post will be updating the whole day. Keep up to date.

If you know someone who does not believe in the epidemic,

Is the Covid-19 epidemic Fake News?

Covid-19 Headlines

Don’t Test, Don’t Tell – Epsilon Theory

But the CDC refuses to test for COVID-19.

Why? Because it didn’t fit their “criteria” for testing. They didn’t know for sure that the patient was in mainland China within the past 14 days, and they didn’t know for sure that the patient was in close contact with another confirmed case, so BY DEFINITION this patient can’t possibly have COVID-19. No test for you!

This is “Don’t Test, Don’t Tell” and it is the single most incompetent, corrupt public health policy of my lifetime.

And it’s happening all over the country.

Further down this list of headlines is an article about how the test kits of the CDC were flawed.

Italy has done more than 14,000 tests; that is why they can detect cases. Here in the US, the CDC has done 459 as Califonia monitors 8,400 people. Why aren’t those people tested?

Describe the US’ response to the current pandemic.

• a) inept
• b) stupid
• c) lack of foresight
• d) corrupt
• e) all of the above

Luxembourg reports first COVID-19 case, linked to Italy – CNA

LUXEMBOURG: Luxembourg on Saturday (Feb 29) announced its first case of infection by the new coronavirus: a man who recently returned from Italy, Health Minister Paulette Lenert told reporters.

The man in his 40s returned to Luxembourg “at the beginning of the week” and, after “more recently” exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, had a test that confirmed the disease, she said.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Officials in Ecuador on Saturday confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the South American nation, while Mexico reported two more cases and Brazil one more.

Ecuador’s Health Minister Catalina Andramuño Zeballos said a more-than-70-year-old Ecuadoran woman who lives in Spain arrived in the country on Feb. 14 showing no symptoms of illness.

S. Korean woman reinfected with coronavirus after recovery – Yonhap

SEOUL, Feb. 29 (Yonhap) — South Korea reported the first case of reinfection by the new coronavirus on Saturday amid mounting concerns over the rapid rise in virus infections here.

A South Korean woman has tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time, even after being released from quarantine, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

In virus-hit China, coat maker adapts to make hazmat suits – AFP

The coronavirus outbreak in China is preventing clothing manufacturer Ugly Duck Industry from resuming its normal production of winter coats, so it has pivoted to another in-demand product: hazmat suits.

The company in the eastern China export hub of Wenzhou hastily repurposed its assembly line, putting the few dozen workers it could muster to produce thousands of single-use protective suits daily.

Greece confirms three new cases of coronavirus, brings total to seven – Reuters

The latest cases involve a woman and a man, who are related to previously confirmed cases in Greece, and a man who had recently traveled to Italy, Europe’s worst-hit country by the virus, the ministry said.

Markets expected to fall further as coronavirus hits China’s economy – The Guardian

World stock markets are expected to fall further next week after the first surveys of China’s economic health since the coronavirus outbreak showed factory output has plunged and the country’s service sectors have contracted.

South Korea’s total cases jump to 3,150 as it reports first case of reinfection – The Straits Times

SEOUL (AFP) – South Korea confirmed 813 more coronavirus cases on Saturday (Feb 29), the biggest increase to date for the country, taking the national total to 3,150 infections with four additional deaths.

Authorities also reported the country’s first case of reinfection – a 73-year-old woman who tested positive for a second time after her recovery and release from hospital last week.

6 pm update An increase in the number of cases of 77 and 9 deaths since 12:30 pm

Foreign diplomats to be evacuated from North Korea as country steps up efforts to prevent virus outbreak – CNN

Hakone, Japan (CNN)A plan is in the works to evacuate quarantined foreign diplomats from North Korea, a source inside the country has revealed, as concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus grow.

North Korea has not confirmed a single case of the virus inside its borders, but global health experts have warned the country is highly susceptible to an outbreak given its close proximity to China and limited medical capabilities. Every other country in East Asia has confirmed numerous cases.

Meanwhile At A Costco In Brooklyn, The Hoarding Begins – ZeroHedge

The same long lines that we’ve seen in China, Japan, South Korea, and across the world as people panic buy food and health supplies have started in the US.

Despite the CDC telling everyone to calm down, alleged video of long lines pouring out of a Costco store in Brooklyn, New York, surfaced on YouTube Saturday afternoon.

‘It’s the last nail in the coffin’: Venice empties as coronavirus spreads – The Guardian

The Venetian tourism industry is still reeling after severe flooding in November left much of the city under water; now it has a very different kind of crisis to face. More than 800 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Italy, and 29 people have died.

North Korea’s Coronavirus Quarantine: More Effective Than Sanctions – Forbes

North Korea’s leadership has declared prevention of the spread of coronavirus a matter of “national survival” and moved rapidly to close its borders to halt the spread of the virus.

Italy coronavirus cases exceed 1,000, death toll at 29 – CNA

ROME: The number of cases of the new coronavirus in Italy has exceeded 1,000, the health ministry said on Saturday (Feb 29), with the death toll rising by eight to 29 in the past 24 hours.

The number of cases has reached 1,128 since the start of the epidemic a week ago, up from 888 on Friday.

Italy has run more than 14,000 tests that is why they can detect cases. No testing no cases. The US has run less than 500 tests for Covid-19 so far. Look at the news reports below.

Brazil confirms second case of new coronavirus: Health Ministry – Reuters

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil’s Health Ministry on Saturday confirmed the country’s second case of the fast-spreading new coronavirus, diagnosed in a patient in São Paulo who had recently visited Italy.

Inslee declares emergency in Washington state after first US coronavirus death – The Hills

Gov. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) declared a state of emergency in Washington state Saturday just hours after he announced the first death in the United States from the coronavirus.

The declaration directs state agencies to use all resources necessary to prepare for and respond to an outbreak and also allows the use of the Washington National Guard, if necessary.

“This will allow us to get the resources we need,” Inslee said in a statement. “This is a time to take common-sense, proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of those who live in Washington state.”

US confirms first coronavirus death – @GovInslee

Gov. Inslee: It is a sad day as we learn a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. We are strengthening our preparedness and response efforts to keep Washingtonians healthy, safe and informed.

$1,600 for coronavirus test – #COVID19 

‘To hell and back’: my three weeks suffering from coronavirus – The Guardian

By 26 January getting up had become extremely difficult and I was shivering with cold. I felt I was having a high fever, and I was: 39C. Reports later said that the situation could develop extremely fast in the middle stage, but before I knew it, by that evening the fever was gone.

It felt like having been to hell and back. That period from 21 January to the 26th was the worst time. I coughed so bad my stomach was hurting and my back ached. Those were some of the worst days in my life.

One tale of an American coronavirus patient – TheDuran

A doctor and nurses reviewed my case with me and took a bunch of lab tests. They wore heavy-duty hazmat suits sealed with duct tape and equipped with motors that helped with air circulation. It looked like something out of “The Andromeda Strain.”

New coronavirus case confirmed at Tenerife hotel on lockdown – Reuters

TENERIFE (Reuters) – An Italian national staying at a hotel in Tenerife which has been placed on lockdown after four cases of the coronavirus were detected has tested positive for the virus, regional health authorities confirmed on Saturday.

Exclusive: US weighs restrictions at border with Mexico over coronavirus threat – Reuters

MILAN (AP) — Italian authorities say the country now has more than 1,000 coronavirus cases and 29 people infected with the virus have died.

The head of Italy’s civil protection agency said during a news conference that the total number reached 1,128 on Saturday. Officials also reported eight more deaths in the previous 24 hours. of people with the virus, bring Italy’s total to 29.

WHO raises Covid-19 threat level to maximum – RTS

The WHO raised the level of the threat linked to the new coronavirus to its maximum level on Friday, as measures multiplied on Friday at an international level to counter the epidemic. Four new deaths are to be deplored in Italy.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Officials in Ecuador on Saturday confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the South American nation and Mexico reported two more to raise the country’s total to four.

Ecuador’s Health Minister Catalina Andramuño Zeballos said a more-than-70-year-old Ecuadoran woman who lives in Spain arrived in the country on Feb. 14 showing no symptoms of illness.

12:30 pm EST update An increase of 532 cases. no change in the number of serious cases and deaths

Coronavirus outbreak in China delays shipment of bridal, prom dresses – KMBC

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Even without confirmed cases of the virus in the metro, the outbreak in China is already having an impact at some bridal shops here.

It’s estimated that 80% of bridal gowns come from China.

PARIS (Reuters) – The French government on Saturday put a temporary ban on public gatherings with more than 5,000 people due to the coronavirus outbreak, as France reported 16 new cases.

Health Minister Olivier Veran said after a special cabinet meeting that the number of confirmed cases had risen to 73. Of those, two have died, 59 are in hospital, and 12 have recovered.

Iraq has detected five new cases of the coronavirus – Guardian

Iraq has detected five new cases of the coronavirus, four in Baghdad and one in the central Babel province, the country’s health ministry has announced, taking the total number of cases in the country to 13.

Iran’s Official Covid-19 Infected Rises To Nearly 600 As US Slightly Eases Sanctions – ZeroHedge

A nationwide lock-down in Iran continues, or we could say at this point merely that the Iranian Health Ministry is urging people to stay home, after Friday prayers were canceled in 23 cities across the nation, and as the official death toll acknowledged by Tehran has risen to 43, with total number of infected jumping to 593. 

This after on Friday a team of journalists working for BBC Persia said they had confirmed at least 210 virus-linked deaths in Iran after canvassing workers at dozens of hospitals around the country, further suggesting a cover-up on a massive scale in the works.

More news about Iran at Covid-19 Headlines Feb 28, 2020

Virus’ effect on world economy grows more alarming – AP

China’s manufacturing plunged in February by an even wider margin than expected after efforts to contain the virus outbreak shut down much of the world’s second-largest economy, an official survey showed.

The survey, coming as global stock markets fall sharply on fears that the virus will spread abroad, adds to mounting evidence of the vast cost of the disease that emerged in central China in December and its economic impact worldwide.

Two new cases of coronavirus announced in the canton of Geneva – RTS

The canton of Geneva confirmed on Saturday afternoon two new cases of coronavirus. In Graubünden, four new cases were reported on Saturday. The canton of Bern had announced its first case in the morning.
With two new confirmed cases, the canton of Geneva now has five cases of coronavirus contamination. All patients are hospitalized, but their state of health is not a concern.

Fourth player at Serie C’s Pianese tests positive for coronavirus – CNA

ROME: A fourth player at Italian third tier side Pianese has tested positive for the coronavirus, the club said on Saturday.

“After a series of checks, Pianese announce that a fourth player is infected by Covid-19. He too is in solitary confinement at home and is under observation by the relevant authorities,” the Serie C club said in a statement.

Schools, universities to stay shut as northern Italy battles coronavirus – Reuters

ROME (Reuters) – Schools and universities will stay closed for a second consecutive week in three northern Italian regions in an effort to contain Europe’s worst outbreak of coronavirus, dashing any hopes of a swift return to normality.

Northern Ireland first coronavirus case confirmed by lab tests – Guardian

The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland has said the region’s first case of coronavirus, which was announced on Thursday, has now been confirmed by laboratory tests.

Qatar confirms first case of coronavirus – Shine

Qatar has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, state media reported Saturday, after a 36-year-old Qatari woman who was evacuated to Doha from Iran tested positive.

Coronavirus causes Serie A to postpone games: live sports updates – DW

The spread of the coronavirus is having an impact on all aspects of life in many parts of the world.  Here are the latest updates on how the virus is affecting the world of sports. More at the link

Sports cancellations are discussed here: Is the Covid-19 epidemic Fake News?

Iran announces semi-lockdown on Qom over coronavirus outbreak – Xinhua

TEHRAN, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) — The Iranian authorities announced on Saturday that they will ban the people suspected of novel coronavirus infection in Qom from moving out of the city.

Special equipment will be used to examine the health condition of the people at the exits of Qom with special equipment from Sunday, Khabar Fouri news website reported, citing the deputy chief of Qom Medical University.

Read about the real situation in Iran at the top part of  Covid-19 Headlines Feb 28, 2020

Covid-19 has been traveling “unnoticed for weeks” in Italy, researchers say – RTS

“The virus circulated unnoticed for weeks in Italy, before the first confirmed cases of the disease” last Thursday, explained Friday to AFP professor Massimo Galli, whose team isolated the Italian variant of the virus in just four days.
“The virus has been present for a long time, perhaps already since mid-January,” said Professor Galli by telephone, adding that the Italian version “is certainly the result of a mutation, especially since this virus changes from person to person “.

He “made the assumption that the virus arrived before Italy even closed direct flights with China” on January 30, saying to focus its research on the first patients “who had never been in China or in contact with people who went to China, which does not mean that the virus did not arrive “from this country.

Professor Galli has swept away “unnecessary controversy” over the fact that Italy has carried out too many tests (more than 12,000 since Friday), which would explain the exponential increase in the number of cases, the majority of which are people at all ill.

Compare the more than 12,000 tests that Italy made to the number that the US CDC has made below that I highlighted in red.

The United States badly bungled coronavirus testing—but things may soon improve – Science

Speed is critical in the response to COVID-19. So why has the United States been so slow in its attempt to develop reliable diagnostic tests and use them widely?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has shipped testing kits to 57 countries. China had five commercial tests on the market 1 month ago and can now do up to 1.6 million tests a week; South Korea has tested 65,000 people so far. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in contrast, has done only 459 tests since the epidemic began. The rollout of a CDC-designed test kit to state and local labs has become a fiasco because it contained a faulty reagent.

Why were only 459 tests done when…

California is monitoring at least 8,400 people for the coronavirus – CNBC

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that 33 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and the state is currently monitoring at least 8,400 others —a day after U.S. health officials confirmed the first possible community transmission of the coronavirus in a Solano County resident.

If you just said, “WTF!”, I understand.

Is Wall Street Behind the Delay in Declaring the Coronavirus Outbreak a “Pandemic”? – MNP

Alittle known specialized bond created in 2017 by the World Bank may hold the answer as to why U.S. and global health authorities have declined to label the global spread of the novel coronavirus a “pandemic.” Those bonds, now often referred to as “pandemic bonds,” were ostensibly intended to transfer the risk of potential pandemics in low-income nations to financial markets.

Yet, in light of the growing coronavirus outbreak, the investors who purchased those products could lose millions if global health authorities were to use that label in relation to the surge in global coronavirus cases.

Don’t tell me it is all about the money!

Elderly and men are most vulnerable to coronavirus – RTS

Seniors and those with other illnesses are the most vulnerable to Covid-19 while young children are spared, a Chinese study confirms. The coronavirus also claims more victims in men than in women.

Who Dies From the Coronavirus?

3 Reasons Why Smokers Have Worse Covid-19 Outcomes

Are Asians More Prone to Get the Covid-19?

“This Is A Nightmare”: London’s Worst-Case Plan For Coronavirus Includes Giant Morgue In Hyde Park – ZeroHedge

“We have contingency plans to open up a morgue in Hyde Park, in tents,” said MP Nickie Aiken, whose district includes the 350-acre open space which was used as a refuge from the plague in the 17th century. “We would run the morgue for most of central London.”

U.S. intel agencies warned of rising risk of outbreak like coronavirus – NBC

WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community has failed to anticipate some big developments, from the disintegration of the Soviet Union to the rapid rise of ISIS.

But the spies did forecast something like coronavirus.

For years, American intelligence agencies have been warning about the increasing risks of a global pandemic that could strain resources and damage the global economy, while observing that the frequency and diversity of global disease outbreaks has been rising.

Is the Covid-19 epidemic Fake News?

Cruise Ship Returns Early To Port Of Los Angeles, 4 Taken To Area Hospitals – KCAL

When paramedics arrived, two people had suffered unknown injuries on the ship and two others were suffering from unknown illnesses. Those four patients were taken to nearby hospitals without lights or sirens.

The ship does have doctors and medical staff on board.

According to Princess Cruises’ website, the ship was scheduled to return tomorrow from a 28-day trip to Hawaii and the south Pacific.

It sounds like there is urgency in the early return.

France bans gatherings of more than 5,000 – The Guardian/Reuters

The French government banned public gatherings with more than 5,000 people on Saturday due to the coronavirus outbreak as France reported 16 new cases, Reuters reports.

Japan sporting events at empty stadiums amid virus outbreak – AP

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese sporting events were held without spectators on Saturday in a move aimed at halting the spread of the new coronavirus.

The Chiba Lotte Marines hosted the Rakuten Eagles with no spectators in the stands at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba Prefecture on Saturday, one of six preseason baseball games played at empty stadiums.

Is the Covid-19 epidemic Fake News?

Switzerland is up to 17 cases of coronavirus infection  – The Guardian

Switzerland is up to 17 cases of coronavirus infection – 12 confirmed and five awaiting confirmation – according to local media.

States to get test kits as White House amps up virus effort – AP

A three-step test kit from CDC is being replaced with a two-step process that Messonnier said should work better.

“Our goal is to have every state and local health department doing its own testing by the end of next week,” said Messonnier. That’s a considered a critical step, because it would push the front lines of surveillance closer to local communities where new cases might present themselves.

US military scrambles to cope with global ‘threat’ posed by coronavirus – CNN

CNN has learned that top US commanders around the globe are increasingly concerned that as allies shut down borders and travel in response to the virus’ spread, there’s a risk that by the end of March, US military readiness may start degrading, according to several defense officials.

Because of coronavirus, 38% of beer-drinking Americans now say they won’t order a Corona – CBS

Another case in point: 38% of American beer drinkers surveyed this week said they wouldn’y buy Corona “under any circumstances” at the moment. It’s worth noting that, among regular Corona drinkers, only 4% said they would now refrain.

Sixteen percent of the beer drinkers surveyed by 5W were confused about whether Corona beer is related to the coronavirus, according to the publicity agency.

The news is from CBS and not from The Onion

Iceland confirms its first case of coronavirus – CNN

An Icelandic man in his 40s who recently traveled to Italy has been infected with the coronavirus, according to Icelandic authorities.

Oregon has 1st coronavirus case: elementary school employee – AP

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s first coronavirus case emerged on Friday, and the infected person worked at an elementary school in the Portland area, which will be temporarily closed, authorities said.

“The case was not a person under monitoring or a person under investigation. The individual had neither a history of travel to a country where the virus was circulating, nor is believed to have had a close contact with another confirmed case — the two most common sources of exposure,” the Oregon Health Authority said in a statement.

The news report means that the Covid-19 infected person got the virus from an asymptomatic carrier who remains unidentified and continuing to spread the infection.

The Secondary Attack Rate of Covid-19

Hoarding in the USA? Coronavirus sparks consumer concerns – Straits Times

“I’m buying some flu therapy and pain killers. If I wait until next week, there may be nothing left,” said Mr Dean McKnight, a engineer in Austin, Texas, as he motioned to shelves at the HEB supermarket that were empty of several over-the-counter medications, primarily flu treatment for children.

Stringent anti-virus measures in NKorea – Daily Telegraph

North Korea has not confirmed any cases of the virus, but state media said a month-long quarantine period had been imposed for people showing symptoms and “high-intensity” measures were taken including reinforcing checks in border regions and at airports and sea ports.

Iran says ‘tens of thousands’ may get tested for coronavirus – AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian Health Ministry spokesman on Saturday said the Islamic Republic is preparing for the possibility of “tens of thousands” coming to test for the new coronavirus, underscoring the concern over the outbreak there.

There are 935 people infected with coronavirus in Japan. 705 of them are from the Diamond Princess cruise ship – CNN

Japan’s Ministry of Health updated its numbers of novel coronavirus Friday to a total of 935 cases — up on an earlier count of 907 cases.

At least 11 people have died from the virus in the country, according to Japanese health officials.

Of the 935 cases, 705 are from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama.

China’s factories slow at record pace – Daily Telegraph

China’s factory activity contracted at the fastest pace ever in February, even worse than during the global financial crisis.

Giants, Swallows compete without familiar sights, sounds at ballpark – Japan Times

The return of pro baseball to Tokyo Dome on Saturday night was greeted by a jarring silence. There were no songs or chants to welcome the players to the plate nor the blaring of trumpets to provide the familiar soundtrack to the NPB experience.

Three people confirming infection Participating in a concert in the same Osaka About 100 people – NHK

Osaka Prefecture held an urgent press conference on the 29th, showing that a woman newly infected with a new coronavirus in Kochi Prefecture and two men in Osaka Prefecture who had been confirmed so far were three in total. Have announced that they were all participating in a concert at a live house in Osaka on the 15th of this month.

LG Display suspends work at South Korea factory over virus infection – Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) – LG Display has suspended work at its display module factory in the South Korean city of Gumi after a coronavirus case was confirmed, the company said.

The suspension of work at LG may cripple the production of their phones and TVs.

2 new coronavirus cases identified in Washington state – AP

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state health officials announced two new coronavirus cases Friday night, a woman who had recently traveled to South Korea and a high school student with no known exposure to the disease whose school will be closed and sanitized.

Neither people were seriously ill, authorities said.

Germany enacts new virus-related measures – Daily Telegraph

A German government crisis committee has widened cross-border travel guidelines and cancelled major international events among new measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

It expanded regulations for air and sea travel, requiring passengers from South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran to report their health status before entry.

Pope cancels audiences for third day with apparent cold – AP

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis canceled official engagements for the third day in a row Saturday as he battled an apparent cold.

The 83-year-old pope, who lost part of a lung to a respiratory illness as a young man, has never canceled so many official audiences or events in his seven-year papacy.

S. Korea reports 3 more deaths from coronavirus, death toll rises to 16 – YNA

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the deceased were being treated at hospitals in Daegu, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The third person, born in 1950, died at the emergency room of a hospital after she was found to have contracted the illness earlier in the day.

The agency said that it is in the process of determining the exact cause of each death and is taking steps to check people they may have contacted.

Religious pilgrimages and ceremonies in the Middle East have emerged as a dangerous new risk in the spread of the coronavirus in the region, as Iran fights to contain the deadly epidemic and Saudi Arabia restricted access to two of Islam’s holiest sites.

The official death toll from coronavirus in Iran has reached 43 – The Guardian/Reuters

The official death toll from coronavirus in Iran has reached 43, Reuters reports. It comes amid unofficial claims that the true figure is much higher.

Number of US coronavirus cases of unknown origin climbs to four – Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. public health officials said they have identified four “presumptive” coronavirus cases believed to have emerged from community transmission of the infection, signaling a turning point in efforts to contain the disease in the United States.

First death from virus in UK, 20 infected – Daily Telegraph

The British person who died was in Japan, where the Diamond Princess cruise ship had docked off Yokohama on February 3.

Entire Italian Serie-C football team in quarantine after three players and an official tested positive for coronavirus. The Guardian

Players from Pianese, a side based in Tuscany, began to exhibit symptoms last Saturday, while the team played away against Allesandria.

Iran Can’t Hide Its Coronavirus Explosion, But It’s Trying Hard—and Putting the World in Danger – Daily Beast

Tehran’s efforts to conceal the spread of coronavirus include intimidation of whistleblowing doctors. China tried this when the epidemic began. We know how that worked out.

5 am EST 2/29/2020. An increase of 1,244 cases and 44 deaths from yesterday. Serious cases 9%. Case fatality 3.4%

New coronavirus cases of unknown origin found on West Coast – AP

Health officials in California, Oregon and Washington state worried about the novel coronavirus spreading through West Coast communities after confirming three patients were infected by unknown means.

At UC Davis Medical Center at least 124 registered nurses and other health care workers were sent home for “self-quarantine” after the Solano County woman with the virus was admitted, National Nurses United, a nationwide union representing RNs, said Friday.

Mainland China, excluding Hubei, reports lowest new daily infections – Reuters

The central province of Hubei reported 423 new confirmed cases on Friday, the National Health Commission said on Saturday, up from 318 a day earlier.

That pushed the overall number of new infections on Friday in mainland China to 427, data from the health authority showed.

Universities in Seoul shift to online classes amid virus fears – YNA

SEOUL, Feb. 29 (Yonhap) — More universities in Seoul are seeking to replace in-person classes with online lectures due to fears over coronavirus infection.

South Korean universities have postponed the start of the spring semester, scheduled for next Monday, by two weeks under the recommendation of the Ministry of Education.

After missteps, CDC says its coronavirus test kit is ready for primetime – NBC

Top federal health officials announced they had modified the testing protocol, expanded criteria for who could be tested and worked out the technical problems with the tests, positioning more state and local laboratories to finally have the ability to test for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.

The test kit had three components, Becker said, two of which tested for the novel coronavirus and a third that tested for a host of other viruses. In dozens of labs, the test kit correctly yielded results for the coronavirus — but came back inconclusive for the other viruses, which made the federal health officials question the integrity of the entire kit, he said.

“This Is Serious” – Virus Hunter Who Discovered Ebola Discusses’ Worst-Case Scenario’ For Coronavirus – ZeroHedge

As the coronavirus becomes the all-consuming news story of the moment, the Financial Times decided to invite an extremely apropos guest for this weekend’s “Lunch with the FT”. That guest is: Belgian scientist Peter Piot, the “Mick Jagger of Microbes”, best known for discovering the Ebola virus.

Obviously well-qualified, how does Piot feel about COVID-19? He didn’t mince words: “This is serious.”

• The Secondary Attack Rate of Covid-19
• 10 Reasons Why 2019-nCoV is a Nightmare

Japan cherry blossom festivals cancelled as COVID-19 fears grow – CNA

TOKYO: Major cherry blossom festivals in Japan have been cancelled due to the deadly new coronavirus, the latest in a growing list of events quashed as the epidemic spreads globally.

As coronavirus slams Italy, paralysis and anxiety spread – Reuters

Almost 900 coronavirus cases have been confirmed. Authorities have put part of Italy’s most productive region into lockdown, shut the Venice carnival, one of its main tourist events, and postponed Milan’s showpiece design fair.

S. Korea warns of more virus cases in Daegu, total tops 3,100 – YNA

The country identified another sharpest daily spike of the new coronavirus, with 813 additional cases bringing total infections here to 3,150.

Australia to bar foreigners traveling from Iran due to COVID-19 risk: Minister – CNA

Foreign nationals traveling from Iran to Australia would need to spend 14 days in another country from Mar 1, Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

US reports 3rd case of novel coronavirus of unknown origin – Shine/AFP

US health officials on Friday reported a third case of the new coronavirus transmitted to a person who did not travel overseas or come in contact with anyone known to be ill, indicating the disease was spreading in the country.

South Korea reports another 219 new infections – The Guardian

South Korea has reported 219 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total infections to 3,150, the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday, Reuters reports.

Britain’s 20th coronavirus case is first to contract infection on UK soil: Man treated at clinic in Surrey closed for ‘deep cleaning’ is moved to London hospital as a Briton on quarantined cruise ship dies – Daily Mail

• The 20th case marks the first patient to have caught the infection on British soil, it was announced last night
• The patient, from Surrey, is understood to be a man who was recently treated at the Haslemere Health Centre  
• Another confirmed case is believed to be from Surrey, putting the county at heart of UK’s growing outbreak 
• Nobody in the UK has so yet died but yesterday a British man aboard the Diamond Princess ship passed away 

Person to person spread has started in the UK. The Secondary Attack Rate of Covid-19

Bahrain threatens untested from Iran with arrest amid virus – AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain on Saturday threatened legal prosecution against travelers who came from Iran and hadn’t been tested for the new coronavirus, and also barred public gatherings for two weeks as confirmed cases across the wider Mideast grew to over 520.

Iran has become the epicenter of Covid-19 spread in the Middle East.

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