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As more tests are done, the percentage of serious and death rates will decrease.
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Covid-19 Headlines
Officials say coronavirus tests are here. Where are they?
The Association of Public Health Laboratories estimates that if 100 labs are up and running by the end of this week, about 10,000 tests per day could be performed.
Neither cost nor diagnostic criteria should deter any American from being tested, Pence said this week.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Pence said that a doctor’s order was all that would be needed for any American to be tested for the novel coronavirus.
“We’re issuing new guidance, effective immediately, from the CDC that will make it clear that any clinician or health authority can administer the test,” he said.
On Wednesday, he said the test will be covered by private health insurance, as well as Medicare and Medicaid.
Operations Suspended At F-35 Stealth Jet Factory In Japan Due To Virus Fears
America’s F-35 stealth aircraft factory in Japan shuttered operations for a week due to new concerns over the Covid-19 outbreak, reported Defense News.
The closure of the F-35 stealth factory comes as Covid-19 infections in Japan rose above 1,000 on Wednesday, most of which are from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship.
This prompted the closure of the F-35 factory in Japan, Ellen Lord, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, told reporters on Wednesday. She said the F-35’s global supply chain has yet to be impacted by the virus.
China struggling to deal with mountain of medical waste created by epidemic
How to deal with discarded face masks, which number in their millions or even billions, is another headache for Chinese authorities already caught between containing the viral disease and limiting the economic damage caused by it.
The country’s inadequate medical waste treatment capabilities have also been put under the spotlight, environmental experts said.
Environment and health authorities say masks and other protective gear, especially items used by medical personnel and people infected with the coronavirus, should be treated as clinical waste, and sterilised before being incinerated at high temperatures at dedicated facilities.According to Southern Metropolis Daily and other mainland media, Wuhan generated more than 200 tonnes of medical waste on February 24 alone, up from 109 tonnes just five days earlier.
Coronavirus: ‘Recovered’ patient dies as China reports 139 new cases
A 36-year-old man has died of respiratory failure in Wuhan, five days after being discharged from one of the makeshift hospitals built to contain the outbreak, according to Shanghai-based news portal The Paper.
Li Liang had been admitted to the hospital – built to treat patients with mild and moderate symptoms – on February 12, according to his wife, surnamed Mei. He was discharged two weeks later with instructions to stay in a quarantine hotel for 14 days.
Mei said her husband was not feeling well two days after leaving the hospital, with dry mouth and gaseous stomach. On March 2, Li said he felt sick and was sent to a hospital, where he was certified dead that afternoon.
The death certificate issued by the Wuhan health commission said the direct cause was Covid-19, and listed respiratory blockage and failure as the symptoms which could have lead to his death.
Germany calls coronavirus ‘pandemic’ as countries bolster prevention
Germany warned Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak has turned into a global pandemic, as countries around the world bolstered supplies and boosted protective measures in a bid to slow the rapid rise of the deadly disease.
While caseloads have steadily declined in the virus epicentre China, infections and deaths are rising in Asia and Europe, with cases appearing in new countries almost every day.
New infections in China at 139, higher than last two days
Mainland China had 139 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the country’s National Health Commission said on Thursday, up from 119 cases a day earlier, and 125 cases on March 2.
California declares state of emergency over coronavirus after first death, more cases
Hours after California announced its first death related to the novel coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the spreading illness, which has been reported in 12 counties in the state and has sickened more than 50 people.
7:30 pm EST update. An increase of 613 cases and 33 deaths from 12 noon. Critical patients 7.6%. Deaths 3.4%
China Has Been Censoring Coronavirus Information for Months
According to a study from Citizen Lab, a research body from the University of Toronto, doctors attempted to inform people about coronavirus through social media. However, Citizen Lab found that keywords translated as “Unknown Wuhan Pneumonia” and “Wuhan Seafood Market” were being censored on YY.
Censorship on YY is done on the client side, meaning certain keywords are censored from the device and updated over time like any other app update. Citizen Lab has been tracking these developments since 2015. WeChat, however, conducts censorship from its servers based on a combination of keywords.
U.S. officials say a medical screener at the Los Angeles International Airport has contracted the coronavirus.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it’s unclear if the person contracted the virus through their work as a medical screener or from community transmission. The agency said no travelers screened at LAX have tested positive for coronavirus.
Why are some people at greater risk from coronavirus?
People with diabetes or heart disease are known to be more at risk from coronavirus, which is starting to spread rapidly in the UK and internationally. That is a concern for the 7.4 million Britons who have some form of cardiac or circulatory disease, which includes 4.8 million people with diabetes.
The common risk factor is the lungs, because with both types of patients it is that organ which is likely to be damaged by the coronavirus. Their poor underlying health means they are in greater danger of suffering serious medical harm from Covid-19 than people with good health.
Read more reasons why here:
Coronavirus prompts a dozen schools in Washington state to close, others weigh options
A growing number of schools in western Washington state and Oregon are scrambling this week to temporarily close and sanitize classrooms following the confirmation of additional cases of coronavirus and at least six deaths linked to the disease in Washington.
The decision to cancel classes Monday in at least a dozen schools in the greater Seattle area indicates how essential it is for school districts to have contingency plans and could be a preview for communities across the country weighing what preventative steps to take, health experts say.
New York to recall college students in S. Korea over coronavirus
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Yonhap) — New York is recalling some 300 college students and faculty in South Korea and four other countries over concerns about the coronavirus, the state’s governor said Wednesday.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the students of the State University of New York and the City University of New York are being asked to return from their study abroad programs in South Korea, China, Italy, Japan and Iran. Those programs have been suspended, effectively immediately, he said.
Long-term care homes in Canada step up pandemic plans for COVID-19
As a seniors’ residence in Washington state continues to be at the centre of one COVID-19 outbreak, long-term care homes in Canada are preparing should the coronavirus come to one of their facilities.
Long-term care homes are vulnerable to outbreaks because frail residents live in close quarters that can facilitate the spread of infections.
He said nursing homes and retirement homes across Canada are also revising their pandemic plans to ensure that they have the right supplies in case outbreaks occur in their facilities.
Lessons Learned from 72,314 COVID-19 Patients: A China CDC Study
Who Dies From the Coronavirus?
Japan’s Shimadzu aims to release one-hour coronavirus test within month
OSAKA – Shimadzu Corp. said Wednesday it aims to develop a testing method that can detect the new coronavirus in one hour, far shorter than the six hours required for current tests, for release by the end of March.
The new method will minimize both the time and cost currently required for screening, according to the precision equipment maker, which plans to produce around 50,000 kits for use per month. The new method utilizes a reagent typically used to screen for norovirus.
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state on Wednesday reported a 10th death from coronavirus and Gov. Jay Inslee said he was evaluating daily whether to order widespread closures and cancellations due to the outbreak.
Seattle area schools are mulling teaching students online in the event of prolonged closures over health concerns. The schools took the steps after researchers said the virus that causes the disease called COVID-19 may have been circulating for weeks undetected in the state. Experts said more cases will probably be reported soon.
Pennsylvania says it is speeding up coronavirus testing
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state laboratory is improving its ability to handle samples that it is testing for the new coronavirus that is sickening people across the globe, state health officials said Wednesday.
The lab can now handle about 25 samples a day and that rate should increase in the coming days after it gets a piece of equipment, an extractor, that boosts its testing capacity, a Department of Health spokesman said.
Coronavirus, the Louvre reopened. WHO, mortality at 3.4% more than flu
Coronavirus causes “a more serious disease than seasonal flu: globally, approximately 3.4% of Covid-19 reported cases have died while seasonal flu generally kills far less than 1% of those infected”. The WHO stressed it, explaining that “while many people around the world have accumulated immunity to seasonal strains” this “is a new virus to which nobody is immune”. “We have vaccines and treatments for seasonal flu, but – added WHO – there is currently no vaccine and no specific treatment for Covid-19”
Case of the new corona virus in Stockholm
Today’s report shows that sixteen additional patients were found infected with covid-19. This means that a total of 31 people in the county have been infected by the new corona virus.
Thousands wait for hospital beds in South Korea as coronavirus cases surge
In Daegu, 2,300 people were waiting to be admitted to hospitals and temporary medical facilities, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said. A 100-bed military hospital that had been handling many of the most serious cases was due to have 200 additional beds available by Thursday, he added.
Iraq has seen its second coronavirus death
Slovenia has confirmed its first case of coronavirus
Coronavirus is mutating and its death rate is higher than originally thought
Researchers from Peking University’s School of Life Sciences and the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai under the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggested the initial strain evolved after passing into humans and both are now spreading.
The preliminary study found that a more aggressive type of the new coronavirus associated with the spread in Wuhan accounted for about 70 per cent of analysed strains, while 30 per cent was linked to a less aggressive type. They said the more aggressive virus dropped off following the introduction of stringent preventative measures in early January.
Hungary confirms first two coronavirus cases
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary on Wednesday confirmed its first two cases of the new coronavirus, both Iranian students in the country.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on his Facebook page: “We have the first infected individual, or rather two right away, whom we had to hospitalize.
Iraq announces first coronavirus death in capital
France says it now has 285 confirmed cases of coronavirus
Coronavirus death toll jumps to 107 in Italy, all schools shut
ROME (Reuters) – Italy closed all schools and universities and prepared other emergency measures on Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Europe’s worst-hit country as the death toll and number of cases jumped.
California reports first coronavirus death, in Placer County; L.A. County declares emergency
Placer County Public Health officials announced that a patient who had tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a cruise to Mexico last month died. The individual was an elderly adult with underlying health conditions and was the county’s second confirmed case of COVID-19, reported Tuesday night. Officials said that close contacts of the patient were being quarantined and monitored for the illness.
Single Algerian family sees 16 relatives infected
The number of cases in Algeria has increased by nine to 17, the country’s health ministry has said.
Coronavirus: Washington death toll now at 10
SEATTLE — The statewide coronavirus death toll is at 10 as officials continue to announce cases Wednesday.
According to the Washington State Department of Health Wednesday, was another death in King County, bringing the number of deaths in the county to nine.
Coronavirus: Congressional leaders strike roughly $8 billion bipartisan emergency funding deal
Congressional leaders in the House and Senate on Wednesday reached a bipartisan deal on a roughly $8 billion emergency funding bill to fight the coronavirus that has been spreading throughout the United States.
They should use the money so that all in the USA can be tested for free.
Coronavirus/COVID-19 tests regarding families in Buffalo came back negative
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — In a press conference on Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the coronavirus/COVID-19 cases for families in Buffalo came back negative.
So far, no one in Western New York has been confirmed to have coronavirus.
Los Angeles County declares coronavirus emergency with 6 new cases
Los Angeles County on Wednesday declared a health emergency as the number of coronavirus cases increased to seven, with six new cases in the county.
None of the new cases are connected to “community spread,” officials said. All individuals were exposed to COVID-19 through close contacts.
The additional cases were confirmed Tuesday night. Officials said three of the new cases were travelers who had visited northern Italy, two were family members who had close contact with someone outside of the county who was infected, and one had a job that put them in contact with travelers.
Wuhan Seafood Market, Ground-Zero For Coronavirus Outbreak, Demolished
According to a scientific study published in The Lancet, 66% of patients admitted to Wuhan hospitals (27 out of 41) as of January 2nd had been exposed to the Huanan seafood market.
WHO says coronavirus fatality rates are higher than previously thought — they also vary wildly depending on age, gender and country
“Globally, about 3.4% of reported COVID-19 cases have died,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, said at a press briefing in Geneva. That’s more than previous estimates that hovered around 2% and the influenza fatality rate of less than 1%.
Tedros said last week the fatality rate in Wuhan, China, considered the epicenter of the outbreak, is between 2% and 4%. Outside of Wuhan, it is thought to be closer to 0.7%, although some estimates put it at closer to 2%. The epidemic is “affecting countries in different ways,” he added.
How America’s rich are preparing for a deadly coronavirus outbreak
Some billionaires, bankers and other members of the US elite are calm, others are getting anxious and everyone is washing their hands. But the rich can afford to prepare for a pandemic with perquisites, like private plane rides out of town, calls with world-leading experts and access to luxurious medical care.
One co-founder of a major hedge fund, who asked not to be named discussing his plans, said he’d run in the other direction if his peers start fleeing into doomsday bunkers. He might fly to a house he has in Italy, a country that the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advises Americans to avoid. Widespread panic, he added, would only make plane tickets cheaper.
I agree with the last billionaire. Italy may have a lot of cases but now they have the most experienced doctors who can handle the virus. Plus, health care in Italy is inexpensive.
Read about what I wrote in Italy in:
Coronavirus Headlines Mar 3, 2020
Coronavirus: why do ‘recovered’ patients test positive again?
“It’s not that these people get a second infection, or a persistent infection, as some worried,” said Professor Jin Dong-yan, a molecular virologist from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.
It was either because the tests were not done properly in the first place, or the patient was undergoing a long course of the disease, he said.
Various factors could cause the test results to be inaccurate, including the quality of the test kit and the way the sample was collected and stored, Jin said.
Seattle feels like ‘ghost town,’ business owners say as they face life in coronavirus hot spot
In Seattle, bracing for the coronavirus also means preparing for what could be a devastating economic impact. Business owners and residents have already seen a drop-off in tourists in areas of the city that heavily depend on foot traffic.
“It’s like a ghost town,” Francisco said about the famous Pike Place Market where she has her shop.
Coronavirus: pet dog belonging to Covid-19 patient infected, Hong Kong health authorities confirm
“Previous experience with Sars suggests that cats and dogs will not become sick or transmit the virus to humans. At that time, a small number of pets tested positive but none became sick. Importantly, there was no evidence of viral transmission from pet dogs or cats to humans.”
Professor Barrs said the weak-positive test result for the Pomeranian indicated it had been exposed to the virus, which was not surprising because the owner was infected.
Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory medicine expert from Chinese University, suggested it was still too early to declare the dog was indeed infected, and blood test results for antibody response were needed for ultimate confirmation.
“If the blood test result is negative, it means the dog is not infected,” Hui said.“We wish to remind the public that there is no evidence that companion animals can transmit the disease to humans.”
Quarantined Diamond Princess passengers released in U.S.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Dozens of U.S. passengers who were moved to a Texas air base after potentially being exposed to the coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship were released Tuesday and allowed to go home, a day after local leaders declared a public health emergency and sought to delay the process so that more patient testing could be done.
‘No Time to Die’ postponed
The release of the new James Bond film, ‘No Time to Die’, will be postponed until November 2020, MGM Universal have announced.
Don’t you wish everybody can say “No time to die?”
14 new coronavirus cases in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia now has 50 coronavirus cases, with 14 new infections reported on Wednesday (March 4). This is the largest single-day increase, a day after the previous record high of seven.
The country’s Health Ministry on Wednesday revealed that most of the new cases could be traced back to Patient 26, who has been identified as Datuk Hisham Hamdan, a senior member of sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional.
WHO warns of global shortage of medical equipment to fight coronavirus
WASHINGTON/GENEVA (Reuters) – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned of a global shortage and price gouging for protective equipment to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus and asked companies and governments to increase production by 40% as the death toll from the respiratory illness mounted.
N.H. coronavirus patient breaks isolation, potentially exposing others
The first coronavirus patient in New Hampshire — an employee of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center — defied instructions from public health officials to stay away from other people.
In a statement, the state Department of Health and Human Services said the patient attended an invitation-only private event Friday “despite having been directed to self-isolate.”
Italian coronavirus deaths rise from 79 to 109
The number of confirmed deaths of patients who tested positive for coronavirus in Italy has risen to 107 from 79, Italian authorities have said.
The number of confirmed cases in Italy is more than 3,000.
Northern Ireland confirms two new cases of coronavirus
BELFAST (Reuters) – Northern Ireland has confirmed two more cases of coronavirus, the health department said on Wednesday, bringing the total number in the British province to three and the total on the island of Ireland to five.
India’s coronavirus cases nears 30, hits major payments firm
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The total number of known coronavirus cases in India rose sharply to 29 on Wednesday, including 16 Italian tourists who had tested positive for the disease as well as an employee of a digital payments company who had traveled to Italy.
12 noon EST update. An increase of 1,152 cases and 18 deaths since 5:15 this am
Italy readies draconian new measures to try to contain coronavirus
ROME (Reuters) – Italy prepared new emergency measures on Wednesday to try to slow the spread of coronavirus in Europe’s worst hit country, including the possible closure of all schools, universities, cinemas, theaters and most public events.
Coronavirus, WHO, mortality at 3.4% more than flu
Coronavirus causes “a more serious disease than seasonal flu: globally, approximately 3.4% of Covid-19 reported cases have died while seasonal flu generally kills far less than 1% of those infected“. The WHO stressed it, explaining that “while many people around the world have accumulated immunity to seasonal strains” this “is a new virus to which nobody is immune”. “We have vaccines and treatments for seasonal flu, but – added WHO – there is currently no vaccine and no specific treatment for Covid-19“
A death rate of 3.4% is what I have been calculating on this website. See my previous headline news articles. If you follow this website, you will be way ahead of others. Pardon the shameless promotion.
- Coronavirus Headlines Mar 3, 2020
- Covid-19 Headlines Mar 2, 2020
- Covid-19 Headlines March 1, 2020
- Covid-19 Headlines Feb 29, 2020
- Covid-19 Headlines Feb 28, 2020
Italian government had already shut schools and universities
The Italian government had already shut schools and universities in the worst-affected regions in northern Italy some 10 days ago and quarantined towns at the centre of the outbreak.
Italy runs a lot of tests and has more accurate data. This enables Italy to make decisions like school closings to contain the virus and prevent further spread.
No testing means no data to make or justify decisions that will affect public health. Countries that do not do enough testing are doing their citizens a disservice.
China encourages export of medical suits to meet overseas demand amid virus outbreak
Coronavirus median incubation period 5-7 days, maximum 14: Chinese Medical Association
BEIJING (Reuters) – The median incubation period of the new coronavirus is five to seven days and the maximum 14 days, Du Bin, Chairman of the Critical Care Medical Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, told a press event on Wednesday in Beijing.
Mona Lisa’s smile restored: Louvre reopens after virus fears
Louvre Museum employees who had stayed off the job since Sunday for fear of infection voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to resume work, allowing the world’s most- visited museum open its doors again in the afternoon.
Management presented a raft of new anti-virus measures to try to coax employees back to work. Among them: wider distributions of disinfectant gels and more frequent staff rotations so employees can wash their hands.
Virus halts Muslim pilgrimage, Friday prayers
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Fears over the new coronavirus outbreak in the Mideast disrupted the practice of Islam itself in the region on Wednesday, as Saudi Arabia banned its citizens and residents from performing the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca and Iran canceled Friday prayers in major cities.
The Saudi decision expands a ban last week on foreigners visiting Mecca and Medina, home to the holiest sites in Islam. Meanwhile, authorities halted Friday prayers across all Iranian provincial capitals amid the country’s growing coronavirus outbreak.
Tokyo asks no cherry blossom party over COVID-19 fears
TOKYO: The Tokyo government urged residents on Wednesday (Mar 4) to refrain from joining parties at parks during the famed cherry blossom season, in the latest disruption caused by concerns over COVID-19.
The season, which is expected to start in mid-March, is traditionally celebrated with hanami – or viewing parties – in cherry blossom hotspots, with picnics organised beneath the trees.
UK workers to receive statutory sick pay from first day off work, not fourth, to help prevent virus spread
Plans are being brought forward to allow the payment of statutory sick pay from the very first day someone is sick instead of four days, Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, has told MPs.
China’s schools, forced online by virus, run into censors
BEIJING (AP) — Less than 30 minutes into a lecture on bioinformatics, Chu Xinjian’s class was abruptly cut short.
It was the first day of an unusual semester. Across China, schools are shut indefinitely in a bid to contain a new virus that has killed some 3,000 people. Chu’s class was one of tens of thousands of courses, from grade school to university, that have been forced online.
Chu’s professor was painstakingly sending voice recordings to the class group chat when, without warning, the system disbanded the group for violating China’s Internet regulations — a pervasive, almost mundane part of life under Communist Party rule.
Medical students donate blood to help fight COVID-19
Dozens of students at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine donated blood at the Shanghai Blood Center on Wednesday to help those infected by novel coronavirus.
Over recent weeks, more than 150 medical students have made blood donations at the center. A few overseas students have joined them, too.
Bill and Melinda Gates fund study into finding coronavirus cure
Prof Johan Neyts, who will carry out the analysis in Leuven, said he expected results within a fortnight of the shipment arriving in Belgium.
He said: “The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation hopes that there are one or more molecules among the 15,000 substances that can also inhibit the new coronavirus. We’ll figure that out for them. We will know the results a week or two after the shipment is delivered.”
‘We are very vulnerable’: Experts weigh in on coronavirus spread
Coronavirus has already killed more people in seven weeks than ebola has killed in the second-worst outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in nearly two years, according to the World Health Organisation.
Dr Margaret Harris of WHO told ABC’s 7.30 the virus was causing so much concern because of its ability to infect very large numbers of people.
“At the moment, we’re looking at a mortality rate of about 2 per cent and a lot of people say, ‘Huh, 2 per cent, I don’t have a problem’,” she said.
25 new confirmed COVID-19 cases found in India
Addressing to the media in New Delhi, the minister said the new cases included 16 Italian nationals and one Indian driver who accompanied them on a tour.
All the Italian nationals found suffering from COVID-19 have been shifted to a camp set up in Delhi.
Thousands wait for hospital beds in South Korea as coronavirus cases surge
SEOUL: South Korea reported hundreds of new coronavirus cases on Wednesday (Mar 4) as many sick people waited for hospital beds in Daegu, the city at the centre of the worst outbreak outside China.
The new cases bring South Korea’s total to 5,328, with at least 32 deaths, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
Thousands of students, soccer fans isolated as 9th-grader diagnosed with virus
The Health Ministry on Wednesday instructed all 1,150 students at a high school, plus the members of an elementary school class in a different school, to self-quarantine at home, after a teen and a 5th-grade teacher were diagnosed with the coronavirus.
In addition, soccer fans who sat in a particular area at a Tel Aviv game last week have also been told to go into isolation.
First confirmed case of COVID-19 in the EU institutions
In an internal mail seen by EURACTIV, the European Defence Agency (EDA) confirmed that one of its staff members has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and it therefore cancelled all meetings to be held at its premises until 13 March as a precautionary measure.
Sanitizers get priority over South Korea’s soju drink in virus crisis
SEOUL (Reuters) – Makers of soju, South Korea’s national drink and one of the world’s best selling spirits, are jumping into the fight on the largest outbreak of coronavirus outside China by sharing their stockpiles of alcohol with makers of sanitizers.
Putin says fake coronavirus news reports being sent to Russia to spread panic
He urged the government to ensure that citizens were correctly informed about the situation in Russia.
Italy may close schools all over country due to coronavirus: government source
ROME (Reuters) – The Italian government is considering closing schools all over the country due to its coronavirus outbreak, but no decision has been taken yet, a government source said on Wednesday.
Italy runs a lot of tests and has more accurate data. This enables Italy to make decisions like school closings to contain the virus and prevent further spread.
No testing means no data to make or justify decisions that will affect public health. Countries that do not do enough testing are doing their citizens a disservice.
India’s coronavirus cases rise to 28, including 16 Italians
And on Wednesday, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said 15 of 21 tourists from Italy – Europe’s worst-affected country – who had been taken to a quarantine facility on the outskirts of New Delhi had tested positive for the virus.
Their Indian driver was also placed in quarantine.
Hospital patients to be seen via video link
Hospitals are being asked to carry out more video-based consultations of patients to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
NHS England hopes the move will reduce the number of people in hospitals and lower the potential for transmission.
Google leads tech charge to work from home
An employee on Monday had flu-like symptoms. It was not thought to be coronavirus but managers asked staff to work remotely for test the company’s ability to function with a ghost headquarters. It is unclear when employees will return.
Other companies have decided to do so indefinitely, emulating a trend that started in Asia after coronavirus erupted in China in December.
Twitter is urging its 5,000 global staff to work from home. “Beginning today, we are strongly encouraging all employees globally to work from home if they’re able,” a company blogpost said on Monday.
Argentina, Chile confirm first cases
A 43-year-old infected Argentine man had returned from Italy on March 1, while a 33-year-old Chilean man had spent a month in south-east Asia.
French government steps in to regulate face masks and hand gels during coronavirus outbreak
Hôpitaux de Paris has reported the theft of 8,300 masks from its sites, as well as 1,200 bottles of hand sanitiser gel, while the Hôpital de la Conception in Marseille reported the theft of 2,000 masks.
Second case of coronavirus in NZ
A woman in her 30s who recently travelled to northern Italy has been confirmed as New Zealand’s second case of coronavirus.
Researchers identify two coronavirus types as China cases dwindle
The preliminary study found that a more aggressive type of the new coronavirus associated with the disease outbreak in Wuhan accounted for about 70% of analyzed strains, while 30% was linked to a less aggressive type.
Coronavirus has affected almost all Iranian provinces: president
Iran steps up efforts as 23 MPs said to be infected
About 8% of the Iranian parliament’s MPs have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials have said, as the country announced plans to mobilise 300,000 soldiers and volunteers against the deadliest outbreak of the epidemic outside China.
The government announced a death toll of 77 and a total of 2,336 confirmed cases in Iran, 835 more than the previous total. Experts fear the country’s high ratio of deaths to infections – about 3.3% – may mean the actual infection figure is far greater.
World stocks mixed after Wall Street sinks despite rate cut
BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets were mixed Wednesday after Wall Street sank despite an emergency U.S. interest cut aimed at defusing fears the virus outbreak might stunt global economic activity.
London opened lower while Germany advanced. Shanghai gained, Sydney and Hong Kong declined and Tokyo was little-changed.
BANGKOK (AP) — China prepared to close temporary hospitals while South Korea struggled to find enough beds for its sick Wednesday as the virus epidemic that began in Asia increasingly troubled the West.
“We have entered a phase that will last weeks and, undoubtedly, months,” said President Emmanuel Macron of France, where more than 200 people were infected.
As new cases were dropping in worst-hit China, worrisome clusters were growing sharply in South Korea, Italy and Iran, which each exceed 2,000 cases. Italy newly surpassed Iran with the most deaths outside China, with 79 as of Tuesday.
In Italy, health care is free and more people are tested. In Iran, we don’t know. Italy is among the top ten in health care while Iran is number 58. That is why the lower number of cases of Iran does not necessarily mean that they have fewer cases.
US coronavirus cases rise, nine dead
The Washington State Department of Health said the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases there now stands at 27, including nine deaths, up from 18 cases and six deaths on Monday.
All of the fatalities in the United States from the illness associated with the virus were in the Pacific Northwest state.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co said it was working on a plasma-derived therapy
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co said it was working on a plasma-derived therapy that had previously been shown to be effective in treatment of severe acute viral respiratory infections, Reuters reports.
Spain reports first coronavirus death
Tests carried out post-mortem showed the man, who died on February 13, was killed by the virus, regional health chief Ana Barcelo told a press conference.
Spain’s health ministry said sport fixtures expected to draw crowds from zones designated as high-risk for coronavirus, such as northern Italy, would be played without spectators.
The test was done after the patient died. Many may have been potentially exposed to the coronavirus that he had. Since the patient died on Feb 13, 20 days ago, the people exposed to him would have transmitted the virus to the second set of susceptible people by now. This shows why testing is very important to have proper precautions.
Washing hands of coronavirus: Expect little help from insurers
Don’t look for much relief from insurers to cushion losses from cancelled events, travel disruptions and potential medical claims from the deadly Covid-19 virus that’s sweeping across the globe.
PARIS (AP) — The coronavirus epidemic shifted increasingly westward toward the Middle East, Europe and the United States on Tuesday, with governments taking emergency steps to ease shortages of masks and other supplies for front-line doctors and nurses.
“We are concerned that countries’ abilities to respond are being compromised by the severe and increasing disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment, caused by rising demand, hoarding and misuse,” said World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting our health workers.”
If health care workers get sick and understaffing of facilities happen, patients with other illnesses will also suffer.
Companies adjust policies as virus scrambles travel plans
In response to this new reality, some airlines and hotels are adjusting their usual cancellation fees. And more people are beefing up their travel insurance coverage.
AIRLINES: The situation is fluid and flight cancellations and policies differ, so travelers should check airlines’ web sites for updated information.
CRUISE SHIPS: Cruise lines have been moving Asia-based ships to other destinations such as Australia and Alaska and are turning away potential travelers who have recently traveled in Iran, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group.
More at the link.
119 new cases in China
There were 38 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,981. The total number of cases stands at 80,270 as of the end of March 3.
Washington state residents struggle to get tested
As Washington state faces a rapidly evolving coronavirus outbreak, which has already claimed nine lives there, residents on Tuesday reported a frustrating array of misinformation and obstacles as they were seeking to get tested.
When she asked why she wasn’t given a test for coronavirus, she said that a nurse practitioner told her she could only get tested if she was admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms.
In a statement to the Guardian, Providence hospital said: “In Snohomish county, with the limited availability of test kits at this time, one of the criteria for testing has been that the patient is ill enough to warrant hospital inpatient care. Due to an influx of patients in the emergency department, wait times are longer than normal for people who do not have severe symptoms.”
Virus hammers business travel as wary companies nix trips
Amazon and other big companies are trying to keep their employees healthy by banning business trips, but they’ve dealt a gut punch to a travel industry already reeling from the virus outbreak.
The Seattle-based online retail giant has told its nearly 800,000 workers to postpone any non-essential travel within the United States or around the globe. Swiss food giant Nestle told its 291,000 employees worldwide to limit domestic business travel and halt international travel until March 15. French cosmetics maker L’Oréal, which employs 86,000 people, issued a similar ban until March 31.
As travel decreases, the economy slows.
Germany reports 44 new confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany
Fifteen of Germany’s 16 federal states have now reported cases of the novel coronavirus, with the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia being most affected, according to the RKI.
Germany has not reported a fatal case of the virus
Coronavirus could cause global medicine shortages as China’s factory closures hit supply chains
- Factory activity in China – the top producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients – hit all-time low in February after measures to halt outbreak
- US and Europe monitoring short-term delay to supplies, with antibiotics, diabetes medications, HIV drugs and ibuprofen among those heavily reliant on China
Covid-19 Can Cause Drugs and Medical Supply Shortages Worldwide
5:15 am EST. An increase of 321 cases and 40 cases since 7 pm last night. Serious cases 7.7%. Deaths 3.4%.
Coronavirus: there are 2 types, Chinese researchers find, while authorities say faeces and urine can transmit the infection
The coronavirus has evolved into two major types, with differing transmission rates and geographical distribution, according to a study published in the National Science Review on Tuesday.
A group of Chinese scientists analysed 103 coronavirus genomes and identified mutations in 149 sites across the strains.
They found that one type, which they called the L type, was more prevalent than the other, the S type, meaning it was more infectious. They also found that the L type had evolved from the S type, and that the L type was far more widespread before January 7 and in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.
European Central Bank bans nonessential travel
The European Central Bank says it’s restricting all nonessential travel by members of its executive board and employees through April 20 as a precautionary measure amid the global coronavirus outbreak.
Thousands wait for hospital beds in South Korea as coronavirus cases surge
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea reported hundreds of new coronavirus cases on Wednesday as many sick people waited for hospital beds in Daegu, the city at the center of the worst outbreak outside China.
Iraq reports its first coronavirus death, in Kurdish region
SULAIMANIYA, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq reported its first coronavirus death on Wednesday, an elderly man in the Kurdish province of Sulaimaniya, the local health department said.
WHO warns of global shortage of medical equipment to fight coronavirus
WASHINGTON/GENEVA (Reuters) – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned of a global shortage and price gouging for protective equipment to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus and asked companies and governments to increase production by 40% as the death toll from the respiratory illness mounted.
UK universities postpone graduations
The University of Buckingham announced today that it has postponed its graduation ceremonies due to fears of aiding the spread of the coronavirus. The event will be rescheduled for later in the year.
The University of London has decided postpone the graduation ceremony for students on its distance and flexible learning programmes.
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