Australian researchers claim breakthrough in containing coronavirus
From CNN's Samantha Beech in Atlanta
Experts from the New South Wales Health Pathology lab in Australia have successfully grown the live coronavirus from NSW patients -- rather than synthetic specimens --according to a health ministry statement.
“Health experts around the world will be able to contain the spread of novel coronavirus among the population faster, following a breakthrough by NSW Health researchers,” the statement said.
Australian health minister Brad Hazzard said experts can now help contain the spread of the virus faster, as understanding the epidemiology of the disease is necessary to develop reliable diagnostic testing to identify and contain it.
“Early and accurate diagnosis of infectious and deadly viruses is critical because undiagnosed patients can unknowingly transmit it to others,” Hazzard said.
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NSW Health Pathology’s director of public health pathology, Professor Dominic Dwyer, said that “this cutting-edge work will expand access to faster, reliable diagnostic testing for infected patients not just here in NSW but around the world."
He added that synthetic virus tools don’t offer the same high degree of diagnostic accuracy needed to develop effective drugs to treat patients.
“We’re proud to be able to share our discovery with the World Health Organization, and international researchers and clinicians, so together we ultimately help save lives,” Dwyer said.
6 hr 11 min ago
136 cases confirmed on board Japan cruise ship
From CNN’s Mick Krever in Yokohama, Japan
' alt="The Diamond Princess is quarantined at the port city of Yokohama, Japan." class="Image-p11edh-0 gubAgz" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025"> The Diamond Princess is quarantined at the port city of Yokohama, Japan. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
There are 66 newly confirmed coronavirus cases aboard the Diamond Princess ship docked in Yokohama, according to an announcement just made by the ship’s captain Stefano Ravera.
That brings the total number of cases on the ship to 136, nearly doubling the previous total of 70 confirmed cases yesterday.
Ravera cautioned that this does not mean that the quarantine is not working.
“It was not unexpected, the additional cases, involving individuals exposed prior to the start of the quarantine,” he said.
Japanese authorities are still testing hundreds of passengers on board the ship, which has been stuck at the harbor south of the capital Tokyo for almost a week now.
Evidence is increasingly pointing to a full blown outbreak on board the ship, the largest outside of mainland China, where the vast majority of cases have been reported until now.
6 hr 54 min ago
The view from quarantine on board the Diamond Princess
From CNN's Sandi Sidhu
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Philip and Gay Courter are among the hundreds of passengers trapped aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, a city south of Tokyo.
The couple, originally from Florida, sent these photos to CNN of the view outside of their window, as medical staff conduct thorough tests of passengers and crew, dozens of whom have been confirmed to have the Wuhan coronavirus so far.
"We need to get out of here," the couple said earlier of their quarantine. "We have a company called Medjet that we're members of the organization that they serve. And they are ready and willing and have everything that's in place to come and get us. But the Japanese government is refusing to allow us to leave."
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7 hr 18 min ago
Women's Golf World Championship canceled due to coronavirus fears
From CNN's Isaac Yee in Hong Kong
' alt="A promotional banner for the upcoming HSBC Women's World Championship, which was canceled due to concerns about the novel coronavirus, is displayed in the financial district in Singapore on February 10." class="Image-p11edh-0 gubAgz" v:shapes="_x0000_i1029"> A promotional banner for the upcoming HSBC Women's World Championship, which was canceled due to concerns about the novel coronavirus, is displayed in the financial district in Singapore on February 10. Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images
The HSBC Women's Golf World Championship scheduled to be held in Singapore from February 27 to March 1 has been canceled, with organizers citing "continued health concerns."
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) said in a statement on Monday, "the health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working at the event is always our highest priority."
The 2020 Honda LPGA Thailand tournament scheduled for February 20-23 will also be canceled, the LPGA added.
Singapore's Ministry of Health announced Friday that all large-scale events should either be canceled or postponed following the increase of the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) alert level to code orange, the second highest level.
7 hr 42 min ago
Kia Motors suspends production lines at all three of its factories in South Korea
From CNN's Sophie Jeong in Hong Kong
An employee works on a Kia Motors production line at the company's plant in Gwangju, South Korea, on Friday, July 8, 2016. SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Kia Motors suspended nearly all production lines at its three South Korea factories today, a Kia Motors spokesperson told CNN.
The three plants, located in the cities of Gwangmyeong, Hwaseong and Gwangju, are suspended due to “the problem of wiring harness supplies from China," said the spokesperson.
One exception is the production line for military vehicles in the Gwangju factory, which is still operating.
Production lines at the Hwaseong factory will resume Tuesday, and lines at the two other plants will resume Wednesday, Kia Motors said.
“We are trying to secure supplies from some factories that are operating in China, factories in South Korea and in Southeast Asia,” the officer told CNN on Monday.
Outbreak hits auto industry: China is a major supplier of parts to auto plants around the world -- shipping nearly $35 billion worth of parts in 2018.
But plants across China have been closed for weeks in response to the coronavirus outbreak -- and that could mean factories around the world grinding to a halt.
Hyundai also has shut its assembly plants in South Korea, not because the disease itself has spread there but because it can't keep the plants operating without Chinese parts.
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7 hr 23 min ago
Malaysia confirms additional case of Wuhan coronavirus, bringing country's total to 17
From CNN's Isaac Yee in Hong Kong
Malaysian health officials have confirmed an additional case of the Wuhan coronavirus, bringing the country's total to 17.
According to state news agency Bernama, the latest case involves a 31 year-old Malaysian with no travel history to mainland China.
Ministry of Health director Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the man began developing symptoms on February 3 after returning from Macao. The patient was then admitted to hospital on February 7, and tested positive for the novel coronavirus two days later.
7 hr 54 min ago
Japanese government working to boost mask production
From CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo
alt="People wearing masks wait to cross a road in the Shibuya district on February 2, 2020 in Tokyo." class="Image-p11edh-0 gubAgz" v:shapes="_x0000_i1034">People wearing masks wait to cross a road in the Shibuya district on February 2, 2020 in Tokyo. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images
The Japanese government is working to increase the domestic production of face masks amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“All major manufacturers are producing 24 hours around the clock to produce masks,” chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday.
“We will keep close eyes on the production, and demand and work to alleviate the lack of masks as soon as possible.”
Japan currently has the largest outbreak of the Wuhan virus outside of mainland China: on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship currently quarantined at Yokohama harbor south of Tokyo.
7 hr 20 min ago
The Japanese government is considering testing all Diamond Princess passengers
From CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki and Mick Krever in Tokyo
A Japan Coast Guard' patrol boat, left, is brought alongside the cruise ship Diamond Princess to take passengers tested positive for coronavirus to hospitals off Yokohama on Wednesday, February 5. Hiroko Harima/Kyodo News via AP
The Japanese government is considering testing all passengers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which remains docked under quarantine off the coast of Yokohama, regardless of whether they are symptomatic.
“We are aware that there are voices (saying) that all the passengers and crew members must get the test on the coronavirus when they disembark,” said Katsunobu Kato, Japanese minister of health, labor, and welfare.
“We are taking a close look whether we can conduct all the tests.”
“We are taking a close look whether we can conduct all the tests.”
So far, authorities have been prioritizing testing passengers and crew members who feel unwell. The ship was placed under quarantine on February 4 after a former passenger tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus. The quarantine is scheduled to end on February 19.
A total of 70 people have tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus on board the ship, which is carrying more than 3,700 people, including crew and passengers.
8 hr 17 min ago
In Wuhan, an army of volunteers is offering a lifeline to those under lockdown
From CNN's Nectar Gan
Staff members and and volunteers wearing protective face masks transfer medical supplies at a warehouse converted into a makeshift hospital in Wuhan on February 4. AFP/Getty Images
Hours after a state-imposed lockdown brought public transport in the Chinese city of Wuhan to a halt in late January, Wan Jiuxiong and his colleagues sprang into action.
The 27-year-old ride hailing driver joined a group of volunteers ferrying medical staff to and from overcrowded hospitals, where rows of feverish patients were fighting the coronavirus.
Wan's first assignment was to pick up a nurse from home and drive her to the Jinyintan Hospital, a key facility designated by the government to treat patients infected with the pneumonia-like illness.
Wan's passenger left in a hurry, without saying "goodbye" or "thank you", but Wan isn't looking for thanks.
"In this time of need, we Wuhan people have to save ourselves. Everyone has got to do their own part," he said.
Volunteers on the front lines: Hundreds of volunteers have formed a lifeline for the residents of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The lockdown suspended all buses and subways -- and though the government deployed taxis to help deliver supplies and transport patients, it's not enough.
To fill that gap, ordinary car owners like Wan have organized themselves into groups on WeChat, China's popular messaging app, where they swiftly respond to the requests of medics.
In addition to driving health care workers, some volunteer groups are delivering medical resources and supplies to hospitals. Others provide accommodation and hot meals to overworked doctors and nurses.
"It has been really difficult work for us volunteers. All we relied on is our hot blood," said Chen Hui, a 53-year-old volunteer. "Wuhan is sick, and we all want to cure it by pulling everyone's effort together."
8 hr 50 min ago
China cautiously returns to work after weeks of quarantine
From CNN's James Griffiths
' alt="Chinese security guards line up before duty on February 9, 2020 in Beijing, China." class="Image-p11edh-0 gubAgz" v:shapes="_x0000_i1037"> Chinese security guards line up before duty on February 9, 2020 in Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Millions of people across China are heading back to work after the Lunar New Year break turned into an extended quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Many will be working from their homes, with strict quarantine guidelines in place in many cities and most businesses urging people to work remotely if possible to reduce the chances of transmission.
The outbreak shows no signs of slowing, with the number of confirmed cases now at over 40,000 worldwide and the death toll at 910.
The vast majority of the deaths have been in mainland China, leaving the country in something of a bizarre situation where some areas of it will be returning to something approaching business as usual, even as other regions face increasingly draconian restrictions on their movement and behavior in a desperate attempt to contain the virus.
Drastic measures: In a joint statement Saturday, China's National Health Commission, Supreme Court and Ministry of Public Security announced seven "medical-related crimes" that would be severely punished.
They include attacking medical personnel, refusing medical checks and damaging or destroying property at medical facilities.
According to the statement, anyone who violates new virus control regulations will be quickly prosecuted and could face arrest, jail or even the death penalty.
Read more about the outbreak here.
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9 hr 16 min ago
Opinion: China's hero doctor was punished for telling truth about coronavirus
From Michael Bociurkiw
Li Wenliang
Editor's note: Michael Bociurkiw is a global affairs analyst and a former spokesman for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The opinions expressed here are his own.
In their botched handling of the tragic death of Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who sounded the alarm on the Wuhan coronavirus, authorities in Beijing seem to want it both ways.
On the one hand, officials have expressed their sorrow over his death and encouraged people to tell the truth about the outbreak. On the other hand, government censors are hard at work scrubbing online posts that call for freedom of speech in the wake of Li's death.
When millions of people are denied the opportunity to grieve collectively over someone widely regarded as a hero, their trust in government can only further erode.
As Li recently told the Chinese magazine Caixin before his death, "I think a healthy society should not only have one kind of voice."
A tipping point for the public: While Li may not be immortalized to the same degree as the lone protester who faced off against a column of tanks in Tiananmen Square during the 1989 anti-government protests, his "normal guy" persona, and sense of duty has transformed him into an overnight hero -- and his death has unleashed an unprecedented tsunami of grief and anger that probably has not been seen since President Xi Jinping rose to power.
Authorities then botched rollout of the news of Li's death, announcing then retracting and announcing it again. And to many Chinese people, it was a tipping point, given that manipulation and suppression of information is what allowed the wide spread of the novel coronavirus in the first place.
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9 hr 30 min ago
Honeymooners stuck on quarantined cruise: "Get us off the ship"
More than 3,700 people are stuck in Yokohama, Japan, on a cruise ship that became a floating quarantine zone after dozens of people onboard tested positive for the coronavirus.
Among them is Spencer Fehrenbacher, an American citizen and masters degree student in Tianjin, China, who wanted to celebrate the Lunar New Year with his friends on the ship.
Now, he's confined to his cabin, spending his time reading and watching TV. Passengers in interior cabins are allowed out for about an hour and a half, but have to wear masks at all times and stay one meter away from each other, he said.
Then Fehrenbacher learned an additional 41 people were diagnosed with coronavirus. Eventually, 70 people total on the ship would test positive.
"It is beyond frightening news," Fehrenbacher said.
Newlyweds Milena Basso and Gaetano Cerullo are also on the ship. But instead of enjoying the honeymoon they'd saved up for over two years, they're worried about staying healthy and being trapped for longer than 14 days.
"We just don't feel like we're safe," Basso told CNN. "We should be quarantined in a sanitary environment that's safe, not on a cruise ship that's already infected."
"Donald Trump, save us," Basso said. "Get us a government-based airplane. Get us off the ship."
9 hr 44 min ago
Take a look at life under lockdown in Wuhan
From CNN's Ben Westcott and Lily Lee
It has been three weeks since Wu Chen went into self-enforced quarantine in his Wuhan apartment, with only his cat, Baozi, for company.
Since January 13, the 26-year-old graphic designer has only ventured outside his apartment a few times, to stock up on supplies of food and protective face masks -- and to collect food for his cat.
He is one of millions of people who are all but confined to their homes in Wuhan and several other Chinese cities, under an unprecedented lockdown with no sign of ending.
Life under lockdown: Justin Steece, an American teacher in Wuhan, wears a face mask over his nose and mouth and sunglasses to protect his eyes when he goes out. He also puts on an extra layer of clothing, which is then washed once he gets back home.
At the supermarket, there is a small selection of food -- fresh produce is a rare find. Any shopping bags he uses are carefully wiped down with soap.
Killing time: As the weeks drag on, Chinese social media has been flooded with videos of citizens entertaining themselves by square dancing in their living rooms, or re-enacting Chinese operas.
Wu Chen has joined in, posting daily videos on Tik Tok. In one video, he plays hide and seek with his cat.
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9 hr 49 min ago
3,700 people will be quarantined at sea for nine more days
For most of last week, 7,300 people were quarantined at sea on two cruise ships docked in Japan and Hong Kong, after former passengers were confirmed to have the coronavirus.
One ship has been released from quarantine, and passengers allowed to disembark, while the other remains quarantined after more cases were confirmed on board. Here's what we know about the ships:
World Dream:
· The ship docked in Hong Kong on February 5, placed under quarantine with more than 3,600 people on board (including crew and passengers)
· All were permitted to leave early Monday morning local time after everyone on board tested negative for coronavirus
· World Dream had docked at various different ports across China and Vietnam before arriving in Hong Kong
Diamond Princess:
· The ship remains anchored at Yokohama, near Tokyo. There are more than 3,700 people on board, including crew and passengers
· The ship has been quarantined since February 4, after a former passenger tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus
· Since then, 70 new cases have been confirmed and taken off the ship
· All guests on board will remain quarantined until February 19, and will receive a full refund for the cruise
10 hr 7 min ago
The coronavirus crisis could shut auto plants around the world
From CNN's Chris Isidore
An employee works on an SUV production line on the Beijing Automotive Group Co. on August 29, 2018. Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty
The coronavirus outbreak's cost to businesses worldwide is already readily apparent -- and auto plants could be among the first to feel the impact.
That's because of the massive size of the Chinese auto parts industry and the fact that you can't build a car with only 99% of its parts.
China is a major supplier of parts to auto plants around the world -- shipping nearly $35 billion of parts in 2018, according to United Nations data. While some of those parts go to auto parts retail stores, a large percentage of them go to assembly lines and are used to build cars.
But plants across China have been closed for weeks in response to the coronavirus outbreak -- and that could mean factories around the world grinding to a halt.
It only takes one missing part to stop a line," said Mike Dunne, a consultant to the auto industry in Asia and the former head of GM's operations in Indonesia.
Plants are closing across Asia: So far most of the auto assembly plants in China are closed; Volkswagen announced it was keeping its Chinese auto plants shut partly due to travel restrictions there and partly due to the lack of parts.
But it has already started to spread to plants elsewhere. Hyundai has shut its assembly plants in South Korea, not because the disease itself has spread there but because it can't keep the plants operating without Chinese parts. Last week, Fiat Chrysler said it has one European plant at risk from the lack of Chinese parts in the next two to four weeks.
Read more here about the hit to the auto industry.
10 hr 15 min ago
New York City could spend $1 million a day on coronavirus response, Chuck Schumer warns
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York speaking at his Manhattan office on February 6, 2020. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
New York City has already spent more than $1 million in their coronavirus response and “could spend millions of local dollars more over the next 60 days to help tackle the virus," according to a press release from New York Sen. Chuck Schumer.
In a press conference Sunday night local time, Schumer asked the federal government to reimburse the city for it
its use of local funds in fighting coronavirus.
"New York City has already spent more than a million dollars on public health activities of national importance to tackle the coronavirus, and could, if the need develops, be looking at a one-million-dollar-a-day tab," Schumer said.
“Tonight I’m asking the Feds, (Health and Human Services), to sign on the dotted line, just take the contract and sign it and say we will reimburse New York City for its costs. This administration should not be punishing New York by not giving us dollars.”
“Tonight I’m asking the Feds, (Health and Human Services), to sign on the dotted line, just take the contract and sign it and say we will reimburse New York City for its costs. This administration should not be punishing New York by not giving us dollars.”
Preparations in New York: The funds have been distributed to the city's department of health, various hospitals, the New York Police Department, and other local agencies, said the press release. The funds also help source diagnostic tests and other laboratory equipment.
There have been no cases of the coronavirus in New York state yet. The 12 confirmed cases so far are spread across six states: Washington, Illinois, California, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts.
10 hr 43 min ago
He spoke out about the coronavirus. Now his family and friends fear he's been silenced
From CNN's Nectar Gan in Hong Kong
Chen Qiushi, a citizen journalist who has been forced into quarantine. Chen Qiushi
On Thursday, as people across China mourned the death of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang, concerns were growing over the whereabouts of a citizen journalist who had filed vital, critical reporting from inside of Wuhan.
Chen Qiushi, who had been uploading regular online video reports from the epicenter of the outbreak, went missing on Thursday evening, just as hundreds of thousands of people in China began demanding freedom of speech online.
Chen's disappearance: He arrived in Wuhan on January 24, a day after the city was placed under a state-imposed lockdown. He visited overflowing hospitals, funeral parlors and makeshift isolation wards -- offering the world a glimpse into the grim reality at the heart of the crisis. Chen's work had featured in CNN's reporting.
Chen stopped answering calls to friends early Thursday evening, and his relatives later found out that he had been put into "forced quarantine" by the police.
By Sunday, Chen's disappearance had started to gain traction on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, with many pleading for his release.
Hope the government can treat Chen Qiushi in a fair and just way," one user wrote on Sunday morning. "We can no longer afford a second Li Wenliang!"
Read the full story here.
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10 hr 52 min ago
The coronavirus numbers, broken down
China’s National Health Commission confirmed Sunday evening that 97 more people had died of the Wuhan coronavirus, bringing the death toll in China 908. The global death toll is now 910 with one death in Hong Kong and one death in the Philippines. Let's break down the numbers:
Death toll
· In China: 908
· Outside China: 2
· Global total: 910
Cases
· In China: 40,171
· Outside China: 539
· Global total: 40,710
The vast majority of deaths and cases are inside mainland China, and concentrated in the central province of Hubei. The outbreak itself is thought to have begun in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei.
10 hr 59 min ago
World Health Organization sends experts to China
From CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey
A World Health Organization (WHO) team left for China on Sunday to assist with containing the novel coronavirus outbreak, said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Twitter.
I’ve just been at the airport seeing off members of an advance team for the @WHO-led #2019nCoV international expert mission to #China, led by Dr Bruce Aylward, veteran of past public health emergencies.
Aylward has also lead the WHO’s response to Ebola, as well as initiatives for immunization, communicable diseases control and polio eradication.
Ghebreyesus added that "we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg," and the coronavirus could still continue spreading outside of China. He called for calm instead of panic, and international cooperation instead of stigma and fear.
"In the spirit of human solidarity, I salute the doctors, nurses, caregivers and public health workers on the front lines who, at personal risk, are doing their utmost to stem the (coronavirus) outbreak. They are the true heroes of this outbreak," he tweeted.
10 hr 47 min ago
In Hong Kong, eight confirmed cases came from one family cluster
From CNN's Isaac Yee in Hong Kong
People wearing protective face masks cross a street in Hong Kong on February 9, 2020. Dale De La Rey/AFP/Getty Images
Eight confirmed coronavirus cases in Hong Kong came from one family cluster, said the city's Center for Health Protection.
The cases, which were reported Sunday, bring Hong Kong's total to 36 confirmed cases, including one death.
The family cluster: The first of these eight cases was a 24 year-old man who sought medical treatment on January 30 after developing a fever and cough.
The patient then consulted a private doctor on February 4 and sought additional treatment at St Paul's Hospital on February 6th. The patient was then placed into isolation on February 8.
The Center for Health Protection then traced the patients' contacts and confirmed eight of the 24 year-old patient's relatives were infected with the novel coronavirus, including his father, mother, grandmother, aunts and cousins.
Hot pot transmission: The 24 year-old patient did not travel during the incubation period. Authorities traced the possible transmission of the virus to a hot pot dinner party the 24 year-old patient attended with 18 relatives on January 26.
The Center added that it is still conducting an epidemiological investigation of two more relatives who are showing symptoms.
11 hr 13 min ago
Here's the latest on the coronavirus outbreak
Passengers leaving the World Dream cruise ship on February 9, 2020 in Hong Kong. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
The novel coronavirus outbreak that began in December in Wuhan, China, has now killed more than 900 people -- surpassing the death toll of the 2003 SARS outbreak, which killed 774 people globally.
If you're just joining us, here's the latest:
· Cases rise: In total, the coronavirus has killed 910 people and infected 40,710 globally, though the vast majority of deaths and cases remain in mainland China, concentrated in the central province of Hubei.
· Journalist missing: Chen Qiushi, a citizen journalist who had been posting critical reports from inside of Wuhan, went missing Thursday evening. Friends and family later found out from the police that he had been forced into quarantine. His disappearance has gained traction online, with many pleading for his release.
· Whistleblower doctor: Chen's disappearance comes right after the death of Li Wenliang, a Chinese whistleblower doctor who became infected after trying to warn people of the virus in December. His death sparked an intense wave of mourning and rare public fury against the government in China.
· Quarantined cruises: More than 3,600 people disembarked a cruise ship in Hong Kong after testing negative for coronavirus. They had been quarantined at sea for five days. Another 3,700 people are still quarantined on a cruise ship docked in Japan, with dozens of infected cases found on board.
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