Coronavirus Global Outbreak

03:04 PM

125 new coronavirus cases reported from mainland China

China reported 125 new virus cases on Tuesday, marking the lowest number of new daily infections in six weeks. There were also 31 more deaths, the National Health Commission reported -- all in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, raising the nationwide toll to 2,943. In total, more than 80,000 people have been infected by the new coronavirus in mainland China. 

03:01 PM

US coronavirus death toll rises to six, all in Washington state

Five of the six American fatalities have been from King county, the most populous in Washington state and home to Seattle, a city of more than 700,000 people. The sixth victim was from neighboring Snohomish county, officials said.

02:40 PM

Mumbai ‘running out’ of sanitizers, but soap and water offer better prevention

Hand sanitizers, which are popular because they can reportedly kill the 2019 novel coronavirus (Covid-19), have become difficult to find in shops in Mumbai and its extended suburbs. Nevertheless, WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise people to frequently wash hands with soap and water or an alcohol based sanitizer as a measure against Covid-19.

02:38 PM

Noida school shut over coronavirus scare

A renowned school in Noida was closed on Tuesday amid coronavirus scare a day after a Class 6 student’s father was detected with the infection. The school located in Sector 135 of Noida was closed on Tuesday for fumigation due to the concerns over the infection.

02:38 PM

NCP leader Supriya Sule wants foreign minister Jaishankar to ensure safe return of 34 people from Mahastra's Kolhapur district who are struck in Iran

NCP leader Supriya Sule says 34 people from Maharashtra's Kolhapur district are stranded in Iran amid coronavirus scare, demands that foreign minister Jaishankar to ensure their safe return. 

05:31 PM

Amid the growing scare over coronavirus (COVID-19), the Punjab government on Monday announced emergency measures, including setting up of flu corners in all government and private hospitals, to prepare for any exigency arising from the epidemic. Read the full story here 

02:53 PM

Two new cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in India

Two positive cases confirmed, one in Delhi and another in Telangana the affected individuals are understood to be in a stable condition. Read full story here..

11:37 AM

The latest coronavirus sufferers is one of Iran's seven vice presidents, Massoumeh Ebtekar, who oversees women's affairs. Read full story here

11:17 AM

Netherlands and New Zealand confirm first case of Coronavirus

The first case of coronavirus has been reported in Netherlands and New Zealand. In a statement, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said a man who lives in the town of Tilburg had been diagnosed with the virus after traveling to Italy’s Lombardy region a few days ago. Read full story here....

10:24 AM

Nigeria confirms first case of Coronavirus

Nigeria’s health ministry said on Friday it has confirmed a coronavirus case in Lagos state. The case which was confirmed yesterday is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the outbreak in China in January. Read the full story here...

11:03 AM

A special Air India flight carrying 119 Indians and five people from Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, who were on board the coronavirus-hit quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, landed in New Delhi this morning. Read full story here

11:32 AM

Iraj Harirchi Iran's Deputy Health Minister has confirmed that he has been tested for Coronavirus. Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared to be sweating during a press conference in Tehran.

Iraj Harirchi Iran's Deputy Health Minister has confirmed that he has been tested for Coronavirus. Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared to be sweating during a press conference in Tehran. In a video broadcast on state television, the minister put a brave face as he admitted that he was infected. "I too have been infected with coronavirus," Read full story here

05:20 PM

Iran confirms 13 further cases of coronavirus, two deaths

Iran has confirmed two deaths among 13 new cases of the coronavirus, according to a statement from Health Ministry spokesperson Kinaush Jahanpur.

05:18 PM

South Korea reported a surge in confirmed infections, giving it the world’s largest number of cases related to the new coronavirus outbreak outside China.

05:17 PM

Coronavirus kills young Wuhan doctor

A 29-year-old doctor in Wuhan has become the latest victim of the coronavirus

04:06 PM

Robots takes over COVID-19 disinfection work in China

 As China struggles to contain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19), robots were being deployed in the country's front lines in an effort to combat the disease. The development came to light after a video was shared by one of the country's leading media outlet with the caption: "Robots are taking over the disinfection work and expected to be put into use in factories and other public indoor spaces in different cities of China."

02:36 PM

Bangladeshi national tested positive for Coronavirus in Singapore critical

One of the five Bangladeshi men infected with the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) in Singapore is currently in "critical condition", Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen said in a press conference.

01:12 PM

Confirmed case of Coronavirus increases to 65 in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said late on Wednesday that the number of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Hong Kong had increased to 65 as of 8:00 p.m. local time.

01:07 PM

Six Chinese screened in Shimla, no symptoms of coronavirus

 Six Chinese nationals who were screened for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Himachal Pradesh capital, showed no symptoms of the disease. Health authorities here examined them and found their tests normal, said Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap.

03:02 PM

WHO chief condoles death of Chinese doctor in fight against coronavirus outbreak

"My deepest condolences to the family of Dr Liu Zhiming, his colleagues and patients for this enormous loss," the WHO chief tweeted on Tuesday.

03:02 PM

Second death from coronavirus confirmed in Hong Kong

Medical sources told the newspaper that the 70-year-old patient of Princess Margaret Hospital, undergoing treatment for coronavirus, had died on Wednesday morning. He had diabetes and kidney problems, but the exact cause of death has not yet been established.

03:40 PM

Senior doctor from Wuhan hospital dies of Coronavirus infection

One of Wuhan’s most senior doctors has died after contracting coronavirus, as authorities began a sweeping campaign inside the city to seek out patients infected with the deadly virus.“Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuhan Wuchang hospital, died at 10.30am this morning after resuscitation efforts failed. Read More...

04:48 PM

Coronavirus fear grips Kolkata as two passengers test positive

Two passengers who arrived at NSCBI Airport from Bangkok have been tested positive for Coronavirus. A passenger named Himadri Barman tested positive on Tuesday and Nagendra Singh tested positive on Wednesday. Both of them were sent to Beliaghata ID Hospital. Read More 

03:18 PM

Hong Kong and Singapore Rugby Sevens rescheduled over coronavirus concerns

World Rugby announced on Thursday that both the Hong Kong and Singapore legs of the World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 have been rescheduled due to, “continued health concerns relating to the novel coronavirus outbreak.”

“The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority," World Rugby’s statement said."This prudent decision has been taken in order to protect the global rugby community and the wider public and was taken based on the World Health Organisation and relevant public authority travel and health guidelines,” it continued.

The Hong Kong Sevens had been due to take place from April 4-5 with the Singapore Sevens originally set for April 11-12.

Both events have been rescheduled to take place later in the year.

The Singapore Sevens is now set for October 10-11 and the Hong Kong Sevens October 16-18.

In Hong Kong, the Sevens is one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar. World famous for the atmosphere it generates, the tournament is just as much about dressing up in costumes and partying in the South Stand as it is about the world class rugby.

03:16 PM

Hong Kong Rugby Tournament Cancelled

The Hong Kong Sevens is the latest sporting event to be postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The HSBC and Cathay Pacific-sponsored rugby tournament will be pushed back from April until October, the first delay to the tournament in its 44 year history.

A number of other major sporting events in China have also been delayed, including Formula One's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

03:15 PM

Spread of Coronavirus depends upon China's success in containing it

The spread of the novel coronavirus would depend on China's success in containing the disease, the UK's top medical official said on Thursday, reports Bethan Staton in London.

If Covid-19 is brought under control there, Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, other countries would have spillover cases that would probably be contained. If not, further spread globally would be difficult to prevent, he added.

Unless the seasons come to our rescue then it is going to come to a situation where we are going to have it in the UK and Europe in due course.

The strategy is to contain and delay any spread until the summer, giving authorities a better chance to control it, Professor Whitty said.

If we are going to get an outbreak into the UK then putting it back in time… is a big advantage.

He said emergency Cabinet meetings had been convened to discuss the outbreak.

Many different models exist on how the disease would spread, with “huge confidence intervals of uncertainty” around the numbers, said Prof Whitty, in comments on previous estimates, by professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College, that 60 per cent of people in the UK could catch the disease,

Usual measures to prevent the spread of disease such as hand washing remained the best way to control spread, Prof Whitty said.

A large proportion probably the great majority have a relatively mild disease. We don’t know what proportion of people have this illness without symptoms. 

03:12 PM

Hong Kong Catholic Church Suspends Masses

The Hong Kong Catholic church has announced a temporary suspension of all public masses for two weeks to avoid transmission of the coronavirus through public gatherings.

Church members may participate in online masses and receive the Holy Communion spiritually, said Cardinal John Tong, the Apostolic Administrator.

“I hope that everyone can understand this is not an easy decision,” he said.

The city today confirmed another locally transmitted case of coronavirus, bringing the total to 51, with one death linked to the virus. 

03:11 PM

Coronavirus set to knock oil demand growth to slowest since 2011

Oil demand this year will see the slowest rate of growth since 2011 as the coronavirus outbreak hits Chinese consumption and its impact spreads across the global economy, the International Energy Agency said.

In its monthly oil market report, the Paris-based body said that it had cut its 2020 growth forecast to 825,000 barrels a day from the 1.2m b/d it had initially expected.

“The consequences of Covid-19 for global oil demand will be significant,” the IEA said on Thursday. Transport and services shutdowns in China and a halt to industrial activity are expected to hit exports and the broader economy.

The impact of the spread of the virus has already been sharp for oil prices, prompting global producers to discuss whether a deepening of production cuts is necessary to bolster the market.

Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, has fallen in recent weeks from $65 a barrel in January to just under $56 today. 

03:09 PM

Hong Kong confirms 51st case of coronavirus

Hong Kong now has 51 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, according to the city's health department.

The latest patient is a 43-year-old man who lives in the northern Tuen Mun district, in the New Territories, Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Center for Health Protection, said at a news conference on Thursday.

Chuang said the man had eaten at a group dinner together with 12 other people, one of whom was the city's 47th confirmed case.

He had developed a cough on January 29 and then diarrhea two days later. According to Chuang, the man had visited a doctor three times -- on January 31, February 5 and February 8 -- before being admitted to Tuen Mun hospital on February 10.

Health authorities are examining 10 of the man's colleagues and three clients.

02:41 PM

Australia extends ban on foreign travelers who've been to China within past 14 days

Australia's ban on foreign nationals traveling from mainland China to Australia has been extended for another week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a news conference on Thursday.

The initial 14-day ban, introduced on February 1, was set to end on Saturday. Morrison said that the ban will be reviewed “on a weekly basis.”

According to a statement on the Australian Border Force's website, "all foreign nationals who were in mainland China on or after 1 February will not be allowed to enter Australia, until 14 days after they have left, or transited through, mainland China."

Exceptions include Australian citizens, permanent residents, and immediate family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents.

02:40 PM

As countries continue to take strict emergency measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, thousands of people are stranded at sea on cruise ships with nowhere to dock.

Two ships are affected in Asia, but they are in very different situations.

The Diamond Princess has been quarantined in Japan's Yokohama since February 4, with the number of coronavirus cases onboard increasing daily.The Westerdam was refused port by authorities in four countries -- despite having no coronavirus cases -- before Cambodia finally allowed the ship to dock and agreed to let its passengers disembark.

02:38 PM

Vietnam locks down entire community as 16th coronavirus case confirmed

Vietnam has placed an entire community on lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus after reporting the country's 16th confirmed case, according to a government news report.

The 50-year-old male patient is the father of a previously confirmed case at the Son Loi commune in Vinh Phuc province, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the capital Hanoi.

This is the first lockdown of a town outside of mainland China since the start of the outbreak, and some 10,000 people are affected, according to Agence France-Presse.

Local authorities locked down the area around the commune in Binh Xuyen district, and residents will be quarantined for the next 20 days starting from today, the report said.

02:38 PM

Some coronavirus test kits shipped to US states are not working as expected, CDC says

Some of the coronavirus test kits shipped to labs across the US are not working as they should, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

As a result, the CDC is remaking parts of the test kits after some produced inconclusive test results.

The kits were sent to the states to speed up the testing process, the CDC's Nancy Messonnier told reporters Wednesday. The states found out the flaw during the verification process. For quality control, when states get any test kit, they first verify that it works.

Some states notified the CDC that they were unable to validate the test, and the agency is remanufacturing a reagent used in the test that's not performing consistently.

Not all states have been affected. 

02:37 PM

The WHO is providing medical supplies to North Korea, which is yet to report a coronavirus case

The World Health Organization’s representative to North Korea said that there has been no cases of the novel coronavirus reported by the North Korean health ministry, in a written statement to CNN on Wednesday.

Edwin Ceniza Salvador said the WHO is working with all member states – including North Korea – to respond to the virus. North Korea, “like other countries, is taking measures to protect health of its people,” Salvador said. 

The WHO is providing laboratory reagents and personal protective equipment such as goggles, gloves, masks, and gowns to the country at the request of the North Korean Ministry of Public Health, the statement added.

Outbreak prevention: Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, North Korea has been reporting almost daily on the regime's efforts to prevent the infection.

North Korean state-run news service, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported on Wednesday that North Korea was extending its coronavirus quarantine period from 15 days to 30 days.

02:36 PM

Tokyo 2020 organizer says Olympics will go ahead despite coronavirus fears

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is definitely going ahead this summer, officials said, amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said on Thursday that the Tokyo organizing committee is not considering cancelling the Games due to the coronavirus, according to Reuters.

"Regarding the coronavirus which started in Hubei province in China, there were irresponsible rumours," Mori told reporters in Tokyo. "I would like to clearly reiterate that cancellation or postponement of Tokyo Games are not being considered."Mori added that the organizing committee has set up a task force that has begun "sharing information for the prevention of the infection."

A senior organizer had previously warned that the outbreak could impact Japan's preparations for the Games.

"I am extremely worried that the spread of the infectious disease could throw cold water on the momentum toward the Games," said Toshiro Muto, chief executive of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. "I hope that it will be stamped out as soon as possible."

Fanfare beginning: Nevertheless, the fanfare around Tokyo 2020, which is due to officially begin on Friday, July 24, is well underway.

Tokyo's new National Stadium was inaugurated last December and the Olympic torch relay is scheduled to kick off from Fukushima prefecture on March 26.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also dispelled concerns that the Summer Olympics would be canceled after false rumors circulated online.

"We will take appropriate measures so that the preparation for the Olympic games will proceed without affecting them," Abe told a parliamentary committee.

02:34 PM

Diamond Princess captain gives more details on who gets to leave the ship early

In an announcement to passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship this afternoon, Captain Stefano Ravera gave more details on which passengers will be allowed to disembark early.

Ravera said that everybody over the age of 80 has now been tested for the novel coronavirus.

The captain said that those who will be given the option of disembarking early are:

• Passengers 80 years or over with a chronic medical condition, and who test negative for the virus.
• Passengers 80 years or over staying in an inside cabin, and who test negative for the virus.
• Other passengers under 80 who have been given a test for any other reason, and tested negative.
• Those passengers will still have to remain in a “housing facility managed by the Japanese government” until the end of the quarantine. Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive will not be allowed to disembark.

Passengers who test positive will continue to be moved to on-shore hospitals.

2 weeks on lockdown: More than 3,700 passengers and crew are stuck on the cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan that is essentially a floating quarantine zone. The ship was placed under quarantine on February 4 and it isn't scheduled to be lifted until February 19.

Rising infections: The number of infections aboard is increasing by the day. On Thursday, another 44 people tested positive for the virus aboard the ship, bringing the total to 219.

02:32 PM

Pharmacies in Nanjing banned from selling fever and cough medicine

Pharmacies in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing have been banned from selling all fever and cough medicine in the hope that residents with fever or coughing will seek treatment in hospitals instead, Nanjing's propaganda department posted on its official Weibo account.

This follows similar policy in the eastern city of Hangzhou, according to the statement.

Meanwhile in Beijing, pharmacies are being urged to register all customers who buy fever and cough medicine.

They are required to register their names, addresses, ID card numbers and contact information, as well as the symptoms, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

02:28 PM

Shanghai Fashion Week canceled due to coronavirus -- as China's absence is felt on runways from Milan to Paris

02:26 PM

Wuhan Communist Party chief removed in purge of Hubei officials

Wuhan Communist Party chief Ma Guoqiang has been replaced, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

Wang Zhonglin, party chief of Jinan city in Shandong province, has taken over his position.

It's the latest move in a major shakeup of provincial leadership in China as the coronavirus outbreak shows no sign of abating at the epicenter in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital.

Also today, Hubei province's Communist Party chief Jiang Chaoliang was replaced with Shanghai's mayor, Ying Yong.

These replacements come after two officials in charge of Hubei's provincial health authority were sacked earlier this week.

10:51 AM

Coronavirus outbreak opportunity for India to expand exports: CEA

The coronavirus outbreak in China provides an opportunity for India to expand exports, Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian said.

10:50 AM

Widened Diagnosis of Coronavirus: Explanation

The Chinese province at the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak reported a record spike in deaths Thursday, bringing the total number to more than 1,300 infections globally.

Hubei announced an additional 242 deaths and 14,840 cases of the virus as of Thursday morning, the largest single-day rise since the epidemic began and almost 10 times the number of cases confirmed the previous day.

The government explained the spike is due to a change in how cases are tabulated.

What now counts as a confirmed case? The total will now include "clinically diagnosed cases" after rising numbers of residents complained about the difficulty in getting tested and treated for the virus.

Who falls into that category? "Clinically diagnosed cases" are those patients who demonstrate all the symptoms of the novel coronavirus but have been unable to be scientifically tested, or died before they were tested.

What effect will this have? The hope is that more people will be able to receive treatment by allowing doctors to diagnose them with the virus.

Case number confusion: The massive increase in the number of cases exposes confusion over just how to diagnose the virus globally.

Delayed diagnosis: Delays in diagnosing the virus could be significant. There are reports of patients waiting up to a week for their results, as the testing kits were sent from Hubei to a lab in Beijing. While there have been efforts to speed up the process, scientific testing of samples is difficult and time consuming, and allowing doctors to diagnose patients will enable far more people to receive treatment, including in several purpose-built hospitals dedicated to treating the virus in Wuhan.

Not just China: In the US, the CDC currently requires that all potential samples are shipped to its central laboratories for full testing.

10:47 AM

Coronavirus outbreak stops supply of Chinese products, Mumbai traders wary of future

Apart from the global health scare that has also reached India, coronavirus is now affecting small-time businessmen too who depend on Chinese products for their business to run in Indian cities.

10:43 AM

Hong Kong says government workers should work from home until February 23

The Hong Kong government has announced that it is extending its work-from-home arrangement for civil servants until February 23, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Government workers had been asked to work from home following the end of the Lunar New Year holiday on January 29.

That has now been extended "to reduce social contacts and the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community," a government statement said.

The directive excludes emergency service workers and people who work for essential public services.

The private sector has also been urged to make similar flexible work arrangements.

Hong Kong has reported 50 confirmed cases of the virus, with one death.

10:41 AM

Cambodian officials are now onboard the Westerdam cruise ship

Cambodian officials have now boarded the Westerdam cruise liner in Sihanoukville, cruise ship company Holland America Line.

“The Westerdam has arrived and local officials are aboard,” the statement read.

Refused entry elsewhere: Despite having no confirmed cases of coronavirus on board, and no quarantine being in effect, the Westerdam was refused port by four authorities: Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

1,455 passengers: Cambodia Holland America Line previously said that it had reached an agreement with Cambodian authorities for all 1,455 guests on the Westerdam to disembark in Cambodia, and board commercial flights from the capital Phnom Penh at the company’s expense.

WHO thankful: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, thanked Cambodia for allowing the Westerdam cruise ship to dock there, calling the move "an example of the international solidarity we have consistently been calling for."

10:39 AM

Hubei Communist Party chief replaced as heads roll in coronavirus epicenter

Hubei province's Communist Party chief is being replaced with Shanghai's mayor, in a major shakeup of provincial leadership in China as the country grapples with the novel coronavirus.

Shanghai mayor Ying Yong will replace Jiang Chaoliang, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. 

Heads are starting to roll as the outbreak shows no sign of abating at the epicenter. This latest replacement came after two officials in charge of Hubei's provincial health authority were sacked earlier this week.

Outbreak epicenter: Hubei province announced 242 new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Thursday morning, twice as many as on the previous day. New infections in Hubei also jumped by more than 14,000 amid a broadening of the definition of what constitutes a confirmed case.

10:38 AM

44 more people just tested positive for coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship

Another 44 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japanese health minister Katsunobu Kato said on Thursday.

This bring the total number of cases on the ship to 219, including one Japanese quarantine officer -- the largest outbreak of the virus outside of mainland China.

Kato did not give a breakdown by nationality of the new cases, nor of passengers versus crew.

Floating quarantine: More than 3,700 passengers and crew are stuck on the cruise ship in Yokohama that became a floating quarantine zone after dozens of people tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month.

The number of infections is increasing by the day. On Wednesday, Kato announced 40 new cases among those on board.

Latest tally indicates that at least 24 Americans have tested positive.

Some respite: The health minister also said that people who have tested negative for the virus and are over 80 years old, or have a non-virus medical condition requiring attention, will be allowed to leave the ship and move to a government medical facility, if they wish. He did not give a timeline for that process.

An unknown number of passengers with non-virus medical conditions were allowed to disembark earlier on Tuesday.

10:37 AM

All South Korean citizens just repatriated from Wuhan have tested negative for coronavirus

All 147 South Koreans and their Chinese family members from Wuhan, who arrived at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul yesterday, have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, the South Korean Health Ministry announced Thursday. 

Those repatriated were quarantined at the Korea Defense Language Institute, a military school facility located in a rural area in Icheon, Gyeonggi province.

There were about 2,000 South Korean citizens residing in Wuhan, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry. So far 848 have been repatriated via three chartered flights.

10:36 AM

Hong Kong extends school suspension until at least March 16

Hong Kong has extended the suspension of school classes until at least March 16 due to the novel coronavirus, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung said at a news conference on Thursday.

Schools were previously suspended until March 2, but that start date has been delayed for an additional two weeks due to the virus outbreak.

Yeung said there’s “no urgency” for students staying in mainland China or other places to return to the city, and the government is “considering different options for students from mainland China.”

Students will still be able to complete their work through e-learning platforms, despite the suspension.

The semi-autonomous Chinese city has reported at least 50 cases of the coronavirus, and one death.

10:35 AM

China's Hubei province has reported 242 deaths and 14,840 new infections of the novel coronavirus, the largest single-day rise since the epidemic began. Authorities continue strict emergency measures -- some of which have led to unforeseen consequences, like thousands of people stranded at sea with nowhere to dock.

The numbers: The novel coronavirus has killed more than 1,300 people and infected over 60,000 people worldwide. The vast majority of cases are still in mainland China.Widening definition: Chinese officials have broadened their definition of what constitutes a confirmed case of the coronavirus. The tweak has led to a jump in cases in China but the World Health Organization (WHO) says that it's "normal during the course of an outbreak to adapt the case definition."

Cruise crisis: Thousands are still stranded on two cruise ships -- one docked in quarantine in Japan, and another that was denied entry at several ports but has been given permission by Cambodia to dock in the Southeast Asian country.

Too soon to predict end: A WHO official has said that it's too early to predict the end of the current novel coronavirus outbreak, saying they have to be "very cautious."Flights cut: United Airlines is extending the suspension of flights to China and Hong Kong until April 24. The destinations affected are Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong. United is just one of many major international airlines that have suspended, reduced, or entirely withdrawn routes to China and its territories

10:34 AM

WHO official: It's "normal" for the definition of coronavirus to evolve

Yesterday Chinese officials broadened their definition of what constitutes a confirmed coronavirus case, to include "clinically diagnosed cases" -- i.e. people diagnosed on the basis of their symptoms rather than testing positive.

This has led to a huge spike in the number of cases reported -- 14,840 in just one day. But this kind of tweaked definition is "normal," said the World Health Organization.

“It’s normal during the course of an outbreak to adapt the case definition,” said Sylvie Briand, director of the WHO's Infectious Hazards Management Department, on Wednesday.“When the situation is evolving, you change your definition just to make sure you can monitor the disease accurately, and this is what they have done recently -- change the case definition to incorporate more cases that were not in the initial case definition, but also integrate cases that are both asymptomatic or with little symptom."

The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases now exceeds 60,015 -- the vast majority in mainland China.

10:25 AM

The CDC is remaking some coronavirus test kits that had inconclusive results

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday that it’s remaking parts of coronavirus test kits because some produced inconclusive test results.

The CDC had sent kits to states to speed up testing. For quality control, the states then had to verify that the kits worked before testing patients -- but some kits returned inconclusive results during this verification process.

Some states said the results they were getting weren’t false negatives or false positives, but were inconclusive, said the CDC. So it's remaking the one reagent in the test that is not performing consistently.

Which labs are affected: State labs that have been successful in verifying the test kit works can go forward with the testing. Those that haven’t been successful will have to wait for the CDC to ship out the replacement components. The CDC did not confirm how many states were affected or when they might receive the replacement components.

“During a response like this we know things may not go as smoothly as we would like,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

“We have multiple levels of quality control to detect issues just like this one. We’re looking into all of these issues to understand what went wrong, and to prevent these same things from happening in the future.”

10:24 AM

United Airlines extends suspension of flights to China until late April

United Airlines said on Wednesday that it will extend the suspension of flights to China and Hong Kong until April 24.

The destinations affected are Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and will evaluate our schedule as we remain in close contact with the CDC and other public health experts around the globe," United said in a statement.

Global airlines cut flights: United is just one of many major international airlines that have suspended, reduced, or entirely withdrawn routes to China and its territories due to the coronavirus outbreak and a fall in demand.

Delta and American Airlines, two of the largest US airlines, also canceled flights. American announced its decision last month after a union representing 15,000 pilots sued the company to immediately halt its US-China service, citing "serious, and in many ways still unknown, health threats posed by the coronavirus."

10:23 AM

North Korea extends coronavirus quarantine period to four weeks

North Korea has extended its coronavirus quarantine period from 15 days to 30 days, according to reports in state-run news service KCNA.

“Anxiety and concern of the international community about the novel coronavirus infection rapidly spreading worldwide are growing stronger with each passing day,” KCNA said.From the beginning, North Korea “has taken positive measures against the inroads of the epidemic that seriously affects people,” the KCNA report added.

No cases in North Korea yet: Every country and territory within a 1,500-mile radius of North Korea, except for sparsely populated Mongolia, has confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

There have been no cases reported in North Korea, and it's unclear how the country has been able to avoid the virus. Pyongyang has either been very lucky, isn't saying something, or is reaping one of the few benefits of being a so-called "hermit nation."

10:22 AM

Death toll jumps by 242 in Hubei, where 14,840 new infections were recorded on Wednesday

Another 242 people died from the novel coronavirus in Hubei province on Wednesday, and 14,840 new cases were recorded -- a huge spike in confirmed infections.

At least 1,355 people have now died in mainland China from novel coronavirus, with 1,310 deaths in Hubei alone. One person has also died in Hong Kong and another in the Philippines. 

A new way of counting cases: The huge rise in confirmed cases comes from a tweak in how the authorities are tallying infections. The government is now including "clinically diagnosed cases" -- i.e. people diagnosed on the basis of their symptoms rather than testing positive -- to make it easier for those patients to access treatment. 

The numbers in Hubei: The epicenter of the outbreak has now recorded 48,206 cases. Of those, 33,693 patients have been hospitalized and 1,437 are in critical condition, according to the health authority. Meanwhile, 3,441 patients have recovered and been discharged.

The global tally: The global number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases has now exceeded 60,015, with the vast majority of cases in mainland China.

China’s National Health Commission is expected to release numbers for all of China’s provinces later.

10:17 AM

Crew of virus-hit ship: "We all are really scared"

More than 3,700 passengers and crew are still stuck on a cruise ship in Yokohama that became a floating quarantine zone after dozens of people tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month.

To date, a total of 175 people aboard the Diamond Princess have become infected and passengers on board have gone public with their fear and concern.

Now crew members are saying that they're also afraid of catching the disease.

Sonali Thakkar, 24, from Mumbai, has worked for Princess Cruises for the past two years. She is part of the security team on board the ship, working on the gangway as passengers are moved on and off.

Thakkar said she and her cabin mate became ill with a headache, cough and a fever two days ago. Her supervisor told her to stop working and she is currently staying in her cabin.

"I'm not eating very well and have been having fevers," she told CNN in a Skype call Wednesday. "We all are really scared and tense."

Thakkar fears that the virus may be spreading around the crew members. At least five have already tested positive for the virus.

10:16 AM

Wuhan evacuee tests positive for coronavirus in southern California

A second person who was evacuated from Wuhan, in China, to southern California has tested positive for coronavirus.

The patient was in quarantine at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in San Diego County, when diagnosed, Ana Toro, press officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CNN. 

10:12 AM

Mobile World Congress has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak

Mobile World Congress, the world's largest annual mobile event, has been canceled due to coronavirus, according to a statement from the organizer.

“With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event. The Host City Parties respect and understand this decision," GSMA CEO John Hoffman said in a statement.

The decision comes after major tech companies one after the other have been pulling out of the event due to safety concerns.

05:08 PM

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is hiring 20,000 workers who lost jobs because of coronavirus

JD.com, one of China's largest e-commerce firms, has promised to open up more than 20,000 new positions as the country's economy struggles under the coronavirus outbreak.

The company is hiring warehouse workers, couriers and drivers. Some of the positions will be temporary.

The jobs are meant to "minimize the impact of the epidemic on employment in the short term," JD.com said in a statement, adding that it wants to "support stable employment."Dada Group, a local on-demand delivery provider that is backed by JD, will create an additional 15,000 positions.

JD.com's supermarket chain, 7FRESH, will also reach out to employees from restaurants, hotels, cinemas and retail outlets "that are temporarily closed due to the coronavirus," the company said in a statement.

These workers will be eligible for new short-term positions, including shop clerks, packaging assistants and delivery couriers, according to the company.

Business giants step in: E-commerce giant Alibaba announced a similar plan this week. On Monday, it introduced an "employee-sharing" scheme that would allow those who work in hospitality, dining, movie theaters, department stores and various other businesses to find temporary jobs at the company.

It declined to share an estimate on how many workers would be eligible.

Some workers have already found jobs through these initiatives. JD.com said Wednesday that its logistics unit has taken in at least 700 employees from more than 10 companies, adding that the firm is continuing to work with partners, staffing agencies and restaurants to recruit more people in thousands of cities.

05:07 PM

Hong Kong confirms one more case, bringing city's total to 50

Health officials in Hong Kong have confirmed an additional case of the novel coronavirus, bringing the citywide total to 50.

Officials at a news conference today said the new case involves a 51-year-old man who developed a fever on February 3 and was hospitalized on February 10. The patient is a coworker of the 37th confirmed case in the city.

A total of 59 suspected cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, said Sarah Ho of the city's Hospital Authority. Four confirmed patients are in critical condition and two remain in a serious condition.

The 18th confirmed case -- a 25-year-old man -- was also discharged from hospital today, Ho said.

05:06 PM

Diamond Princess cruise quarantine will end on February 19

The Diamond Princess cruise ship, currently docked in Yokohama, Japan, will be released from quarantine on February 19, according to operator Princess Cruises.

More than 3,700 passengers and crew have been held on board the ship since February 4.

In a video statement released today, the company's executive vice president Rai Caluori said the "highest priority is providing guests and crew with their prescription medications, and more than 2,000 prescriptions have been brought on board."He added that a team of seven pharmacists are assisting with the delivery of medication to guests. 

According to Caluori, the 1,405 crew currently working on board the ship will receive "normal pay and gratuities and paid time off following the quarantine."

Japanese health officials have confirmed 175 cases of the novel coronavirus on the Diamond Princess -- the largest concentration of cases outside mainland China.

05:05 PM

Staff are evacuated from a Singapore bank after coronavirus case confirmed

Staff at a Singapore branch of DBS Bank were evacuated from their office today after one employee tested positive for the novel coronavirus.  

In a statement, DBS "confirms that one employee has been infected with the novel coronavirus" and that as a precautionary measure "we ensured that all employees on the affected floor of the Marina Bay Financial Center vacated the premises."

The bank added that it is currently conducting contact tracing with "all employees and parties the infected employee may have come into contact with." 

Meanwhile, office spaces and common areas like elevators and bathrooms are being deep cleaned and disinfected.

Singapore currently has 47 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

02:50 PM

One of the UK's eight confirmed cases is a hospital worker

One of the eight confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the UK is an accident and emergency worker at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex, according to the British Department of Health.

Worthing Hospital is about 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Brighton, where a general practitioner clinic closed because of the coronavirus.

02:22 PM

10 Hong Kong residents in Hubei have been confirmed with the coronavirus

A total of 10 Hong Kong residents in China's Hubei province have been confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus, the city's government said today.

The government said the 10 people were part of three families. Seven people are staying in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei and epicenter of the outbreak, and three are in Enshi, in the province's west.

02:21 PM

Airbnb suspends bookings in Beijing until end of April

Airbnb will extend the suspension of all bookings in Beijing until April 30, according to a statement from the company today.

"As efforts to control the novel coronavirus outbreak continue, we will comply with additional guidance issued for the industry during this public health emergency," the statement read.All guests with canceled reservations will be refunded.

Airbnb had announced a Beijing suspension throughout February earlier this week, citing “official guidance that applies to all companies in the short term rental industry."

02:21 PM

Hong Kong building evacuated after fears novel coronavirus could spread through pipes

There's still a lot unknown about how the coronavirus is transmitted from person to person -- but in Hong Kong, there are fears that pipes in buildings may have contributed to the virus' spread.

Two cases were confirmed yesterday -- both living in the same residential building but on different floors -- sparking a partial evacuation order of the building.

A team of experts and engineers entered the building yesterday to ensure the safety of its air pipes, after the city's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that the government would investigate whether the virus was transmitted through the piping system.

02:20 PM

Confusion and supply shortages in China as people try to resume work

China is struggling to return to work after the coronavirus outbreak shut down large swaths of the world's second biggest economy for more than two weeks.

Worker shortages, transport disruption, a lack of medical supplies and heavy-handed local officials are all making life difficult for businesses, the Chinese government said yesterday.

02:19 PM

"We will win" the battle against coronavirus, Xi insists

“We must fight this battle with confidence, we will win,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping on state broadcaster CCTV earlier this week.

11:16 AM

Coronavirus Death - Breakdown

Deaths:

      In mainland China: 1,113      Outside mainland China: 2 (one in Hong Kong, one in the Philippines)      Global total: 1,115Confirmed cases:       In mainland China: 44,653       Outside mainland China: 518       Global total: 45,171According to China's National Health Commission, a total of 4,740 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital. 

10:34 AM

Andhra man wrongly thinks he has coronavirus, kills self to protect village

A miscommunication with doctors led to his death as he wrongly thought he had coronavirus.The doctors told the man he did not have coronavirus but he asked them, including all the villagers to stay away from him else they too would contract coronavirus, the report said.The man was advised to wear a mask due to some infection so that he did not contract other infections. This made him behave strangely and on Monday, he killed himself, according to the report.His son said that his father panicked and was of the strong view that he had contracted coronavirus. This led to all the more panic when the man started saying he needed to kill himself to keep other safe from him and coronavirus.

10:27 AM

WHO Has Finally Named The New Coronavirus

The UN health agency on Tuesday announced that "COVID-19" will be the official name of the deadly virus from China, saying the disease represented a "very grave threat" for the world but there was a "realistic chance" of stopping it."We now have a name for the disease and it's COVID-19," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.Tedros said that "co" stands for "corona", "vi" for "virus" and "d" for "disease", while "19" was for the year, as the outbreak was first identified on 31 December.

03:51 PM

Hong Kong confirms 7 additional cases of coronavirus, bringing total to 49

Health officials in Hong Kong have confirmed seven additional cases of the virus, bringing the city-wide total to 49.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Dr. Chuang Shuk-Kwan of the Center for Health Protection said four of the additional cases can be traced back to previous confirmed cases.

Chuang said one case number involves a patient who was a co-worker of a confirmed case who contracted the virus whilst eating hotpot at a dinner party.

Three of the cases are not connected to previous community cluster cases, according to Chuang, who added that two of the three remaining cases have no recent travel history.

02:35 PM

Two men who tested negative for coronavirus in Japan now have the infection

Two Japanese citizens who had initially tested negative for coronavirus have now been diagnosed with the disease. Japan now has confirmed 163 cases.

The two new patients, both men, were evacuated from China to Japan. One is in his 50s and the other in his 40s, the ministry said, and both have no connection to the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship docked off the coast of Yokohama on which 135 have been infected by the virus.

The men were retested after developing fevers.

02:34 PM

South Korea is sending a third plane to Wuhan to pick up its citizens. It's also adding Hong Kong and Macao to its "virus contaminated zone"

South Korea is sending a third chartered plane to Wuhan to repatriate its nationals and their Chinese families, vice minister of health and welfare Kim Gang-lip said Tuesday.

Kim said 170 people are expected to board the plane and South Korean authorities are considering allowing Chinese family members of its citizens to board the plane.

The flight will leave South Korea’s Incheon airport Tuesday evening at 8:45pm local and will arrive back in Gimpo airport in Seoul Wednesday morning, Kim said. Those repatriated will be quarantined at Korea Defense Language Institute, a military school facility located in a rural area, Kim said. 

There were about 2,000 South Korean citizens living in Wuhan before the epidemic, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. More than 700 South Korean nationals were repatriated on the first two flights.

02:33 PM

Taiwan raises travel alerts for Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore and Thailand

Taiwan has raised its travel warnings for several regions in Asia that have been affected by the Wuhan coronavirus, its Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a statement.

Here are the new warnings:

Hong Kong and Macao: Taiwan has raised the travel alerts for the two semi-autonomous Chinese cities to level three, which urges the public not to travel to a location unless it's "necessary." Hong Kong has confirmed 42 cases and one fatality, while Macao has identified 10 infected patients.

Singapore: Taiwan raised the travel alert to Singapore to level two, which urges citizens to take "protective measures" if they travel there. Forty-five cases have been identified in the city state.

Thailand: Taiwanese authorities raised the travel alert to Thailand to level one, urging people heading there to "adhere to local preventive measures." The country has confirmed 33 coronavirus cases.

02:32 PM

Vietnam confirms two more coronavirus cases, including a 3-month-old baby

A three-month-old baby girl and 55-year-old woman are the latest people in Vietnam to contract coronavirus, according the country's state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

The two patients are among 10 people in the northern Vinh Phuc province to have been infected. Across Vietnam, 15 people have the virus.

The baby was tested after her grandmother was diagnosed with the virus. She had previously spent four days at her grandmother's house. The baby is in quarantine and in a stable condition.

The 55-year-old woman is the neighbor of an infected patient who had recently been to Wuhan.

She was in a stable condition at a local clinic on Sunday

02:31 PM

The United Arab Emirates has confirmed one more coronavirus case. Another has recovered

02:30 PM

Thailand confirms a new coronavirus case, as its government says the Westerdam ship won't be allowed to dock there

Thailand has confirmed another case of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the country up to 33.

The latest patient is a 54-year-old Chinese woman who traveled from Wuhan before the city was put on lock down, according to Thailand's Department of Disease Control.

12:18 PM

2-year-old girl among new coronavirus cases confirmed in Singapore

A 2-year-old girl has been diagnosed with coronavirus in Singapore, the city-state's Ministry of Health said. The toddler had been evacuated from Wuhan on January 30 and placed under quarantine until the infection was confirmed on Monday morning.

A 37-year-old Singaporean with “no recent travel history to China" was also confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday.

That brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Singapore up to 45, according to the ministry.

11:34 AM

A WHO team arrives in China to help Beijing deal with the epidemic

Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in China today to assist with controlling the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, after the death toll topped 1,000.

Chinese health authorities said 108 people died from the virus in mainland China on Monday, with the majority of those deaths occurring in Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak.

The WHO's organization's director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the team in Beijing would "lay the groundwork for a larger international team," which will join them "as soon as possible."

The WHO group in China is led by Bruce Aylward, who helmed the body's response to Ebola, as well as initiatives for immunization, communicable diseases control and polio eradication.

Their arrival comes as the WHO is facing increasing criticism for its initial decision not to declare a global health emergency, and for officials' effusive praise of China's handling of the crisis, even as Beijing faces outrage domestically for, among other things, the death of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang, and the subsequent censorship of that news.

11:33 AM

Heads roll in Hubei over coronavirus outbreak

Two senior officials of the Health Commission in Hubei province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, were fired on Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The commission's party secretary, Zhang Jin, and its director, Liu Yingzi, were both removed from office by the Hubei Provincial Party Standing Committee.

The state-run People’s Daily newspaper reported both positions have been replaced by Wang Hesheng, who recently served as vice-minister of the National Health Commission.

10:40 AM

Japanese minister explains why testing all Diamond Princess passengers for the coronavirus isn't likely

Japan's Health Ministry will likely not test all passengers and crew on board the Diamond Princess for the Wuhan coronavirus due to "capacity" issues, a top official said.

“After 14 days, if people have no symptoms, logically we can say these people are not infected by this virus,” Japan vice minister of health, labor and welfare, Gaku Hashimoto, told CNN in an exclusive interview on Monday.

The Japanese health minister told reporters Monday that the government was considering testing all on board. However, a government official later in the day said it was not feasible.

10:01 AM

Hong Kong officials checking if exhaust pipe design spread virus in high-rise tower

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Tuesday officials are investigating whether an exhaust pipe led to the spread of coronavirus among residents of a high-rise tower.

Two residents living in Unit 7 of the same block on different floors on Hong Mei House, a building in Tsing Yi, northwestern Hong Kong, have contracted the virus.

A team of experts will enter the building Tuesday to check the safety of its air pipes, Lam said.

Sophia Chan, Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health, said residents living in the same tower block have been evacuated to quarantine camps as a precautionary measure.

She added that four more residents have showed virus symptoms and are now in hospital.

09:57 AM

China is using its surveillance system to combat coronavirus spread.

China’s response to the rapid spread of the coronavirus has exposed the extent of the country’s vast surveillance system.

A senior official with China’s National Health Commission gave state broadcaster CCTV one example:

A man in Zheijiang, in the country’s east, showed symptoms of coronavirus but told officials he hadn’t been in contact with anyone from Wuhan.“Then we checked the data and found that he had been in contact with three people from the epidemic area,” the official said.

In 2020, China is using lessons learned from decades of crackdowns on dissidents and undesirables to combat the virus.

09:47 AM

Monday was the first time more than 100 people died of coronavirus in one day in mainland China

A total of 108 people in mainland China died from the Wuhan coronavirus on Monday, according to the country's National Health Commission (NHC), marking the first time the single-day death toll has crossed into triple digits.

The number of deaths per day in mainland China has steadily risen over the past few weeks, since the Chinese authorities began issuing daily updates.

Here's the breakdown from the NHC:

Chinese authorities said 17 people had died from the virus before January 23.

08:18 AM

South Korea identifies another coronavirus patient. It now has 28 cases

A Chinese woman in South Korea has been diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus, authorities in Seoul said Tuesday.

The woman, aged 30, tested positive for the virus while she was in self-quarantine. She is the 28th confirmed infection in South Korea.

08:00 AM

Death Toll at 1000, Coronavirus surpass SARS Deaths.

The Death Toll of Coronavirus Outbreak has surpassed that of SARS, As of Monday the death toll crossed 1000. On Monday 108 people died, highest since outbreak. The Chinese cities is looking deserted even though chinese masses returned to work after a long Chinese New Year break that got extended due to coronavirus outbreak.

12:50 PM

"This is worse than the impact of 2011 tsunami in Japan. This time around, factories across the world can potentially come to a standstill because of supply drying out on account of the (novel) coronavirus." -  Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD, Renault India

12:50 PM

Coronavirus hits Indian automakers

The pipeline of parts from China, the biggest manufacturing hub for the world, is fast drying up. The automotive industry has been working with lean inventory and single market sources for a long time to effectively manage inventory and costs.

11:47 AM

Chinese journalist reporting on Coronavirus outbreak goes missing

Chen Qiushi, a citizen journalist who had been doing critical reporting from Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the epicenter of the outbreak, went missing on Thursday evening. Chen has been out of reach for more than 20 hours. Read More.

11:56 AM

Two more US evacuation planes leave coronavirus epicenter Wuhan, reports Two planes with about 300 passengers, mostly US citizens, took off from the Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday bound for the United States -- the third group of evacuees from the heart of the coronavirus outbreak, the US State Department said.

11:35 AM

China announces investigation after whistleblower doctor dies.  

11:22 AM

A Chinese doctor who was among the first to warn publicly about the new coronavirus outbreak died of the infection early on Friday, his hospital announced.Li Wenliang was working as an ophthalmologist in the virus epicentre city of Wuhan when he observed patients with symptoms similar to the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03.

12:40 PM

Uzbekistan has evacuated 251 people from China amid the coronavirus outbreak and quarantined them on arrival in Tashkent, the Central Asian nation's state airline said on Thursday. Uzbekistan Airways said in a statement the flight, its third this week, was the final one aimed at repatriating Uzbek citizens.

12:39 PM

Rejected by hotels, China tourist lands in Kerala hospital

A Chinese youth, who is on a trip to India, was quarantined at the General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram following the intervention of police. The 27-year-old from Sichuan province, around 1,300km from Wuhan, the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak, had arrived in Kerala on Tuesday afternoon. 

12:38 PM

Kerala: With groom in quarantine, wedding rituals postponedA man who arrived in Kerala from China for his wedding two weeks ago had to postpone the ceremony on the insistence of health authorities as he is presently under home quarantine for the novel coronavirus. The marriage had been scheduled for Tuesday at Kadangode grama panchayat.

06:37 PM

A baby in China's epidemic-hit Wuhan city has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus just 30 hours after being born, Chinese state media reported Wednesday. Read more

12:32 PM

According to China's National Health Commission, by the end of Tuesday, a total of 490 people had died after being infected and 24,324 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV infection had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions. Read more

11:26 AM

33 people who have come to Nagaland recently from coronavirus affected countries have not shown any symptoms of deadly virus, PTI quoting health official in Kohima.

10:51 AM

The city of Taizhou and three districts of the city of Hangzhou -- including the area with the main office of Chinese tech giant Alibaba -- will now only allow one person per household to go outside every two days to buy necessities.

10:51 AM

Chinese city of Hangzhou locks down three districts over virus fears