Coronavirus: Chinese doctor who warned about outbreak ‘dies from infection’ – latest news

Dr Li Wenliang dies in Wuhan, state media says, as UK confirms third case and 10 more people on cruise ship off Japan are diagnosed with virus

It’s Simon Murphy here taking over the live blog after hot-footing it back from the Department of Health and Social Care’s press conference, at which England’s chief medical officer revealed that the third person to be diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK caught the disease outside of China.

Prof Chris Whitty also said the government was now advising people who had travelled to a number of Asian countries and had returned to the UK and developed symptoms to immediately self-isolate and call NHS 111 for advice. Anyone displaying symptoms will be tested for the disease. The advice previously only related to those returning from Wuhan.

What we have got is a situation where very high risk remains in Wuhan and Hubei, a high risk in the rest of China, but much lower than in Wuhan and Hubei and then a much smaller risk in a number of countries, and unsurprisingly countries where the greatest risk is in terms of new cases are the ones which have the greatest international traffic with China, and that is exactly as you would expect.”

The WHO director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Dr Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO’s health emergencies programme, answered some questions from the press.

When asked to comment on the doctors and nurses striking in Hong Kong to protest the government’s decision not to close its borders with mainland China, Ghebreyesus said: “This is a time of solidarity. There is a common enemy now. A very unknown virus. And I advise all of us to focus on the virus – the common enemy.

The WHO press conference on the coronavirus has ended. Here are some key takeaways:

The World Health Organization is bringing together global scientists to tackle the coronavirus.

On 11 and 12 February the WHO is convening a global research and innovation forum to identify research priorities and coordinate an international effort into developing vaccines and medicines for the disease.

The third person to be diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK contracted the disease outside of China, it has emerged.

The patient, who it is understood was diagnosed in Brighton but is being transferred to a London hospital, did not contract the disease in the UK or mainland China but another country in Asia.

The person who caught this did not catch it in China, they caught it elsewhere in Asia. That’s an important point from an epidemiological point of view because [...] there is now evidence of some limited transmission in a number of Asian countries.

The Chinese doctor who tried to warn other medics about the coronavirus has been reported dead after contracting the infection in Wuhan.

According to local media, Dr Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, died from the virus on Thursday.

#Breaking: Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, one of the eight whistleblowers who tried to warn other medics of the #coronavirus outbreak but were reprimanded by local police, dies of coronavirus on Thursday in Wuhan, the Global Times has learned. pic.twitter.com/jzM6DF0CWE

A virus expert has said it is “not surprising” that a third case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the UK, as the infection has spread across China and could infect more people returning from the country.

Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said:

It isn’t surprising that a third case has been identified. Whilst most infections are focused in Wuhan and the Hubei province, the virus has spread to all regions of China and therefore the likelihood of someone returning or visiting the UK with an infection has been real.

We are at a key juncture in this outbreak and it is difficult to tell if the control efforts in China will be enough to bring this outbreak to an end. If not, we can expect to see the virus cropping up in many parts of the world, including here.

The important thing is that it did not arise within the country. It didn’t come from the two cases that are already here but came from outside. It has been identified quickly, it has been isolated, and in all probability, it will not lead to any further cases generally.

Two more coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Singapore, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 30.

One of the new patients is a close contact of one of those previously confirmed to have the virus, while the other has no recent travel history to mainland China and does not appear to be linked with previous cases, the Straits Times reports.

All UK hospitals have been told to prepare secure coronavirus zones to “avoid a surge” in emergency departments, a leaked NHS letter has shown.

The letter, dated 31 January, tells hospitals to set up “coronavirus priority assessment pods”, which can be decontaminated after each use.

Although the risk level in this country remains moderate, and so far there have been only two confirmed cases, the NHS is putting in place appropriate measures to ensure business as usual services remain unaffected by any further cases or tests of coronavirus.

Trusts are being asked to organise a coronavirus priority assessment pod, which will mean people with symptoms indicative of infection will get quick assessment, while other patients also continue to get appropriate care.”

A third person in the UK has tested positive for the coronavirus, it has been confirmed.

The patient was diagnosed in Brighton, the Guardian understands, and is being transferred to an infectious diseases unit in a London hospital.

A further patient has tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of cases in the UK to three. The individual did not acquire this in the UK.

The patient is being transferred to a specialist NHS centre, and we are using robust infection control measures to prevent any possible further spread of the virus. The NHS is well prepared to manage these cases and we are now working quickly to identify any contacts the patient has had.

China is not prepared for the scale of the coronavirus outbreak it is facing, but has mobilised the entire country to tackle the epidemic, Beijing’s ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, has said.

Answering questions from the media this morning, Liu said:

I can’t say China is prepared for this outbreak, we don’t have enough beds or hospitals. That’s why we have built two emergency hospitals in just ten days.

The Chinese ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, warned against “rumours and panic” and called on the UK government to support to support China in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

It is of hope that governments of all countries, including the UK, should understand and support China’s efforts, avoid overreaction, avoid creating panic, and ensure normal cooperation and exchanges between countries.

Some [media] reports are biased and even maintain malicious slander and disinformation. Rumours and panic are more frightening than the virus itself.

Virgin Atlantic has extended the suspension of its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai due to the coronavirus until 28 March.

A spokesman for the airline said:

We continue to monitor the coronavirus situation very carefully, including the latest guidance from the World Health Organization and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which on Tuesday issued new guidance to UK citizens to leave China if they are able to do so.

Given this new FCO advice, the increasing entry restrictions on recent visitors to mainland China, and our rigorous focus on safety, Virgin Atlantic has opted to extend the suspension of Heathrow-Shanghai operations until 28 March 2020.

More than 140 Russians have been evacuated from Wuhan, the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, to a medical facility in Siberia guarded by members of Russia’s National Guard.

Inside, many have taken to Instagram to blog their time in quarantine, snapping photos of their dinner and exercise routines.

The quarantine is pretty hands-off and easy. The only thing is that we’re not allowed to come into contact with the people who are in the neighbouring rooms. We don’t leave our rooms. They bring us food. Doctors come in to test us: check our temperatures, inspect our throats, and measure the amount of oxygen in our blood.

In the hall we were met by people not just in masks, but in full bodysuits. They met us as though we were radiating this virus.

The US is continuing to fly hundreds of its citizens out of Wuhan, the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, in what it anticipates to be the last of its chartered flights.

On Wednesday, two planes flew 350 citizens back to an air force base in California, and two more flights will arrive from Wuhan this week. The US does not anticipate any further chartered flights after this.

Inside a US evacuation flight from #Wuhan: hazmat suits, Ghostbusters masks, megaphones, forms & a heads up for Americans it’ll ‘get really weird’ when they land. Final US airlifts tonight as #coronavirus cases rise to 28k+ in #China; 563 have died. @NBCNews (video Jacob Wilson) pic.twitter.com/CJZ5i6ALQg

The Britons who were evacuated from Wuhan last week have been told they can leave the quarantine facility in the Wirral next Thursday.

Matt Raw, who was one of 83 British nationals airlifted out of Wuhan on the first evacuation flight, received the news last night:

We have just been advised that we are permitted to leave here on Thursday 13 February. We’ve basically done half our time and as long as the status quo remains and nobody gets sick, then we should be able to leave in a week’s time from now.

It’s excellent news to have an end date in sight.

Chinese officials are reportedly “concerned” that Boris Johnson has not yet sent a personal message of support to the country over the coronavirus outbreak.

Stanley Johnson, the prime minister’s father, met the Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming on Tuesday, and reported back to UK officials – and accidentally copied in the BBC.

Re the outbreak of coronavirus, Mr Liu obviously was concerned that there had not yet – so he asserted – been direct contact between the PM and Chinese head of state or government in terms of a personal message or telephone call.

Related: PM's father Stanley Johnson passed on Chinese message to minister

A former special adviser to the World Health Organization has said he thinks researchers are “weeks away” from testing a coronavirus vaccine on animals, but it could be months before human trials.

Speaking on Sky News this morning, David Harper said: “The researchers around the world are working very hard.

Former special adviser to the @WHO says it "makes sense" for the NHS to advise hospitals to create 'priority assessment pods' for those suspected of having #coronavirus.

David Harper also said the vaccine for the virus is "working very well."#KayBurley: https://t.co/cMHO7fsDYJ pic.twitter.com/HGVHLDzbtb

A former World Health Organization official who helped lead the response to SARS has said “the full potential” of the coronavirus is not yet known.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, David Heyman, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene, said:

The full potential of this virus is not yet known. Will this virus become a virus which is endemic in humans and continue to transmit in the coming years?

We don’t understand the spectrum of the disease. We don’t know how many infections are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms like cold, so it is impossible to identify all cases.

A British man who is among 3,700 people under a coronavirus quarantine on a cruise ship in Japan has voiced concerns over ongoing monitoring for the disease on board.

David Abel, from Northamptonshire, has praised Princess Cruises for its handling of the situation so far, but said fears remain about efforts to fight the disease on the ship.

There has been no health check, so we do not know whether there are people on board still who have got symptoms that may have the virus. We do not know.

So I am now getting a fraction concerned about the health checks that I believe should be taking place, because if there are more infected people on board they should be taken off. We want a virus-free ship.

China has announced it will halve tariffs on $75bn worth of US goods, as the country’s economy comes under additional pressure amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Tariffs on some goods will be cut from to from 10% to 5%, and from 5% to 2.5% on others.

This is Jessica Murray taking over from Alison to track the latest developments with the coronavirus outbreak throughout the day.

Global health experts have warned that “hidden” coronavirus cases mean that we could just be seeing the “tip of the iceberg”.

Related: 'Hidden' coronavirus cases could thwart containment efforts, experts warn

It’s a fog of war reality, which is what makes me suspect that what are seeing is the tip of the iceberg.

Here’s a summary of what we know so far today about the spread of the coronavirus.

Here’s the latest tracker image from Johns Hopkins University on the spread of the coronavirus. If you want to check in on the tracker, you can find it here.

A 28-year-old doctor in Hunan province has died after working for 10 days on the coronavirus outbreak, Chinese state media is reporting.

A 28-year-old doctor, serving in the coronavirus frontline in Hunan Province, died after suffering cardiac arrest Monday midnight. He had been working for 10 days without proper rest and overwork is believed to be the primary cause of his sudden demise. Rest in peace, hero! pic.twitter.com/RheyNM0UtK

As we have reported today, the death doll in China for the coronavirus has passed 560. You can find our latest full report on the story here.

Related: Coronavirus deaths reach 563, with fresh cases on stricken cruise ship off Japan

For a further exploration of why stock markets are surging ahead despite the prospect of a marked slowdown in China (see this blog post), look no further than this piece by our economics editor Larry Elliott.

But he asks whether the outbreak is the kind of freakish, unforeseen event that could yet spark a global economic crisis – a “black swan” event in the market parlance.

Related: Will coronavirus make markets take a 'black swan' dive?

Hong Kong’s economy faces a deepening recession as a result of the virus outbreak. Businesses in the territory have already been hit hard by months of sometimes violent street protests that have forced shops to close and transport to shut down.

Related: Hong Kong faces 'double devastation' as coronavirus and civil unrest take toll

China’s People’s Daily is reporting the drug Remdesivir is “officially” in clinical trial stage on coronavirus patients in Wuhan’s Jinyintan hospital.

“The trial will include 453 critically ill patients and 308 with less severe symptoms, a medical expert said,” the China Daily reported.

The antiviral drug Remdesivir is officially in clinical trial stage in Wuhan’s Jinyintan Hospital as experts are testing its use in treating #coronavirus patients. The trial will include 453 critically ill patients and 308 with less severe symptoms, a medical expert said Wed pic.twitter.com/sGitdpGeVc

A couple of Canadian readers in China have got in touch with me to say the Canadian consular service in Beijing is advising Canadians to leave China at their own cost if their presence is not essential.

“Please note that the Travel Advice and Advisory for China has recently been updated to indicate: If your presence in China isn’t essential, you should consider leaving by commercial means,” the advisory says, dated 6 February.

The coronavirus is having a significant impact on sports events. Last week the Chinese Football Association cancelled all domestic games at all levels. Many other events are also being affected:

Athletics:

Stock markets continue to shrug off the deepening crisis with the Nikkei up a whopping 2.6% with less than an hour of trading to go while Seoul had also gained a healthy 2.55%. Hong Kong was even better, up 2.71%, and Shanghai was up 1.3%.

In Sydney, the Australian bourse rallying to its second highest close of all time. The ASX200 was paused at 7,047 points, a rise of 1% on the day and only 43 points off the record high set back in January.

The commodity market is much more aggressive in pricing in a reduction of activity with iron ore, copper, oil, soy beans all dropping more than double digits.

Reuters is reporting that a small town in central Canada is preparing to for the arrival of some 200 evacuees from Wuhan.

Canada plans to fly the evacuees to the base in Trenton, Ontario, the country’s main military hub for air transport, and hold them in quarantine for two weeks.

The Chinese CGTN network has reported the criteria for patients being admitted to Wuhan’s three new temporary hospitals, including at the city’s international convention centre.

They include:

Who will be admitted to Wuhan's module hospitals? The criteria issued by local authorities are as follows (1/2):

☑️ People infected with #coronavirus
☑️ Clinical manifestation takes light and common type
☑️ Patients have ability to take care of themselves; aged 18-65 pic.twitter.com/J7cvRmr4I1

The Chinese state tabloid Global Times has published a video showing police monitoring people who are not wearing face masks and telling them to go home and get their masks.

Walking around without a protective face mask? Well, you can't avoid these sharp-tongued drones! Many village and cities in China are using drones equipped with speakers to patrol during the #coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/ILbLmlkL9R

Huo-Yan laboratory, with a total area of 2,000 square meters, completed the main laboratory construction in only five days. It will induce a capacity of 10,000 tests daily, using scientific diagnosis to confirm novel #coronavirus cases. pic.twitter.com/ggciYlhVbl

In case you missed it yesterday, schools in China’s financial hub of Shanghai have been ordered to stay shut until at least the end of February.

All schools in #Shanghai are forbidden to open before the end of February as an effort to contain the novel #coronavirus outbreak, Shanghai authority announced Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/sNpGSTUlut

#Shanghai #train station stands empty amid #coronavirus #outbreak #China pic.twitter.com/pbI2voI6D9

Taiwan’s health authority banned all international cruise ships from docking at the island from Thursday amid increasing threat of the coronavirus outbreak, after 10 more people were tested positive for the virus on a quarantined cruise liner in Japan, Reuters is reporting.

Taiwan has also said it will suspend entry for all Chinese citizens who live in mainland China from Thursday.

Reuters has reported that the Shanghai sports authorities have recommended the suspension of all sporting events in the city due to the coronavirus outbreak, casting further doubt on whether the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix will take place.

The fourth grand prix of the season is scheduled for 19 April. The race was expected to be on the agenda at a Formula One Strategy Group meeting on Wednesday amid increasing speculation that it could join the growing list of sports events already postponed or cancelled.

I’ve done a number of posts about the cruise ship in Japan, but passengers on the World Dream, quarantined in Hong Kong’s Kai Tak terminal, with 3,600 people aboard, are also being screened for the virus after three passengers on a previous voyage were diagnosed with the virus.

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, has announced that the Ocean and Kai Tak cruise liner terminals, will be closed.

Associated Press have just published a list of global infections from the virus.

In the United States, another 350 American evacuees from Wuhan have been placed under quarantine at two military bases in California, Reuters reports.

It brings to nearly 400 the number of people subject to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s first public health quarantine in 50 years.

There were long queues in supermarket across Hong Kong last night, with people panic buying toilet rolls and tissues, largely due to a rumour spreading online saying China will stop manufacturing toilet paper for the next two weeks. There was also a run on vitamins, rice and packet noodles, leaving supermarket shelves empty.

Pictures of people panic buying in Hong Kong, including for toilet paper, are circulating on social media. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/FTI2fF5G84

Around 10,000 Hongkongers, many of whom camped overnight, queued up to buy masks amid a lack of supply and fears of coronavirus infection https://t.co/GKzzRnL7jv pic.twitter.com/VEHxRgOI59

Adidas has announced it is closing a “significant” number of its stores in China over the deadly new coronavirus, and warned it expects further impacts on its operations in the country.

It follows a similar move by its US rival Nike, Agence France Presse reports.

Here are some of the pictures emerging from the operation to hospitalise infected passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

The Chinese city of Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province, will strictly monitor the entry and exit of residents from villages and residential compounds as it steps up its efforts to control the spread of a coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reports.

The city, which has a population of 5 million people, said on its official Weibo social media account that each family should assign one member to go out once every two days, and that people running fevers must go to a medical facility.

We are getting confirmation of the nationalities of the 10 new cases of coronavirus on the stricken cruise ship on Japan. The Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent, Justin McCurry, says there are four Japanese, two each from the US and Canada, and one each from New Zealand and Taiwan.

#BREAKING 2 Canadians on quarantined cruise ship test positive for coronavirus https://t.co/0OGHt1iHAZ

Virgin Australia has announced it will cease flights from Australia to Hong Kong because the route was “no longer a commercially viable”

Sydney-Hong Kong flights will stop on 2 March. In November, the airline announced the Melbourne-Hong Kong route would stop on 11 February.

Still in Australia, and the prime minister, Scott Morrison has said a further 36 citizens and residents who left Wuhan on the Air New Zealand flight have now been transferred to Christmas Island, where other Australian evacuees from Wuhan are being held in quarantine for 14 days.

A further 36 Australian citizens and residents who were on the Air New Zealand flight out of Wuhan have now arrived safely on Christmas Island. Thank you to all those who were involved in this operation.

Related: Second cohort of evacuees from coronavirus-hit Wuhan arrive on Christmas Island

Australia’s universities are going to come under financial pressure in coming weeks when classes start but Chinese students are unable to attend due to the coronavirus crisis, ratings agency S&P says.

Students from mainland China are about 38% of tertiary enrolments, S&P says.

One Guardian reader in Shandong province, who is a teacher, has got in touch with me to say there’s confusion among UK citizens there about the British foreign office’s advice to leave China if they can.

“My main hesitation with leaving China is I feel I would be more likely to contract the virus whilst in transit to the UK than if I stay in my apartment and wait for things to calm down here.

“My school is closed until at least the 17th of February (our classes have moved online) and I leave the apartment only for supplies and some exercise / fresh air. Whereas travelling to the UK would mean having to go on a train, tube and through at least two airports,” she says.

The 10 newly diagnosed Diamond Princess passengers include four Japanese nationals, the health ministry said on Thursday morning. The nationalities of the other six were not immediately available. The 10 patients comprise five people in their 70s, four in their 60s and one in his or her 50s, the ministry said.

Shares have risen strongly again on Asian markets where there appears to be more confidence – helped by another strong day on Wall Street – that the economic impact of the new coronavirus will not be too damaging.

The ASX200 is up 0.55% in Sydney, the Nikkei has surged 1.6% in Tokyo and Seoul has gained 1.27%. Brent crude rose $1.32 yesterday to $55.28 a barrel.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has just interviewed an Australian passenger on the stranded Diamond Princess cruise liner in Yokohama, where 10 more people were diagnosed with coronavirus on the ship (in addition to 10 diagnosed on Wednesday).

Vera Koslova said frustration amongst passengers was rising: “There’s been no announcements made as yet by the captain to let us know that there has been more cases.”

Qantas says it’s suspended a union delegate for telling employees it’s not safe to work on flights from China amid the coronavirus outbreak, Australian Associated Press reports (below).

Qantas says an employee has been stood down for spreading misinformation about the safety of working on flights from China amid the coronavirus outbreak, but the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) says the man was simply providing advice to colleagues on their rights.

The airline on Saturday announced it would suspend its two direct services to mainland China from 9 February due to travel restrictions imposed by other countries in the wake of the health crisis.

Just back to the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Yokohama ... the Guardian’s Justin McCurry in Tokyo says health officials now have the results of 102 tests conducted on 273 passengers. A total of twenty were positive. He says the second group of patients found to have been infected will be taken to hospitals in Kanagawa prefecture, where Yokohama is located, according to the health ministry.

Just while we are on Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific announced on Wednesday that all 27,000 employees would be asked to take three weeks of unpaid leave over the coming months. The CEO, Augustus Tang, said the airline was facing a crisis in the wake of the virus outbreak.

“I am hoping all of you will participate, from our frontline employees to our senior leaders, and share in our current challenges,” Tang said in a video message posted online.

Given the speed at which this story is moving, keeping track of global figures for the virus is quite a challenge.

The Hong Kong government has set up a tracker of cases there – you can find it here, and I have put a snapshot below, which shows 1 death, 21 confirmed cases, 154 cases hospitalised under investigation and 868 cases ruled out.

Australian evacuees from Wuhan have arrived on Christmas Island where they will be quarantined before being allowed to return to their homes.

Related: Second wave of evacuees from coronavirus-hit Wuhan arrive on Christmas Island

The national health commissions figures for China with regards to the virus have now been released and the headline figures are that as of midnight Wednesday into Thursday, there were 28,018 confirmed cases and 563 deaths in China.

It says there are 24,702 suspected cases.

The Japanese broadcaster NHK is citing the health ministry saying there are 10 new cases of coronavirus on the Diamond Princess, moored off Yokohama.

If the new infections are confirmed, that would bring the total number of coronavirus patients in Japan to 45, Reuters says.

I’d like to share what it’s like on board the Diamond Princess cruise. Please use this page to exchange info. #DiamondPrincess #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/wRLdy63suj

朝ごはん届きました。breakfast 07:46 #ダイヤモンドプリンセス #diamondprincess pic.twitter.com/xACedZCJdR

We’re getting reports that another 10 people have tested positive for coronavirus onboard the cruise ship that is currently moored off Japan.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that 10 people on board the Diamond Princess had tested positive, prompting authorities to instruct all passengers to remain inside their cabins. Thousands of people on the Diamond Princess face spending the next fortnight stuck off the Japanese port of Yokohama, as officials attempt to prevent further infection.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, with me Alison Rourke.

New death toll figures are beginning to emerge from Hubei on the latest death toll from the coronavirus. The province has reported 70 new deaths, taking fatalities there to 549. It also reported 2,987 new confirmed cases taking cases in Hubei to 19,665.

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