In update
Hubei health officials confirmed 37 new deaths in Hubei province, the epicenter of the new coronavirus, rising to 170 the total number of deaths in China, CNN. The number of infected cases has also increased again, with about 7,000 confirmed cases, according to the most recent balance sheet.
The French Health Minister had confirmed earlier this Wednesday that another case of coronavirus was identified, bringing the number of cases to five, Le Figaro. The patient is the daughter of the fourth infected patient in the country, who was recently hospitalized in Paris and is in a serious condition.
Finland was on Wednesday afternoon the third European country to confirm the existence of a patient infected with the new coronavirus. According to the Yle, the patient is a 32-year-old woman who left Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus originated, five days ago.
The tourist went to Ivalo hospital after showing symptoms of the coronavirus, and after samples were taken, the woman was transferred to the Central Lapland hospital in Rovaniemi.
So far, Finnish authorities suspect that the woman may have left another 15 people exposed to the infection. According to the hospital, the people exposed to the infection who are under observation are Finnish. “The restrictions imposed on China will reduce the risk of infection,” said the hospital.
The patient, who is not, according to the hospital, in critical condition, will perform at least two tests before being discharged.
The European Commissioner for Health said on Wednesday that most member states of the European Union (EU) are “very well prepared” to deal with the new Chinese coronavirus, but admitted “emergency funding” for countries to respond if required.
“Most Member States are very well prepared to face the case in Europe”, declared Stella Kyriakidou, speaking in a debate about this virus at the mini plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels.
Recalling that, “So far, there are four confirmed cases in France, four in Germany and this afternoon there was also a case in Finland”, the European commissioner guaranteed to be in “permanent contact” with these and other EU countries to “ensure that the necessary containment measures are adopted”.
According to Stella Kyriakidou, almost all Member States have expressed an “ability to deal with suspicious cases”, conducting screening at points of entry into countries and giving advice to their citizens on trips to China.
The Commissioner said that countries still have equipment and laboratories for eventual screening tests.
If the situation gets worse, we will think about other support to Member States, which may include emergency funding to respond to the outbreak, ”he said.
For now, it is certain that Brussels will carry out actions for the repatriation of European citizens in China following the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism at the request of France.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the EU will send two planes, between this Wednesday and Friday, to the Chinese region of Wuhan that will repatriate, due to the coronavirus, 250 French and 100 other European citizens who request it, regardless nationality.
“We hope that these European citizens will be able to return to Europe as soon as possible,” said Commissioner Stella Kyriakidou before MEPs.
The official said that an urgent council of EU health ministers was being considered to discuss this outbreak in Brussels, “but that is not the situation yet”.
At least 120 recoveries have been recorded in China. In an attempt to contain the virus, 15 Chinese cities are blocked and 60 million people have been stranded at home for almost two weeks.
In addition to the mainland of China, and now in Finland, cases of infection have been reported in Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Singapore, Vietnam, Nepal, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and the United Arab Emirates.
The World Health Organization (WHO) decided, also this Wednesday, to call again, on Thursday, the Emergency Committee to determine if the outbreak of the new coronavirus, originating in China, should be a public health emergency. International.
The World Indoor Athletics Championships were postponed for one year, due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, announced the international federation of the World Athletics modality.
It is unfortunate that we have to agree with the organizers of the World Athletics Championships to postpone the event until March 2021 ”, it can be read in the statement released by the body that governs the sport.
In the note made available, World Athletics says that “it chose not to cancel the championships thinking about the will of the athletes”, scheduled for Nanjing, from March 13 to 15, showing itself optimistic about the setting of a new date next year for host the event, “regretted” even though the Chinese city has been out of the question.
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