56 million people are now quarantined in China. Chinese doctors are now reporting first successes in the treatment of coronavirus patients.
9:01 am: Mayor criticizes own crisis management
The mayor of Wuhan criticized his own crisis management after the outbreak of the corona virus in the metropolis. This was “not good enough”, he says in an interview with the state television broadcaster CCTV. The virus is said to have its origins in a fish market in Wuhan. Wild animals are said to have been illegally sold there.
8:56 am: Macau refuses entry to travelers from Hubei
The Chinese Macao Special Administrative Region wants to deny entry to residents of Hubei province unless they can prove that they are free of coronavirus. The government of the island has announced that this also applies to travelers who have visited Hubei in the past 14 days. It is a popular travel destination because of its casinos and large shopping centers.
8.50 a.m .: RKI President sees no major dangers in Germany
The president of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, currently sees no major health risks in Germany due to the spread of the novel corona virus. “The danger to the German population is very low,” said Wieler on Monday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin” with a view to numerous cases in China and individual cases in other countries. Germany is also “absolutely well prepared”. It is important that possible diseases are recognized very early on.
Wieler also assessed the risk of the virus spreading beyond individual cases worldwide as “currently low”. How dangerous the pathogen is is also not yet to be assessed precisely. There are still open questions. The pure death rate is not very high, said the RKI president.
7:01 am: Fifth virus case in Australia
A fifth case of the new corona virus has occurred in Australia. A 21-year-old woman is infected, the health agency said. She had come to Sydney on the last flight from Wuhan before the authorities sealed off the Chinese city of millions and imposed a flight ban.
06:26: Mongolia closes the border to China
Mongolia has closed its borders with China for fear of the introduction of the new corona virus. Border crossings are to be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from Monday, as the Mongolian news agency Montsame reported. So far there is no confirmed infection with the new lung disease in Mongolia. However, since the country as a neighbor of China is at high risk, all educational institutions are to remain closed until March 2, according to instructions from the government and parliament.
6.10 a.m .: The number of infected people rises rapidly
The number of deaths from the new lung disease in China rose by 24 to 80 by Monday. Within a day, the number of confirmed infections with the new corona virus in the People’s Republic rose by more than 700 to 2,744, according to state television, citing the Chinese authorities. With around 50 cases outside of China, almost 2,800 cases have thus far been confirmed worldwide.
The number of infected people in China can continue to rise sharply, as there are around 5800 suspected cases for which the diagnosis has not yet been completed. There are 17 confirmed diseases in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau – dozens more in other countries. As the World Health Organization (WHO) reported, the vast majority of people outside of China had previously been in the particularly severely affected metropolis of Wuhan in central China, the starting point for the epidemic.
6:09 a.m .: Chinese Prime Minister visits crisis region
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited Wuhan on Monday. Li went to town to inspect ongoing epidemic containment efforts and speak to patients and medical personnel, the Chinese government said.
6:06 am: bus traffic to the airport stopped
Pudong International Airport in Shanghai will suspend long-distance bus services to and from the airport from Tuesday, the bus provider said.
6:01 a.m .: New coronavirus cases in North America
In North America, the authorities confirmed further cases of the coronavirus over the weekend. In the United States, five people were affected by the CDC in Washington by Sunday afternoon (local time), according to the United States Department of Health. Two new cases were confirmed in California and one in Arizona on Sunday. In one of them, the Orange County Health Department near Los Angeles had confirmed that the person had previously returned from a trip to Wuhan, China. Two other cases had previously been reported: a woman in her sixties in Chicago and a man in her thirties in Washington State on the west coast in the north of the country.
Sunday, January 26, 4:30 p.m .: Hong Kong imposes an entry ban
The Hong Kong government will impose an entry ban on residents of Hubei province, where the coronavirus has broken out, starting Monday. This also applies to people who have been to Hubei in the past 14 days – but not to residents of Hong Kong.
16:24: Wuhan’s mayor expects 3,000 infections in China
According to the Mayor of Wuhan, the number of cases is significantly higher than previously stated by the authorities. It is “possible to add about 1,000 cases” to the infections officially confirmed nationwide in 1975, Mayor Zhou Xianwang said. As justification, Zhou referred to the more than 2,200 suspected cases in his city’s hospitals that were under surveillance and still had to be tested for the virus. An infection rate of 45 percent is assumed.
15:54: Treatment success in the fight against coronavirus
Chinese doctors have reported first successes in treating patients with the new coronavirus. As the official news agency Xinhua reported, the condition of eleven infected medical personnel has improved. The clinical symptoms were brought under control. The fever and other complaints have decreased. In addition, test results for the virus were negative afterwards. No details of the type of treatment in the Xiehe Hospital in the severely affected metropolis of Wuhan in central China have been reported.
3.20 p.m .: Only five German airports can be approached in the event of suspected cases
An aircraft with people on board who may be infected with the new type of corona virus may only fly to five airports in Germany. It is Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin, said the general manager of the airport association ADV, Ralph Beisel. The health regulations of the World Health Organization therefore stipulate that these five airports must maintain so-called core capacities to protect public health.
1:55 pm: Companies in Suzhou are closed until February 8th
Stores and businesses in Suzhou, an industrial location in eastern China, will remain closed until at least February 8 due to the spread of the corona virus. As the state media reports, the government is considering extending the holiday beyond the New Year celebrations.
1:45 p.m .: Corona virus is not supposed to be as dangerous as Sars
Despite the increasing number of fatalities, the new coronavirus in China is not as dangerous as the Sars pathogen in the opinion of the local health authorities. “From what we are currently seeing, the disease is actually not as severe as Sars,” said head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control, Gao Fu. However, the virus can be transmitted during the incubation period of up to two weeks, before an infected person notices symptoms of the disease. “It’s very different from Sars,” said Ma.
1:31 pm: Test for coronavirus in Berlin negative
The suspicion of a case of the novel corona virus in Berlin has not been confirmed. The test result was negative, as the health senate of the capital announced. On Saturday, a woman who had previously been to China was hospitalized with symptoms.
12.57 p.m .: First suspected coronavirus in Berlin
According to the authorities, there is a first suspicion in Berlin. “We currently have information about a suspicion of the Coronavior 2019-nCoV of the DRK-Kliniken Mitte,” says a spokeswoman for the Senate Department for Health. It was a woman. “We are currently waiting for the test results on the suspected case.” These are said to be available later in the Sunday.
12.48 p.m .: Berlin is well prepared for an epidemic
After the first cases of the new corona virus appeared in Europe, Berlin health senator Dilek Kalayci (SPD) saw the capital well prepared. “With the Institute of Virology and the special isolation station at the Charité, Berlin has very good facilities,” she said. Despite the low risk for Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute, “unfortunately we also have to be prepared for individual entry cases in Berlin”. Coronavirus warning posters were therefore posted at Tegel and Schönefeld airports. “They warn of the symptoms and explain precautions,” said airport spokesman Daniel Tolksdorf. Berlin airports are routinely prepared for virus cases.
12:07: Japan confirms fourth case
Japan confirms a fourth case, according to NHK, citing the Ministry of Health. It is said to be a man in Wuhan in his 40s who traveled to Japan on January 22nd.
11.06 a.m .: Germans will not be evacuated for the time being
An evacuation of German citizens from the particularly affected Chinese province of Hubei is currently not planned. Government circles in Berlin said that the Federal Foreign Office is in close contact with those affected and with local partner organizations on how to deal with the situation. According to this, there are around 100 permanent residents of the region who are registered in the Office’s crisis preparedness list.
10.40 a.m .: China: transmission capacity of the virus is increasing
China’s National Health Commission warns of an increasing number of illnesses. The transmission capacity of the corona virus is increasing, says commission chief Ma Xiaowei. The authorities’ knowledge of the new virus is still limited. However, it is clear that the pathogen can also be transmitted during the incubation period. The time between infection and the onset of illness in a person is between one and 14 days.
8.25 a.m .: China prohibits trade in wild animals nationwide
China bans the trade in wild animals. The nationwide ban applies to markets and online platforms, said the market surveillance, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Forestry Ministry. The coronavirus is believed to have its origins in an animal market in Wuhan. Wild animals that are offered in markets in a confined space are considered a breeding ground for viruses that can change and can also be transmitted to humans.
7.09 a.m .: Number of corona deaths in China increases to 56
In China, the number of deaths from the novel corona virus has risen to 56, according to state media. The infection has now been confirmed in the People’s Republic of 1,975 patients, reports the CCTV. The pathogen has been detected in more than 2,000 people worldwide.
4.55 a.m .: USA announce evacuation campaign for its citizens
With the rapid spread of the novel corona virus, the United States announced on Sunday that it would fly its citizens out of the most affected area in central China. A flight is planned for Tuesday to bring US officials and other citizens from the city of Wuhan to San Francisco, the US State Department said on Sunday. There are only “limited capacities” for private individuals, the authority restricted.
2.23 a.m .: Shanghai reports first coronavirus death
China’s financial metropolis Shanghai has reported a first death from the novel corona virus. The dead are said to be an 88-year-old man who already had existing health problems, the city authorities said on Sunday. So far, a total of 40 cases of respiratory illness have been confirmed in the metropolis.
1.27 a.m .: Studies – Every infected person infects two to three other people
According to studies, everyone infected with the virus infects two to three other people. Whether the contagion rate will stay that way depends on the effectiveness of the countermeasures, said scientists from Imperial College in London and Lancaster University. To contain the disease, at least 60 percent of new infections would have to be prevented in the future.
Sunday, January 26th, 2020, 00:15: First illness in Canada
The first case of infection with the virus is reported from Canada. The Toronto health authority said it was about a person who recently returned from Wuhan. The person was in the hospital and their condition was stable.
17:24: No serious course of the new lung disease in France
The three patients infected with the new coronavirus in France do not appear to be seriously ill. The couple, who were being treated for the lung disease at the Bichat hospital in Paris, are doing well, doctors said on Saturday at a press conference. One of them still has a little fever. The 31-year-old man and his 30-year-old wife had therefore arrived on January 18 from a stay in Wuhan in France.
The third patient in France, who is being treated in a clinic in Bordeaux, is doing well so far, said the mayor of the city of southwest France, Nicolas Florian, on Saturday. The 48-year-old Frenchman of Chinese origin is active in the wine business and travels between France and China, the politician specified. Between 10 and 15 people who had been in contact with him since his return to France had been identified and informed, said the mayor.
3:03 pm: China prohibits any group travel
China is banning all group travel from Monday, according to the state television broadcaster CCTV, citing a message from the Chinese travel association. This also applies to trips abroad. Group trips within China have not taken place since Friday.
2:41 pm: Russia also wants to evacuate its citizens
According to an agency report, Russia is currently talking to the Chinese authorities about a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Wuhan City and Hubei Province. There are no known cases of infection among Russians, the RIA news agency quotes the Russian embassy in China.
2:28 pm: Beijing no longer lets buses into the city because of the virus
Due to the spreading corona virus, public transport is now massively restricted in the Chinese capital Beijing. As of Sunday, all bus traffic on the borders of the urban area will be stopped, the state-run newspaper “People’s Daily” reported. Buses should no longer drive into or out of the city. The reason for this is the prevention of an epidemic.
China’s head of state Xi Jinping meanwhile emphasized that the country has the virus outbreak under control. China is “definitely ready” to win the fight against the virus, Xi said at a Beijing Politburo meeting, according to Xinhua State News Agency. Xi now believes that “unbreakable trust, collaboration, scientific prevention and treatment, and precise political decisions” are important.
13:56: French people are to be brought from Wuhan by bus
France wants to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan. The consulate general will offer a bus connection to Changsha in cooperation with the local authorities, the Chinese newspaper “South China Morning Post” quotes from an email from the French consulate. The buses would be available to French people, their Chinese and foreign spouses, and their children.
The United States has also announced that it will evacuate its citizens and diplomats from Wuhan. A charter flight for 230 people was organized on Sunday, reports the “Wall Street Journal”, citing a person familiar with the plans.
12.50 p.m .: Further clinic should be built in Wuhan within 14 days
In view of the rapid spread of the novel corona virus, another clinic for infected patients is to be built in Wuhan. As the state newspaper “People’s Daily” reported, the authorities are now planning to build a hospital with 1,300 beds within 14 days. This is the second clinic to be built especially for the virus.
11:58: Aerial photos show: A new hospital is being built in Wuhan in just six days
The large number of coronavirus patients poses major challenges for the health care of the Chinese metropolis Wuhan. Many hospitals are overworked. A rapid major construction project is supposed to remedy the situation: a new hospital with 1,000 beds is to be built in just six days. The construction work for this has already started. Aerial shots show how many excavators lay the foundation.
10:51 am: Hong Kong declares an emergency due to corona virus
Hong Kong is stopping all air and express train connections to and from Wuhan, as Prime Minister Carrie Lam announced. It imposes a “virus emergency” to curb the spread of the pathogen in the financial metropolis. Hong Kong schools will remain closed until February 17th, which is longer than the end of the holiday on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. All public New Year celebrations in the Chinese special administrative zone are canceled as well as official visits by Hong Kong politicians to the People’s Republic. Five cases of corona have been confirmed in Hong Kong. 122 patients are suspected of being infected with the virus.
9.42 a.m .: Sunday driving ban in the center of Wuhan
To curb the spread of the virus, the Wuhan city council has issued a driving ban according to a newspaper report. As of Sunday, cars should no longer drive to the center of the metropolis, reports the newspaper “People’s Daily”. Exceptions apply to essential journeys.
9.19 a.m .: Berlin Charité prepares itself for night shifts
Immediately after decoding the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus in China, laboratories around the world set about developing tests with which the pathogen can be detected as reliably as possible in patient samples. One of the laboratories that offered such a procedure in a very short time is that of the virologist Christian Drosten in Berlin. In principle, such a test is nothing special, said the director of the Institute of Virology at the Charité. “This is a standard procedure in the laboratory, a polymerase chain reaction.”
The test is now used to check whether suspected cases in Germany are actually carrying the new virus. Until Thursday, according to Drosten, there were still no night shifts in the diagnostic operations of the institute due to an abundance of submitted samples – from this weekend, however, this was expected.
9.16 a.m .: Health Commission sends 1,230 medical workers to Wuhan
The Chinese Health Commission has dispatched 1,230 medical workers to the metropolis of Wuhan in central China, which has been severely affected by the new lung disease. Three out of six groups have already started work on site, as reported by state television on Saturday. The Ministry of Industry (MIIT) also provided 14,000 protective suits.
According to officially unconfirmed reports, hospitals are overwhelmed by the onslaught of patients, so that sick people are also rejected. In addition, protective suits or test procedures for the new corona virus are becoming scarce. It had previously been reported that the People’s Liberation Army had sent 450 doctors and nurses to Wuhan.
8:04 am: Hong Kong hospital transfers coronavirus patient to wrong room
A serious mistake occurred in a hospital in Hong Kong. A 62-year-old woman infected with the coronavirus was moved to the wrong room – and could have infected other patients. The news channel CNN reports. The hospital’s security chief confirmed the case on Saturday.
The room was not pressurized, the clinic said. This is supposed to prevent the pathogen from spreading. Now it will be examined whether other patients have contracted the infection.
8:01 am: Starbucks also closes branches in China
According to McDonald’s, Starbucks also has consequences for its own business. The US coffee house chain closes all branches in the Hubei province during the Chinese New Year holiday, which is at the center of the virus outbreak. The delivery service will also be stopped, Starbucks said. The company cites the concern for the health of customers and employees as the reason. The McDonalds fast food chain had previously shut down operations in five cities in Hubei Province.
7:41 am: Hospital doctor dies of infection with coronavirus
In the province of Hubei in central China, particularly affected by the coronavirus, a hospital doctor died of the infectious disease. The 62-year-old was at the forefront in the fight against the virus, the broadcaster China Global Television Network tweeted.
07:38: China orders nationwide measures
Because of the spreading corona virus, the Chinese authorities have ordered nationwide measures for trains, planes, and buses. As the national health authority announced on Saturday, measuring stations will be set up in all public transport. Passengers suspected of infection would have to be taken to a medical facility “immediately”.
6:11 a.m .: Third coronavirus case in France
There is now a third confirmed case of the corona virus in France. Three patients are currently in quarantine in the hospital, the French Ministry of Health said. One case occurred in Bordeaux, the other two lung diseases were diagnosed in Paris. All patients had previously been in China, it said. Anyone who was in close contact with the three infected should be checked. Health minister Agnès Buzyn said the government will do everything it can to stop the spread of the pathogen. “We have to treat an epidemic like a conflagration.”
In the meantime, 15 more people have fallen victim to the virus in China. A total of 41 deaths from the new lung disease have been detected, as reported by China’s state television and the more independent “South China Morning Post” on Saturday. According to state television, the number of known infections rose by more than 400 to 1,278 cases compared to the previous day. Evidence of the sometimes fatal virus was also found in Asian countries such as Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Taiwan. Two cases were confirmed in the U.S. by Friday – in Seattle and Chicago.
Friday, January 24, 8:23 pm: Minister confirms two cases of coronavirus in France
The new corona virus from China has reached Europe. In France, two cases of the lung disease caused by this were confirmed, the French Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn said on Friday evening. Accordingly, the two diseases occurred in Bordeaux and Paris. The government will do everything it can to stop the spread of the pathogen, said Buzyn.
In Bordeaux, it was a 48-year-old man who had returned from China via Wuhan and was now being treated in the hospital, Buzyn explained. He had been in contact with around ten people since arriving in France. The minister did not initially comment on the case in Paris. Buzyn advised all travelers coming from China to react immediately to the slightest signs of breathing difficulties and fever.
6.45 p.m .: Wuhan, the metropolis of millions, in Germany
In China, 26 people have officially died of the corona virus. Ten major cities with a total of 43 million people are in quarantine. The city of Wuhan is also cordoned off. About 11 million people live in the Chinese metropolis. In comparison, the area of the city corresponds to the Rhine-Ruhr area.
Blocked off due to corona virus: The size of the Chinese metropolis Wuhan in comparison to Germany. (Source: t-online.de)
4:43 pm: Second case of new lung disease confirmed in the United States
A second case of the new lung disease from China has occurred in the United States. It is a woman in Chicago, who recently returned from the most affected Chinese city of Wuhan, the CDC said. In addition, more than 50 suspected cases were observed in 22 different states, said the head of the CDC’s Immunization and Lung Disease Department, Nancy Messonnier. “CDC believes that the risk to people in the United States is currently low, but the situation is changing quickly.”
The coronavirus was first detected in the United States on Tuesday. Sick was a man who had returned from a trip to Wuhan to the west coast metropolis of Seattle on January 15th. In China, the number of detected infections in the country is currently around 900, according to the authorities. More than 26 of the patients have died, mostly older people with previous illnesses. Evidence has also been reported from other countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan. No infection with the novel virus is known to date in Europe.
Friday, January 24, 2:50 pm: More than 41 million people in quarantine
Because of the novel corona virus, 13 cities in China are now isolated from the outside world. After the outbreak of the lung disease, tens of millions of people in the metropolis of Wuhan and surrounding cities are practically isolated from the outside world. Local authorities, flights and trains were stopped by the authorities in four other cities on Friday, now more than 41 million people are affected by the quarantine measures.
The newly added cities are Xianning, Xiaogan, Enshi and Zhijiang, all of which are located in Hubei Province. According to Chinese authorities, the new corona virus in China has increased the number of deaths to 26 in total, and the number of people infected is 830.
12:02 p.m .: WHO expects infections to increase in China
The World Health Organization anticipates a further increase in the number of cases in China. However, it is still too early to say how bad the corona virus is, says a spokesman in Geneva. Perhaps the WHO and its network of experts would examine whether the virus could be treated like Mers. The respiratory disease Mers first appeared on the Arabian Peninsula a few years ago.
11.30 a.m .: McDonald’s shuts down
The American fast food restaurant operator McDonald’s is ceasing to operate in at least six cities in the Chinese province of Hubei, which are at the center of the virus outbreak. McDonald’s has many branches in the affected area, particularly in Wuhan City, where the virus first broke out.
10:57: China closes parts of the Great Wall
The protective measures against the corona virus in China are now also a symbol of the country’s strength: parts of the Great Wall of China are being closed. The Ming Tombs and Yinshan Pagoda were also closed as a precaution from Saturday, said the authority responsible for the administration of these historic sites. The stadium of the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing is no longer accessible since Friday.
10:25 a.m .: Construction of a hospital in six days
In Wuhan, a clinic with 1,000 beds is to be built within a short time only for patients infected with the coronavirus. Dozens of excavators and trucks were in use on the construction site, as was shown on the state broadcaster CCTV.
The new clinic with more than 25,000 square meters of space is scheduled to go into operation on February 3. Before the construction project was announced, there had been reports of bed shortages in Wuhan’s hospitals due to the infectious disease.
Coronavirus patients in the city of eleven million are currently being isolated and treated in 61 hospitals. The new facility is said to relax the situation and “improve the ability to treat patients,” the Xinhua news agency wrote.
8:01 am: Singapore confirms cases two and three
Singapore has confirmed two other cases of virus infection. This brings the total number to three. The Ministry of Health expresses the expectation that more cases will come because numerous people have entered from China.
7:03 a.m .: Disneyland Shanghai closed
Due to the spread of the novel corona virus, Disneyland in Shanghai will be closed for the time being from Saturday. The decision was made to protect staff and visitors, the amusement park said on Friday. Weekends of Chinese New Year holidays begin at the weekend, and Disneyland had planned special spectacles. All visitors who have already booked would be compensated, the park said on its website.
When Disneyland reopened its doors was initially unclear. The date will be announced in coordination with the authorities, it said.
The world-famous Canadian circus Cirque du Soleil also canceled its permanent shows in Hangzhou until further notice. He is responding to the request from the authorities to cancel all activities in Sälen with more than a hundred visitors, said Cirque du Soleil boss Daniel Lamarre.
04:25: Other cities affected
Ten cities in the province of Hubei in central China, particularly affected by the coronavirus, have severely restricted their connections to the outside world. Bus connections were closed and facilities visited by many people were closed.
4:00 a.m .: Second case reported in South Korea
Health authorities in South Korea have reported an infection with the new lung disease that broke out in neighboring China for the second time. A 55-year-old South Korean was affected, the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.
The man returned from a work stay in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Wednesday, where the origin of the outbreak is suspected. He had already visited a clinic there because he suffered from a sore throat and other symptoms of the disease. His condition is stable.
02:00: Spahn: “We are vigilant, but with a cool head”
Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn urged prudent handling of the new lung disease that had broken out in China. “We take this very seriously, we are vigilant, but with a cool head at the same time,” said the CDU politician on Thursday evening in the ARD “Tagesthemen”. One is in daily exchange with experts. “I also think it’s important that we classify it overall so that we can approach it with the necessary calm.”
Spahn praised the Chinese government’s information policy. In contrast to the great Sars epidemic, which killed hundreds of people in China 17 years ago, the international community’s exchange works and China is more transparent than a few years ago. So you can better prepare for it.
Spahn said it was important to classify the disease and pointed to the flu, which causes around 20,000 deaths in Germany every year. “That is also a risk that we have every day.” In the new lung disease, the infection process is milder in comparison.
1.30 a.m .: Number of deaths from virus in China has risen to at least 25
The number of deaths from the novel corona virus in China has risen to at least 25. Overall, the number of registered diseases caused by the pathogen grew to 830 cases, as the Chinese government announced on Friday in a new interim report. The previous balance of the Chinese authorities had been 18 dead and around 570 cases of illness.
00:10: Japan confirms second case of illness
Japan has confirmed the second case of coronavirus infection. The Japanese Ministry of Health said that it was a traveler who came from the Chinese city of Wuhan. The man is currently in the hospital.
Thursday, January 23, 5:50 pm: China reports another death
In China, another person has died from the corona virus, according to official information. The Hebei provincial government announced the death. The sealed cities of Wuhan and Huanggang are located there.
4:47 pm: Schaeffler bans travel to China
The automotive supplier Schaeffler has banned its 89,000 employees from business trips to and from China. The company reacted to the spread of the corona virus in the People’s Republic and the traffic stops in several major cities in central China. A Schaeffler spokesman said on Thursday in Herzogenaurach that the business travel ban applies until February 15. Schaeffler operates eight plants in China and a logistics location in the particularly hard-hit city of Wuhan.
Siemens, the Bavarian automotive suppliers Webasto and Brose and Thyssenkrupp are also represented in the metropolis Wuhan, which is sealed off due to the corona virus. This can be seen from the list of members of the German Chambers of Commerce in China.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had just opened the expansion of the Webasto plant in Wuhan five months ago – 500 employees are building car roofs and electric charging stations there. A company spokeswoman said on Thursday in Stockdorf near Munich: “We are currently continuing to produce as before.” The company adheres to the requirements of the Chinese government and the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute. There is no direct exchange with other German companies. The contact to the plant was made by telephone and video conferencing.
According to a spokeswoman, Siemens has a smaller location in Wuhan. The government measures would therefore have no major impact on the group. “We are closely monitoring the development of the corona virus and are in contact with the Chinese authorities,” she said. “We have also taken a number of measures to protect the health of our employees.” She did not give details of the type of measures and the number of employees in Wuhan.
Wuhan is particularly severely affected by the lung disease caused by the coronavirus. In the metropolis with a population of 11 million, the major roads were closed, flights, trains, ferries, long-distance buses and local public transport were stopped. Residents may only leave the house with protective masks.
17.07 clock: Other cities in China cordoned off
In the 7 million city of Huanggang, located 75 kilometers east of Wuhan, public transport is to be stopped from midnight, and the city government has announced that people should no longer leave the city. Similar restrictions apply to the neighboring city of Ezhou with one million and the city of Chibi with half a million inhabitants. In Xiantao with more than one million inhabitants, public transport by bus, ferry and train to other places has also been suspended. All cities are in the province of Hubei.
3:24 pm: Vietnam reports two cases of coronavirus
Two cases of the corona virus have also occurred in Vietnam. The Ministry of Health confirms that two Chinese citizens have tested positive for the virus.
3:18 pm: Imperial Palace in Beijing closes for visitors
For fear of the spread of lung disease in China, the Imperial Palace in Beijing will be closed to visitors from Saturday (January 25th). The decision was made to prevent further transmission of the virus to larger crowds, the administration of the Forbidden City said.
Last year, 19 million people visited the World Heritage Site. Due to the large number of visitors, the maximum number of visitors per day is limited to 80,000. How long the Imperial Palace should remain closed was not announced.
2:39 pm: Air France cancels direct connections to Wuhan
The French airline Air France has canceled all direct connections to and from Wuhan in China for fear of further spread of the new corona virus. The airline is thus following measures recommended by authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Air France said. The airline is closely monitoring the situation to protect passengers and employees.
A last direct flight from Wuhan for the time being should arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on Thursday. It was initially unknown whether special medical examinations were intended for the passengers.
2:31 p.m .: First case of the new corona virus in Singapore
The first case of the new corona virus has occurred in Singapore, according to local media, citing the Ministry of Health. It is said to be a 66-year-old Chinese who comes from Wuhan.
12:43: Beijing city cancels big New Year celebrations
In order to curb the spread of the corona virus, the Chinese capital Beijing is canceling major public events for the New Year. As the state-run newspaper “Beijing News” reported, two very well-known temple festivals, which are usually held on the occasion of the Chinese New Year celebrations, should not take place.
During this time of the year, hundreds of millions of Chinese make their way to visit relatives and friends. The authorities want to restrict travel activities for fear of a wave of infection. As of Friday, the Chinese can have their train tickets nationwide completely refunded. This was announced by the state railway company China State Railway Group.
12:05 p.m .: Second Chinese city under quarantine
Because of the spread of the novel corona virus in China, a second Chinese city has been quarantined after Wuhan. In Huanggang, rail traffic and other public transport connections will be suspended from midnight (local time; 5:00 p.m. CET), the city administration said. In addition, all cinemas, internet cafes and the city’s central market would be closed. Huanggang is 70 kilometers east of Wuhan.
12:05 p.m .: Number of infected people in China increases to 620
The number of confirmed cases of lung disease in China has increased from 571 to at least 620. The Chinese state television reported. The number of deaths was initially unchanged at 17. According to this information, experts also warn that the novel virus has the potential to change. No details were given.
11.30 a.m .: No infected people at the airport in Rome
At Rome Airport, more than 200 passengers were examined for the new corona virus by a direct flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan. The 202 travelers were checked early in the morning after arriving in a dedicated area away from the normal terminals, said a spokeswoman for Fiumicino Airport. Symptoms of the virus were not found in anyone.
The Ministry of Health had announced the controls with a fever scanner in a “medical channel”. In addition, the travel route of the passengers should be tracked closely. There are usually three direct flights a week from Wuhan to the Italian capital, which is very popular with Chinese tourists.
11:11 am: Politicians have so far not kept Germans at acute risk from coronavirus
German politicians have so far not seen the population of this country in acute danger due to the spread of the new corona virus in China. The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach does not yet see any “necessity” for mandatory fever monitoring for air passengers. However, Lauterbach also warned in the “Passauer Neue Presse” on Thursday: “The same virus could be much more dangerous in a few weeks.”
The SPD politician therefore called for “staying alert”. However, he also emphasized that Germany was well prepared for an outbreak of the virus, also because lessons had been learned from previous epidemics such as the Sars virus. “This applies to the cooperation between the German authorities and the preparation of the hospitals for possible cases.”
11:01 a.m .: Studies suspect bats and snakes as carriers
Scientific evidence suggests that the coronavirus may have been transmitted by bats or snakes. A comprehensive analysis of the gene sequence of the 2019 nCoV virus and its comparison with other viruses has shown that snakes are the most likely carriers of the virus in the wild, according to a study published on Wednesday in the journal “Journal of Medical Virology” ,
However, this result must be checked by further experimental studies, the authors explained. As early as Tuesday, a study appeared in the journal Science China Life Sciences, which looked for similarities between the new virus and other pathogens. Accordingly, there is a close relationship between the pathogen that occurs in Wuhan and a virus that occurs in bats. In the article, the scientists made no assumptions about which animals could be intermediate hosts.
The two investigations could help the Chinese authorities to find the origin of the novel corona virus. The starting point is an animal market in Wuhan, where, in addition to seafood, exotic wild animals such as foxes, crocodiles, snakes and peacocks are sold.
10.46 a.m .: Experts assume 4,000 infected people in Wuhan
According to current calculations, the number of people infected with the new coronavirus is significantly higher than the number of cases identified. Imperial College London experts estimate that symptoms have occurred in around 4,000 people in the Chinese city of Wuhan by January 18. This emerges from a report by the Center for the Analysis of Global Infectious Diseases, which was published on Wednesday.
10.07 am: China also stops bus and ferry connections to Wuhan
China’s Ministry of Transport has stopped all bus and ferry connections to the metropolis of Wuhan, which is the starting point for the new corona virus. The ministry said that buses and ferries that had been commuting to Wuhan had been instructed to turn around. Buses that had planned a stopover in the city should bypass Wuhan via an alternative route.
9:34 am: Flights from Wuhan to London are checked
British Economics Minister Andrea Leadsom describes the outbreak as a “major concern for the world”. But it is important to respond moderately, she tells Sky. Leadsom adds: “We now routinely check all flights from Wuhan.”
8:56 am: Significant losses on Asia’s stock exchanges
Prices on the Asian stock exchanges fell significantly on Thursday. After the relaxation on the previous day, the corona virus and its possible effects on the economy have the markets under control again. The isolation of the city of Wuhan as the epicenter of the epidemic underscored the dangers posed by the virus – especially since the traditional New Year celebrations are imminent in China, and with it increasing use of travel.
The Chinese CSI-300 index with the 300 most important stocks on mainland China stock exchanges fell by 3.1 percent to 4,003.90 points. The Hong Kong Hang Seng recently fell 1.85 percent to 27,816.51 points. The Japanese leading index Nikkei closed with a minus of 0.98 percent at 23,795.44 points.
08:36: Flight passengers from Wuhan in Rome checked
In Rome, 202 airline passengers and crew members who came from Wuhan are checked for signs of a coronavirus illness, according to an airport spokesman. They came to the Italian capital on board a China Southern Airlines aircraft. It is the first time that such a check has been carried out since the Italian health authorities ordered special control measures this week to prevent transmission of the virus. There is initially no information about possible suspected cases.
6.20 a.m .: vaccine available at the earliest in one year
The global vaccine alliance Gavi estimates that developing a vaccine against the new lung disease that has broken out in China will take at least a year. The dangers of the corona virus are still difficult to assess, said Gavi managing director and epidemiologist Seth Berkley of the German press agency in Berlin. “The good news is that researchers have already sequenced and released the virus genome, which has enabled several organizations around the world to start working on a vaccine,” he said.
Vaccines that protect against coronaviruses are much easier to develop than vaccines against diseases such as malaria or HIV. “Even so, it will take months to begin clinical trials and at least a year before a vaccine is available for use,” said Berkley.
05.45 a.m .: Number of diseases increases to 571
The number of documented cases of the new lung disease in China has risen to 571. This was announced by China’s health authority on Thursday morning. Accordingly, there were initially no new victims, which has confirmed 17 deaths since the onset of the disease. According to official data, there are 95 serious cases among the proven diseases, all of which are located in the Hubei province with the particularly severely affected metropolis of Wuhan. State television had previously reported that traffic from Wuhan would be cut. Flights, long-distance buses, trains and ferries may no longer leave the city.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 8:25 p.m .: China cuts transport connections to Wuhan
According to Chinese media, important traffic connections to and from Wuhan will be cut off on Thursday morning. The lung disease had initially been proven in the megacity. The airport and train stations would be closed and bus, subway and ferry connections would be suspended, state television reported. Citizens were asked to leave the city only under special circumstances.
4:01 p.m .: Number of deaths from lung disease in China increases to 17
The number of deaths from the new lung disease in China has risen to 17. This was reported by the government of the Hubei province in the severely affected metropolis of Wuhan. So far, nine people have been killed by the novel virus.
14:21: Federal government: new virus no reason for alarmism
According to the Federal Government, the spread of the new lung disease from China initially means only a “very low” health risk for people in Germany. There is no reason to be alarmed now, a spokesman for Health Minister said Jens Spahn (CDU), who also informed the cabinet about the situation. The novel corona virus is far less dangerous than the SARS pathogen a few years ago. However, the situation is being followed closely. In addition, international coordination is ongoing, among other things, via the Robert Koch Institute.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, no Germans are initially affected by the corona virus. The ministry’s crisis response center discussed the virus with the Robert Koch Institute and its own experts in Asia on Wednesday. Be prepared to update travel advice. At the moment there is no reason for a travel warning, said a spokeswoman.
13:37: Russia strengthens border controls with China
Russia plans to step up controls at all border posts because of the further spread of a new lung disease in neighboring China. “We want to prevent the corona virus from being introduced into our country,” said Yelena Yeshlova of the Russian consumer protection agency Tass agency on Wednesday. Especially at the 4,200 km long border too China Incoming people should be checked with temperature measurements and additionally questioned. So far, no cases of illness have become known in Russia, it said.
Hundreds of infections with the novel corona virus have now been detected in China. According to official information, nine deaths have been recorded so far. They mostly affected older people with severe previous illnesses. It is believed that the novel virus comes from a fish market in the metropolis Wuhan in the Hubei province. New infections have also become known outside of China. For the first time, evidence was provided in the United States reported.
The consumer protection agency therefore advised Russians in particular against traveling to the affected province. “This is the easiest way not to get infected,” said Yeschlowa. In addition, visitors to China should avoid crowds and markets.
Russia is ready to work on a vaccine against the lung disease, it said. However, the situation should be examined beforehand and recommendations made by the World Health Organization WHO support.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 1:25 pm: China warns of a possible mutation of a new type of corona virus
China warns of a possible mutation of the novel coronavirus, which continues to spread rapidly and from which at least nine people have already died. At least 440 people are now infected in the People’s Republic, another 1,394 are under surveillance, as Vice Health Minister Li Bin reported in Beijing. There is a risk that the virus will mutate and spread even more. The virus has now reached the United States.
Concerns about the spread of the virus will be heightened by the intense travel around the Chinese New Year next Saturday. Hundreds of millions of Chinese people travel around the country by train, bus or plane every year for the New Year. According to Chinese information, the virus can be transmitted from person to person.
The Chinese health authority announced increased disinfection of airports and train stations as well as in shopping centers. A large Chinese New Year celebration was canceled in the central Chinese metropolis of Wuhan, from where the disease started. The women’s soccer qualifiers for the Olympic Games were moved from Wuhan to Nangjing.
Wuhan’s mayor Zhou Xianwang asked the residents not to leave the city. Visitors should avoid Wuhan to prevent the virus from spreading further. Face masks and disinfectants are already sold out in many Chinese pharmacies and on websites.
Temperature measurement stations for passengers have been set up at the airport and Wuhan train station, and the temperature of motorists should also be measured at motorway checkpoints. At five US airports and numerous airports throughout Asia, passengers are also on fever controlled.
Tuesday January 21, 2020: current status
Hundreds of infections with the novel corona virus have now been detected in China. The number of deaths recorded rose by a further three to nine, according to China’s State Council. Most of the time, older people with serious previous illnesses died. New infections have also become known outside of China. Evidence was first reported in the United States.
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