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Coronavirus LIVE: India likely to airlift its citizens from Wuhan on Feb 26

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in China rose to 2,592 on Monday, while the total number of confirmed cases on the mainland is now 77,150

coronavirus

The viral outbreak has so far infected more than 77,000 people globally.

The number of coronavirus-related fatalities in China rose to 2,592 on Monday, after the National Health Commission reported 150 more deaths. Monday's death toll was a jump on the 97 deaths reported Sunday. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases on the mainland is now 77,150. 

Chinese health authorities also reported a total of 409 new cases in the mainland. 

Meanwhile, a sharp rise in the number of infections in South Korea, Italy and Iran, on Monday fuelled concerns that the coronavirus outbreak in China might grow into a pandemic with disruptive and deadly consequences for countries around the world

As the death toll grew alarmingly in Iran, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said he would talk with his European counterparts soon to discuss how best to cope with a possible epidemic in Europe.
 
In another development, New Zealand extended a ban on arrivals from mainland China into a fourth week to contain the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

The ban has been extended by a further eight days and would be reviewed after that, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.
The viral outbreak has so far infected more than 77,000 people globally.

The virus, now named COVID-19, has spread to over 25 countries, including India.

3:39 AM

White House readying emergency budget request

The White House is readying an urgent budget request to address the deadly coronavirus outbreak whose rapid spread is spooking financial markets and restricting international travel.
3:23 AM

Donald Trump says coronavirus "is very much under control in the US"

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the coronavirus was under control in the United States, and added that he thought the stock market, which tumbled on Monday on worries over the fast-spreading disease, was "starting to look very good to me!"
 
2:19 AM

South Korea becomes biggest coronavirus centre outside

South Korea nationwide total cases jumped to 763 with 161 fresh cases on Monday, making it the world's largest total outside China.
 
The country has seen a rapid surge in the number of coronavirus cases since a cluster of infections emerged from a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu last week
9:42 PM

Steep decline in Coronavirus cases in China: WHO expert

A World Health Organisation expert said on Monday that there was a steep decline in newly-reported cases of COVID-19 due to actions taken by the Chinese government to contain the deadly coronavirus.
 

Canadian epidemiologist Bruce Aylward, who heads the WHO mission team to China, said that he has seen a steep decline in newly-reported cases compared to the number when he first arrived in China two weeks ago.

9:17 PM

World must prepare for 'potential pandemic': WHO chief

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that so far, the WHO does not consider the outbreak that has killed more than 2,600 people a pandemic, but said countries should be "doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic."
8:49 PM

India to send aircraft on Feb 26 to Wuhan to bring back its citizens after China gives clearance

India is likely to send a military transport aircraft to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan on February 26 to deliver relief material and bring back more Indians following a clearance from China, Union Health ministry officials said on Monday.


"As informed by the Ministry of External Affairs, departure of the Air Force flight to Wuhan is being planned for February 26 and the evacuees will arrive on February 27," the ministry said in a statement.

8:49 PM

China shutdowns to impact economy: White House economist

The disruption caused by the virus outbreak in China will have an effect on the US economy, but the magnitude of the hit remains uncertain, a White House economist said Monday.
 

With the death toll worldwide reaching 2,600, the official cautioned that other illnesses such as influenza are responsible for far more fatalities annually than the COVID-19 virus that originated in central China.

8:48 PM

Oman reports first two cases of coronavirus, halts flights to Iran

Oman on Monday reported its first two cases of coronavirus, and halted flights to and from Iran with immediate effect, authorities and reports said.
 

Two Omani women who had returned from Iran -- which is battling the deadliest outbreak outside China -- were diagnosed with the disease and were in a stable condition, state TV reported.

7:20 PM

Rupee drops further by 34p to over 3-month low on coronavirus threat

6:55 PM

Coronavirus outbreak poses further concern for solar energy sector: Icra

Ratings agency Icra on Monday said the outbreak of deadly coronavirus poses concern for domestic solar developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) due to disruption in supply chain for key components used for manufacturing solar modules.
6:30 PM

Pakistan quarantines 200 near Iran border on virus fears

Pakistan began quarantining at least 200 people near the Iranian border, officials said Monday, as fears spiralled over the growing toll from the coronavirus in the region amid allegations of a coverup in Iran.

The quarantine announcement came hours after Pakistan sealed off its land border with Iran while neighbouring Afghanistan said it had detected its first infection.

 

6:29 PM

Hong Kong to bar non-resident arrivals from South Korea over virus

Hong Kong will bar non-residents arriving from South Korea from Tuesday morning in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak, the city's security chief said late Monday.

6:18 PM

Fifth coronavirus death in Italy as infections mount

Italy reported on Monday its fifth death from the new coronavirus, as the number of people contracting the disease continued to mount and officials called for calm.

6:17 PM

Two more Japan officials aboard ship contract coronavirus

Two more officials sent to a cruise ship quarantined off Japan to help with on-board efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus have contracted the illness themselves, authorities said Monday.
 
The announcement came as experts warned the next one to three weeks would be "crucial" to preventing widespread infections and as fears deepen that the isolation of the virus-stricken Diamond Princess has been ineffective.
6:16 PM

Iran lawmaker says 50 dead from new virus in city of Qom

A staggering 50 people have died in the Iranian city of Qom from the new coronavirus this month, a lawmaker was quoted as saying on Monday, even as the Health Ministry insisted only 12 deaths have been recorded to date in the country.

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First Published: Feb 23 2020 | 10:50 AM IST