First death recorded outside of China
The coronavirus outbreak has killed at least 305 people and infected more than 14,300 globally, as it continues to spread beyond China.
The virus has been confirmed in more than 25 countries and territories since it was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.
Countries are now sending planes to evacuate their citizens from the infection zone, and imposing travel bans or restrictions on mainland China.
Nearly 60 million people are under lockdown in Chinese cities as international researchers race to develop a vaccine and halt its spread.
Meanwhile, China ramped up measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic and shore up an economy hit by travel curbs and business shut-downs on Sunday as the first death from the illness was reported outside the country.
Here are the rest of the latest developments:
*A man has died from the coronavirus in the Philippines, marking the first reported death tied to the virus outside of China.
The man, 44, was a resident of Wuhan, the center of the outbreak, and officials believe he was infected before traveling to the Philippines, according to the World Health Organization.
He experienced symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat before being admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital.
He passed away on Saturday, WHO announced Sunday.
The victim was the second person in the Philippines confirmed to have contracted the virus.
*His death brought the total death toll to 305. All the other people died in mainland China.
*Across China, 2,590 new infections were confirmed on Saturday, the largest daily increase, bringing the total to 14,380, according to the country’s National Health Commission.
*Infections have also been reported in more than two dozen other countries and territories, including Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Spain, Thailand, and the United States.
*China’s central bank said it would inject 1.2 trillion yuan ($173.8 billion) worth of liquidity into markets via reverse repo operations on Monday as the country prepares to reopen its stock markets after an extended Lunar New Year holiday.
*The government said it will help firms that produce vital goods resume work as soon as possible.
*Chinese data suggest the virus is less deadly than the 2002-03 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people of the some 8,000 it infected.
*The World Health Organisation has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, but said global trade and travel restrictions are not needed.
*However airlines have suspended or scaled back direct flights to China’s major cities.
*The United States, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Vietnam are among countries that have denied entry to foreign nationals who have recently been in China.
*The United States has reported its first case of person-to-person transmission inside its territory. Germany, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea have recorded similar infections, suggesting greater potential for spreading.
*China’s central city of Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei – the centre of the epidemic – are under a virtual quarantine.
CNN/Reuters/New York Post
