The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the “unprecedented” outbreak of coronavirus an international public health emergency, as officials bid to prevent infections in countries with weak healthcare systems. Shortly afterwards, the UK’s four chief medical officers upgraded the risk level in Britain from low to moderate.
The WHO praised China‘s response to the outbreak which began in the city of Wuhan, and said that “we’re all in this together”. Director-general Tedros Adhanom said governments must work together “in a spirit of solidarity” to control the spread of the new pathogen.
Almost 8,000 cases have been recorded, including some 212 deaths. There are about 100 cases in countries outside China, and eight cases of human-to-human transmission in four countries. The announcement came as the UK prepared to bring its nationals back from Wuhan; they will be held in isolation for two weeks at a facility on Merseyside.
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Chinese officials have confirmed the death toll in Hubei province has risen to 204 - with 212 deaths reported nationwide.
US evacuee placed under quarantine after attempting to flee base
One of 195 Americans evacuated from Wuhan, China, to a US air base in California to begin 72 hours of voluntary observation for signs of coronavirus infection was placed under mandatory quarantine after trying to leave the facility, public health officials have said.
The individual, whose identity was not disclosed, was presented the quarantine order on Wednesday night, hours after arriving at March Air Reserve Base near Los Angeles on a government-chartered flight from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, officials from the Riverside County Public Health Department said.
An agency spokeswoman added the individual has complied with the order, which requires remaining on the base for the entire 14-day incubation period of the virus, and that no base personnel were exposed to the evacuee in question.
Trump says he believes virus is under control
President Donald Trump has said the United States was working very closely with China on the coronavirus outbreak and he believed it was under control.
"We're working very closely with (China) and with a lot of other people and a lot of other countries" on combating the outbreak, Trump said in a speech at an auto parts manufacturer in Warren, Michigan.
"We think we have it very well under control. We have very little problem in this country at this moment," he said.
His comments came shortly after the disease was declared a publich health emergency of international significance by the World Health Organisation.
"I told them immediately, I said 'Oh OK so you cannot confirm in any way that they could travel with me', and they said 'We're trying our best but we can't guarantee anything,' so I said 'No, I'm not going'.
"With the current situation and the way the FCO is handling the diplomatic side of things, I'm just losing faith."
He added: "I actually got an email from the FCO about the flight as well, they said that you have to be at the meeting point by 11pm but I received the email at seven minutes to 11.
"I live about 45 minutes away from the airport and Wuhan has a complete traffic ban.
"There's no cars, there's no taxis, anything, and the FCO say, 'Oh we'll pick you up from Wuhan Tianhe airport but you have to make your own way there'. That gives me a very bad taste in my mouth.
"It's just bad planning."
The first case of Coronavirus has been confirmed in Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said in a statement.
"Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China," he said.
"Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems".
Mr Ghebreyesus visited the country and met with Xi Jinping before the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern was made.
The flight from the epicentre of the outbreak in Wuhan, which will have military medics on board alongside 150 British nationals and 50 others, will land at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Passengers will then be taken to an NHS facility on the Wirral for a quarantine period of 14 days. The Liverpool Echo reported they would be taken to a former student accommodation block in the grounds of Arrowe Park Hospital.
Janelle Holmes, chief executive of Wirral University Hospital, sent a message to staff on Thursday evening, saying: "Around 100 British citizens will be travelling to the UK from China tomorrow.
"We will be welcoming and housing them in the accommodation block at Arrowe Park Hospital.
"Before arrival they will be screened for symptoms. If anyone becomes unwell after arrival they will be treated following appropriate protocols."
The US State Department has allowed the departure of non-emergency employees at its embassy in Beijing and consulates in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang.
The announcement came immediately after the WHO’s declaration of an international public health emergency – which in the past has offered diplomatic cover to governments which had previously been unwilling to rock the boat by making certain moves in a situation on the cusp of crisis.
Moroccan airline joins others in suspending China flights
Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) temporarily suspended its direct flights to China due to the coronavirus outbreak, state news agency MAP said on Thursday.
RAM has launched on January 16 a direct link with three flights weekly between its Casablanca hub to Beijing.
Others to suspend flights include British Airways, Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines.
The four chief medical officers of the UK have increased the risk level of coronavirus from low to moderate, adding they "do not think the risk to individuals in the UK has changed" but that the government should "plan for all eventualities".
WHO declares international health emergency over 'unprecedented outbreak'
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern following the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus - describing the event as an "unprecedented outbreak that has been met with an unprecedented response".
The announcement by the medical arm of the UN frees up additional finances to respond to the healthcare crisis, with officials citing the risk of the virus reaching a country with an underdeveloped healthcare system as the reason for the move.
The WHO's director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who visited China to consider the state's response to the spread of the disease from the Hubei province while meeting with president , said the nation "must be congratulated".
"We would have seen many more cases outside China by now - and probably deaths - if it were not for the government’s efforts and the progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the world".
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WHO declares international health emergency over coronavirus
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern following the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus - describing the event as an "unprecedented outbreak that has been met with an unprecedented response".Italy's health ministry has said passengers aboard a blocked cruise liner do not have coronavirus, several hours after they were told they would not be able to approach land until everyone on board was deemed to be clear of the illness.
Ethiopian Airlines deny flights to China have been cancelled
Ethiopian Airlines said late on Thursday that its flights to China are operating normally, hours after its passenger call centre told reporters that all flights were suspended.
"We are operating our regular flights to all of our five gateways in China, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hong Kong with the usual supply and demand adjustment that we always make during the Chinese New Year Holidays," read the statement.
Andris Nelsons, the orchestra's music director, said Thursday that the decision was made out of concern for the "health and well-being" of its musicians.
"Please know that we are all passionately committed to a future visit to East Asia soon," he said in a statement. "Most importantly, our hearts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by the coronavirus."
The esteemed orchestra had been scheduled to go on a four-city tour that included Seoul in South Korea, Taipei in Taiwan and Shanghai and Hong Kong in China from 6 to 16 February.
