Australia, Japan and other countries with extensive travel links to China are enacting stricter screening measures as an expert now says coronavirus can be spread between humans. So far, four people have died and over 200 have been infected.
In this Jan. 16, 2020, photo, travelers from China's Wuhan go through body temperature scanners at Narita airport in Narita, near Tokyo. A fourth person has died in an outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, authorities said Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, as more places stepped up medical screening of travelers from the country as it enters its busiest travel period.
So far, four people have died, and more than 200 have been infected. The new type of coronavirus appears to have originated in the central city of Wuhan, which has reported 198 cases and all of the fatalities. Others who have been diagnosed in Beijing, Shanghai and southern Guangdong province had also visited Wuhan.
Australia’s chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said his country will be increasing airport screening. Australia receives a significant number of travelers from China, including three direct flights a week from Wuhan into Sydney, and these flights will be met by border security and biosecurity staff for assessments, Murphy told reporters.
Zhong, a government expert who helped expose the scale of SARS, told state broadcaster CCTV that two people in Guangdong province caught the virus from family members. When SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, first infected people in southern China, the Chinese government initially tried to conceal the severity of the epidemic, which ended up killing nearly 800 people. The cover-up was exposed by a high-ranking physician.
Leung, who was heavily involved in the response to SARS, said modeling shows that cases will multiply over the coming weeks but the outbreak will gradually lose momentum as precautionary measures take effect.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China coronavirus claims 4th victim as more screenings addedAuthorities say a fourth person has died in an outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, as more places stepped up medical screening of travelers from the country as it enters its busiest travel period.
Read more »
China counts sharp rise in coronavirus cases, 2 in BeijingBEIJING (AP) — China reported Monday a sharp rise in the number of people affected in a pneumonia outbreak caused by a new coronoavirus, including the first cases in the capital. The...
Read more »
Coronavirus spreads to Beijing as China confirms 139 new cases over the weekendChina has reported 139 new cases of pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus, including a third death, as the outbreak spreads beyond the city of Wuhan, where the virus was first identified
Read more »
Tenuous US-China trade deal comes as Beijing and Washington remain on a permanent collision courseBeijing sees no other way of protecting its vital economic interests while remaining on a permanent collision course with the U.S. on so many war-and-peace issues.
Read more »
China counts sharp rise in coronavirus cases, 2 in BeijingChina has reported a sharp rise in the number of people infected with a new coronavirus, including the first cases in the capital. The outbreak has put other countries on alert as millions of Chinese travel for Lunar New Year.
Read more »
China counts sharp rise in coronavirus cases, 2 in BeijingChina reported Monday a sharp rise in the number of people infected with a new coronavirus, including the first cases in the capital. The outbreak coincides with the country's busiest travel period, as millions board trains and planes for the Lunar New Year holidays.
Read more »