News
Each Original HP Toner cartridge is designed to match your printer's size and speed, fusing temperature, and paper type. Paired with your HP LaserJet, this printing system is designed to deliver impressive, consistent print quality and uncompromised performance. Imaging and Cardiovascular Centre (Central) Suite 515-519, 5th Floor, Central Building, 1-3 Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong; Tel: 2801 6338 / 2801 6869.
Over 1,300 individuals have contracted the virus worldwide, with the number of fatalities in China reaching 41. As well as France, Australia and Malaysia have confirmed their first cases.
French officials on Friday confirmed three cases of the new coronavirus from China, marking the first time the deadly virus was detected in Europe.
Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said two of the infected individuals had recently traveled to China, and that they were placed in isolation. The third person is a close relative of one of the other two.
Buzyn added that more cases were likely to be discovered.
Read more:Everything you need to know about the new coronavirus
'We know that since the patient has been on French soil they have had contact with a dozen people, we are going to contact them,' she said of one of the infected patients.
'You have to treat an epidemic as you treat a fire, quickly to locate the source' and 'contain it as quickly as possible,' Buzyn added.
The virus, which is thought to have originated at an animal market in Wuhan, spread to humans and can be transmitted from person to person.
Virus spreads around the world
France's announcement came as more than a dozen countries around the world reported infections. Nepal also confirmed a case on Friday — the first in a South Asian country.
Australia reported its first four cases Saturday. Authorities in Victoria state have followed 'strict protocols, including isolating the affected person,' said Professor Brendan Murphy, Australia's chief medical officer. He added that there may be more cases in Australia.
Read more: Chinese New Year: Entering the Year of the Rat amid the coronavirus crisis
Malaysia, meanwhile, said three Chinese nationals, on holiday from Wuhan and who had passed through Singapore, were found to have the virus. They are now in a stable condition in an isolation ward at a public hospital.
China battles to contain coronavirus
Chinese New Year impact
As of early Saturday, at least 41 fatalities have been reported in China. A further 237 patients are in serious condition. Officials have placed a lockdown on at least 18 cities covering more than 56 million inhabitants in an attempt to contain the virus' spread. More than 1,300 people have been infected globally.
Beijing has also ordered nationwide screening measures at airports, ports, and major train and bus stations to detect the virus.
Medical teams from Shanghai, Guangdong and the People's Liberation Army were sent to Wuhan to relieve strained health workers.
Medal of honor warfighter repack. Chinese authorities have also canceled various events relating to Lunar New Year, which begins Saturday. Millions of Chinese travel for the festive holidays to be with family and gather for large public celebrations.
State news agency Xinhua also reported on Saturday that Beijing had sent 450 medical military personnel to Wuhan, many of whom have experience handling cases of SARS and the ebola virus.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam declared a virus emergency in the city, announcing a package of measures to limit travel between mainland China and Hong Kong. Hong Kong has confirmed five cases.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Pneumonia-like virus hits Wuhan
On December 31, 2019, China notifies the World Health Organization of a string of respiratory infections in the city of Wuhan, home to some 11 million people. The root virus is unknown and disease experts around the world begin working to identify it. The strain is traced to a seafood market in the city, which is quickly shut down. Some 40 people are initially reported to be infected.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
First death in China
On January 11, China announces the first death from the coronavirus — a 61-year-old man, who had shopped at the Wuhan market, dies from complications with pneumonia. Like SARS and the common cold, scientists identified that the new virus is in the coronavirus family. It is temporarily named 2019-nCoV. Symptoms include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Virus reaches neighboring countries
In the following days, countries such as Thailand and Japan begin to report cases of infections in people who had visited the same Wuhan market. In China, a second fatality is confirmed in the city. By January 20, three people have died in China and more than 200 are infected.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Millions under lockdown
China places Wuhan on quarantine on January 23 in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. Transportation is suspended and workers attempt to quickly build a new hospital to treat infected patients, which total over 830 by January 24, as the death toll climbs to 26. Officials eventually extend the lockdown to 13 other cities, affecting at least 36 million people.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
A global health emergency?
More and more cases are confirmed outside of China, including in South Korea, the US, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. As the number of infections rises, the World Health Organization on January 23 determines that it's 'too early' to declare a global public health emergency.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Coronavirus reaches Europe
On January 24, French authorities confirm three cases of the new coronavirus within its borders, marking the disease's first appearance in Europe. Hours later, Australia confirms four people have been infected with the respiratory virus.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Lunar New Year holiday extended
The Chinese Lunar New Year begins with subdued festivities on January 25. Officials cancel many major events in a bid to contain the outbreak, as millions of Chinese travel and take part in public celebrations. By late January, 17 Chinese cities, home to more than 50 million people, are in lockdown. Lunar New Year holidays are extended by three days to limit population flows.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Borders with Mongolia, Hong Kong, eastern Russia close
Cambodia confirms its first case, while Mongolia shuts its border with China for cars and Russia closes its borders in three regions in the Far East. The cost to global tourism is put in the billions and oil prices also plummet. The death toll rises to 41, with over 1,300 infected worldwide — mostly in China. Scientists hope to have the first coronavirus vaccines ready within three months.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Germany braces for virus
On January 27, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says Germany is considering evacuating German nationals from Wuhan. There are no reported cases in Germany yet but officials are preparing to fight the virus. German researchers in Marburg are part of international efforts to work on a possible vaccine for the coronavirus. The death toll in China reaches 81, with 2,700 affected worldwide.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
First cases confirmed in Germany
On January 27, Germany announces its first known case of the virus — a 33-year-old in Bavaria who contracted it during a workplace training with a visiting Chinese colleague. He is put under quarantine and observation at a Munich hospital. The following day, three of his colleagues are confirmed infected. The death toll in China reaches 132, with around 6,000 infected worldwide.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
International evacuations begin
On January 28, Japan and the US are the first countries to evacuate some of their citizens from Wuhan. Four of the Japanese passengers are taken to the hospital with fevers on arrival. Australia and New Zealand say they will also send planes to bring their citizens home. Global cases mount to nearly 6,000 infections, more than the 2002-03 SARS outbreak that killed roughly 800 people.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
WHO declares global health emergency
On January 30, the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) declares coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern in a bid to protect countries with 'weaker health systems.' However, WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus does not recommend trade and travel restrictions, saying these would be 'an unnecessary disruption.'
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
First death outside China
The first death linked to the novel coronavirus outside of China is reported in the Philippines on February 2. A 44-year-old Chinese man had traveled from Wuhan to Manila before falling ill and being taken to hospital, where he later died of pneumonia.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Bad ending to a cruise
Also on February 3, the cruise ship Diamond Princess is quarantined off Yokohama in Japan after cases of the new coronavirus were found on board. As of February 17, the number of people infected has grown to more than 450, the largest cluster of cases outside of China. Several of the 3,700 passengers and crew onboard the ship are being or have been flown back to their home countries.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
New methodology, new statistic
On February 13, China's Hubei province registers the highest-ever one-day total of infections. This comes, however, after authorities announced that they had begun including people diagnosed using new clinical methods — CT scans for lung infections instead of the previous nucleic acid tests — in official statistics.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
'Cult-like' South Korean church linked to outbreak
South Korea experiences a surge in coronavirus cases, now designated COVID-19 by the WHO, with their first death on February 21. Fingers are pointed at the 'cult-like' Shincheonji Church. Half of the cases in South Korea are linked to the group. Thousands of worshipers spread the virus during services. On March 2, authorities announce they would investigate the church’s leader.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Italy under quarantine
Cases in Italy rise dramatically, with 77 deaths and thousands of confirmed cases by March 3. Many countries instigate travel restrictions to northern Italy and tourist numbers plummet. On March 8, the Italian government put the entire Lombardy region into quarantine, affecting 16 million people. March 10 sees 168 fatalities in Italy, the highest in a single day.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Economic woes
European and US stock markets slump on March 6, leading to the worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. The effect on global business has been significant, with many companies reporting losses and the tourism industry and airlines badly hit. The EU pledge €7.5 billion ($8.4 billion) on March 10 in an investment fund to try to stop the Eurozone falling into a recession.
Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19
Pandemic: Merkel warns 70% of Germans could be infected
As worldwide cases top 127,000 and deaths pass 4,700, the World Health Organization designated the global outbreak as a 'pandemic' on March 11. US President Donald Trump announces a travel restriction on people coming from the Schengen Zone in Europe, annoying the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that Germany 70% of the population could get the virus. Four Germans are now dead.
Praise for China
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized that China faces a national health emergency, but stopped short of declaring the outbreak a global health emergency.
Officials fear the coronavirus outbreak could mirror that of the SARS pandemic, a respiratory virus that originated in China in 2002 and spread quickly, eventually infecting some 8,000 individuals worldwide and killing 800.
At the time, China faced criticism of having covered up the initial situation surrounding the SARS virus. In contrast, health officials have recently praised China for its transparency over the coronavirus.
Read more: SARS remembered — how a deadly respiratory virus hit Asian economies
WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, after an emergency meeting on Thursday thanked Beijing for its 'cooperation and transparency' and approved of the measures China was taking to try and contain further transmission of the virus.
Following a second confirmed case of the virus in the US, President Donald Trump on Twitter thanked the Chinese president for the country's response.
Germany's health minister, Jens Spahn, also approved of China's response to the coronavirus outbreak. In an interview with Bloomberg TV in Davos, Spahn said, 'There's a big difference to SARS. We have a much more transparent China. The action of China is much more effective in the first days already.'
Spahn also highlighted international cooperation and communication pertaining to the coronavirus, and said that Germany's center for disease control was checking the situation daily.
ed, mm, cmb/stb (EFE, AFP, dpa)
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Better than nothing
It has not been proven that the face masks seen above can effectively protect you against viral infections. That said, these masks are probably able to catch some germs before they reach your mouth or nose. More importantly, they prevent people from touching their mouth or nose (which most people do instinctually). If you are already sick, such masks may keep you from infecting others.
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Disinfect your hands
In its list of recommendations onhow to protect yourself from getting infected, the World Health Organisation does not mention face masks. At the top is frequently cleaning your hands. The WHO recommends alcohol-based hand rub, like the ones seen here in a hospital.
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Soap and water will do as well
The more simple day-to-day solution is water and soap, if you've got some handy. But make sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Coughing and sneezing - but doing it right!
So here's what the doctors recommend: When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your flexed elbow. Or use tissue — but then immediately throw that tissue away and wash your hands. With your shirt or sweater, however, no, you don't need to throw them away. Do wash them frequently, though, or take them to the dry cleaner's.
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Stay away!
Another recommendation that may not work for everybody: Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough! If you have to tend to sick people, make doubly sure to take additional protective measures.
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Got Fever? Go to the doctor, not on a trip!
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Avoid public places so you don't infect others. And also, explain to your doctor where you've previously traveled.
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Avoid contact!
When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of the novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals. That includes any surfaces that are in contact with animals as well.
How to protect yourself against the coronavirus
Well done — not rare!
Cook meat thoroughly. The consumption of raw, or undercooked, animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods. These are good food safety practices and help prevent the spread of illnesses.
DW recommends
Audios and videos on the topic
- Date24.01.2020
- Related SubjectsEurope, France, Coronavirus
- Keywordscoronavirus,France,Europe,global health
- Feedback: Send us your feedback.
- PrintPrint this page
- Permalinkhttps://p.dw.com/p/3WnNl
Alternative TitlesJapanese: BIOHAZARD 3 LAST ESCAPE InformationVolumes: 26 Status: Finished Genres:Action, Drama, Horror Serialization: None StatisticsScore: N/A1(scored by - users) Ranked: #02 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Members: 0 |
|