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Coronavirus live updates: returning Britons arrive at Wirral for quarantine Coronavirus live updates: Thailand reports first human-to-human transmission
(about 2 hours later)
Cases also reported in Russia, as US advises against travel to ChinaCases also reported in Russia, as US advises against travel to China
The seventh case of coronavirus has been confirmed in California, CNBC reports.
The Santa Clara Public Health Department said an adult man tested positive for the new coronavirus, marking at least the seventh case in the US as the outbreak spreads across the globe.
The patient contracted the virus in Wuhan and has been isolated at home since, county officials said at a press conference Friday.
Spain’s National Centre for Microbiology has confirmed the country’s first case of coronavirus after a man was diagnosed with the virus on the remote island of La Gomera in the Canaries, the Health Ministry said late on Friday.
The patient is part of a group of five people taken into observation on the island and isolated after it was found they had come into contact with a German man diagnosed with the virus.
The death toll from coronavirus has jumped to 249 in China’s Hubei, Reuters is reporting.
The last figure we had was 213. More than 9,709 cases have been confirmed in mainland China so far.
Here’s a summary to get you up to speed:
Two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive for coronavirus. They are being treated in Newcastle.
The Foreign Office said it was ‘aware of frustrations’ of Brits who had wanted to leave Wuhan but proved unable to board the evacuation plane.
Michael Gove told Sky News the government would send another plane to Wuhan to evacuate British nationals if needed.
Russia has reported its first two cases of coronavirus. Russia’s deputy prime minister Tatiana Golikova told reporters the infected people were Chinese citizens who had been isolated.
The plane carrying 83 Britons to the UK from Wuhan in China landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and the evacuees were driven to a facility on the Wirral where they will stay in quarantine for the next 14 days.
Thailand has recorded its first human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus after a taxi driver was apparently infected by a traveller.
The Trump administration has declared a public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak. It has also announced it will temporarily bar entry to the US for people traveling from China.
A plan to evacuate Australians stranded in China is likely to go ahead over the weekend, the AAP news agency is reporting.
Here is an explainer about what coronavirus is:
Thailand has recorded its first human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus after a taxi driver was apparently infected by a traveller, heightening concern over the virus’s potential to spread across the globe.
The taxi driver was among five new patients confirmed on Friday in the worst-hit country outside China, bringing the total number of cases in Thailand to 19.
Read more on that here:
Here’s an interesting article about Wuhan, which gives an idea about how the city and its inhabitants have handled the crisis.
The Trump administration has declared a public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.
It has also announced it will temporarily bar entry to the US for people traveling from China unless they are Americans or immediately related to US citizens. The restrictions on travel begin on Sunday afternoon.
Robert R Redfield, director of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention said:
Read more here:
There is a press briefing going on at White House with members of the US taskforce. You can watch it here:There is a press briefing going on at White House with members of the US taskforce. You can watch it here:
Six buses were led by a police escort to the rear of the hospital and on to a side road leading to the accommodation block, PA media reports.Six buses were led by a police escort to the rear of the hospital and on to a side road leading to the accommodation block, PA media reports.
A medic wearing a white specialist suit was sat next to the coach driver of each vehicle.A medic wearing a white specialist suit was sat next to the coach driver of each vehicle.
The convoy, which also included a number of ambulances, then travelled out of sight.The convoy, which also included a number of ambulances, then travelled out of sight.
Patients disembarked from behind barriers covering the accommodation entrance but some could be seen inside wearing masks as they walked upstairs to their rooms for the next fortnight.Patients disembarked from behind barriers covering the accommodation entrance but some could be seen inside wearing masks as they walked upstairs to their rooms for the next fortnight.
Here are a few pictures of the evacuees arriving at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.Here are a few pictures of the evacuees arriving at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.
Buses carrying 83 Britons who returned to the UK from Wuhan on Friday morning have arrived at a facility on the Wirral.Buses carrying 83 Britons who returned to the UK from Wuhan on Friday morning have arrived at a facility on the Wirral.
The convoy travelled from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Arrowe Park Hospital, where the Britons will be quarantined for 14 days in NHS staff accommodation.The convoy travelled from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Arrowe Park Hospital, where the Britons will be quarantined for 14 days in NHS staff accommodation.
Here’s a bit more detail about the two people diagnosed with coronavirus following some reader questions via email.Here’s a bit more detail about the two people diagnosed with coronavirus following some reader questions via email.
They were taken ill at the StayCity apartment hotel in York on Wednesday and were later confirmed to be the first UK cases of the coronavirus.They were taken ill at the StayCity apartment hotel in York on Wednesday and were later confirmed to be the first UK cases of the coronavirus.
It is understood the two guests travelled to the UK from China recently. They are two members of the same family.It is understood the two guests travelled to the UK from China recently. They are two members of the same family.
They are undergoing treatment in Newcastle because it is a specialist Airborne High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID) centre.They are undergoing treatment in Newcastle because it is a specialist Airborne High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID) centre.
Public Health England (PHE), which is urgently trying to trace those who came into contact with the two people, said steps will be taken to reduce the risk to the public and it is “identifying the areas where there is deemed to be a risk”.Public Health England (PHE), which is urgently trying to trace those who came into contact with the two people, said steps will be taken to reduce the risk to the public and it is “identifying the areas where there is deemed to be a risk”.
A PHE spokeswoman said:A PHE spokeswoman said:
At the StayCity hotel on Friday, business carried on as usual, with guests continuing to check in for weekend breaks in York despite the firm confirming that two people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK had been staying there.At the StayCity hotel on Friday, business carried on as usual, with guests continuing to check in for weekend breaks in York despite the firm confirming that two people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK had been staying there.
Outside the hotel, two guests told the Guardian that as recently as Friday morning they had been told by reception staff the reports that two tourists had been taken ill from their apartment on Wednesday were “lies”.Outside the hotel, two guests told the Guardian that as recently as Friday morning they had been told by reception staff the reports that two tourists had been taken ill from their apartment on Wednesday were “lies”.
“This morning they said it was a lie and not to listen to it,” said Andy Neale, 21, who is staying at StayCity for the night with his girlfriend. “It’s not ideal. They should’ve taken some precaution.”“This morning they said it was a lie and not to listen to it,” said Andy Neale, 21, who is staying at StayCity for the night with his girlfriend. “It’s not ideal. They should’ve taken some precaution.”
He added that the incident had marred the couple’s getaway, saying: “My girlfriend is stressing out, she’s using hand wipes on everything.”He added that the incident had marred the couple’s getaway, saying: “My girlfriend is stressing out, she’s using hand wipes on everything.”
A family who were staying in the hotel on a visit from Asia to see their daughter, who is a student in York, said they had been told the cases were “false information” when they asked staff if reports were true.A family who were staying in the hotel on a visit from Asia to see their daughter, who is a student in York, said they had been told the cases were “false information” when they asked staff if reports were true.
Helen Papakosta, 15, from Greece, showed reporters a video she had taken on her phone of people in hazmat suits arriving at the hotel on Thursday morning – presumably to deep clean the suite where the affected guests had been staying.Helen Papakosta, 15, from Greece, showed reporters a video she had taken on her phone of people in hazmat suits arriving at the hotel on Thursday morning – presumably to deep clean the suite where the affected guests had been staying.
Although her mother, Chrisa Papakosta, 48, whom she had been staying at the hotel with, was unfazed by the event she was “concerned” by it.Although her mother, Chrisa Papakosta, 48, whom she had been staying at the hotel with, was unfazed by the event she was “concerned” by it.
A statement from StayCity, the chain that owns the hotel, read:A statement from StayCity, the chain that owns the hotel, read:
Following on from the earlier post about health officials urgently trying to trace anyone who came into contact with two people diagnosed with coronavirus, Public Health England have clarified the definition of close contact.Following on from the earlier post about health officials urgently trying to trace anyone who came into contact with two people diagnosed with coronavirus, Public Health England have clarified the definition of close contact.
A new statement defines close contact as coming within two metres of the infected person for 15 minutes.A new statement defines close contact as coming within two metres of the infected person for 15 minutes.
Earlier we reported that Sharon Peacock, the director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said:Earlier we reported that Sharon Peacock, the director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said:
Up to 35,000 passengers could be affected by the cancellation of flights to mainland China by UK airlines, PA Media reports:
British Airways announced on Wednesday it had grounded its daily flights connecting Heathrow with Beijing and Shanghai, after a change in government travel advice relating to the outbreak. It has cleared its schedules until at least the end of February.
Virgin Atlantic initially continued its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai, but on Thursday night it announced it will suspend the route for 14 days. Several Chinese carriers are running their usual schedule to UK airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
Global travel and data analytics firm Cirium calculated that the decision of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic to suspend flights has affected the travel plans of as many as 35,000 passengers.
Peter Morris, chief economist at Ascend by Cirium, said:
If you are feeling concerned about how coronavirus is spread, here’s a good explainer by my colleagues Hannah Devlin and Ellen Wishart.
Read more here:
This is Nicola Slawson taking over the live blog in London.
If you have any coronavirus-related information, tips, questions or stories that you think we should be covering, please do get in touch.
You can reach me via email at nicola.slawson@theguardian.com or via my Twitter profile, @Nicola_Slawson.
Lunar new year celebrations across the UK have been cancelled because of the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Events due to take place this weekend have been called off in Oxford, Cambridge, Colchester, Exeter, Manchester, Wigan and Bristol.
Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, said the decision to cancel the celebrations at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery had been made after discussions with the city’s Chinese community and in solidarity with those affected.
“Our deepest sympathies are with Chinese friends both at home and abroad who have been affected by coronavirus, and I want to extend my condolences to those who have lost loved ones,” he said.
The United States drew China’s wrath with a travel warning on Friday.
Russia, Britain, Sweden and Italy all reported their first cases, with Rome declaring its own national emergency as it sought to reconstruct the itinerary of two infected Chinese tourists.
“Do not travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan,” the US state department said, raising the warning for China to the same level as Afghanistan and Iraq.
Beijing, which has only just started to mend tattered trade ties with the US, called that move “truly mean” given the World Health Organization had commended its containment efforts and not recommended travel or trade curbs.
“The World Health Organization urged countries to avoid travel restrictions, but very soon after that, the United States did the opposite,” the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement. “It’s truly mean.”
Japan also advised citizens to put off non-urgent travel to China, while Bahrain recommended no travel to any country hit by the virus, and Iran and Mongolia urged a ban on all travellers from China.
Singapore, a major travel hub in Asia, stopped entry of passengers with a recent history of travel to China and also suspended visas for Chinese passport holders. The ban extends to those just transiting Singapore.
Just a quick update on numbers:
Just under 10,000 cases (9,692) have been confirmed by the Chinese authorities, with 213 people having died, all in China.
And cases have spread to more than 20 countries outside China, including England.
Modelling research published in the Lancet estimates that up to 75,800 individuals in Wuhan, the centre of the outbreak, may have been infected with the new coronavirus by 25 January.
The coach company that collected British passengers after they landed in the UK on a flight from Wuhan has said its vehicles will be “deep cleaned”.
At least seven coaches from Horseman Coaches Ltd were seen arriving at the Brize Norton RAF base in Oxfordshire at around 10am.
The drivers had agreed to take the job, a company spokesman said, and will be given paid leave to “remain at home for the next 10 days”.
The vehicles will also be removed from service for a minimum of 10 days after they are cleaned, the company said.
After several delays, the evacuation flight left Wuhan at 9.45am local time on Friday, carrying 83 Britons and 27 non-UK nationals, mostly from EU countries.
The Horseman Coaches spokesman told the PA news agency: “The Department for Health have procedures in place for the vehicles to be deep cleaned.
“That is part of the process of this undertaking, which will happen as soon as the vehicles are clear.”
He added: “I can give everybody assurance that everything will be cleansed sufficiently.”
On arrival in the UK the British passengers on the evacuation flight boarded the coaches and faced the more than three-hour drive to Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral for a quarantine period of 14 days, where they will be housed in an NHS staff accommodation block with access to the internet.
The Horseman Coaches spokesman declined to comment on whether or not the drivers would also have to be put in isolation, but this was later clarified.
A statement on the company’s Facebook page said it had been contacted by the British government on Thursday afternoon, adding: “As an extra precaution Horseman Coaches have decided to take, the drivers involved will take paid leave and remain at home for the next 10 days, and likewise after the cleansing of the vehicles, the vehicles will be removed from service for a minimum of 10 days.”
Health officials are urgently trying to trace those who came into contact with two people diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK.
Public Health England (PHE) confirmed that the two people taken ill had been staying in York when they became unwell.
The pair are being treated by Newcastle upon Tyne hospitals NHS foundation trust in its specialist Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease Centre (HCID). It is understood that they travelled to the UK from China recently.
Prof Sharon Peacock, director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said: “Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with the confirmed cases. The two cases were staying in York when they became unwell.
“Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed cases.
“This tried-and-tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.”
Earlier, Peacock said that while staff were working to trace people who had been in contact with the pair, they did not currently have “any idea” of how high that number might be.
On Wednesday night, the StayCity apartment-hotel in York was put on lockdown when some family members, believed to be Chinese nationals, were taken to hospital after falling ill.
The Guardian reporter Josh Halliday has been speaking with families living near the Merseyside hospital being used to quarantine potential coronavirus cases.
They have said they are concerned and confused as dozens of evacuated Britons were due to arrive at the NHS facility.
Some residents expressed concern about the proximity of the quarantine site to their homes and questioned whether the busy hospital would be able to cope with the additional pressure.
Del Willden, 53, said he had nothing but praise for hospital staff and was pleased the evacuees had returned safely from China. But he added: “My concern is for the hospital. This is my local hospital and I know and have experienced the struggles they suffer on a daily basis.”
Singapore has announced that it is closing its borders with China. The island nation banned Chinese visitors and other foreigners who had been to China in the past 14 days.
The visa suspension will come into effect immediately so travellers can be informed in advance, while the travel restriction will start at 11.59pm on Saturday. The government did not say when these restrictions would be lifted.
Singapore, which currently has 13 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, has China as one of its biggest trading partners and is a popular destination for Chinese tourists.
Previously, the government of Mongolia said on Friday that it would close its border with China until 2 March in an effort to prevent the virus from being imported.