'First British national confirmed with disease 'travelled back from Singapore' – as it happened' diff viewer (0/1)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on February 06, 2020 02:00 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

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~~Coronavirus live updates: China deaths pass 560 amid warnings of 'severe' hospital bed shortage – latest news~~	Coronavirus live updates: China deaths pass 560 as 10 more cruise passengers test positive – latest news
2020-02-06 02:00:43 UTC	2020-02-06 02:32:16 UTC (32 minutes later)
~~Wuhan authorities ~~also~~ warn of lack of ‘equipment and materials’ and consider converting hotels and schools into treatment centres. Follow live updates~~	Wuhan authorities warn of lack of ‘equipment and materials’ and consider converting hotels and schools into treatment centres. Follow live updates
	Virgin Australia has announced it will cease flights from Australia to Hong Kong because the route was “no longer a commercially viable”
	Sydney-Hong Kong flights will stop on 2 March. In November, the airline announced the Melbourne-Hong Kong route would stop on 11 February.
	The airline said growing uncertainty over the coronavirus outbreak and the decline due to civil unrest associated with the pro-democracy protests had prompted the move.
	Virgin Australia Group chief commercial officer, John MacLeod said: “Hong Kong has continued to be a challenging market. With a decline in demand following ongoing civil unrest, and growing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in the wider region, we have made the decision to withdraw services.
	“While the decision to withdraw from the Hong Kong market has been a difficult one, it demonstrates our strong focus on driving greater financial discipline through our network.
	“Current circumstances demonstrate that Hong Kong is no longer a commercially viable route for Virgin Australia to continue operating, however international tourism remains an important part of our strategy through our other international routes and partner airlines,” MacLeod said.
	Still in Australia, and the prime minister, Scott Morrison has said a further 36 citizens and residents who left Wuhan on the Air New Zealand flight have now been transferred to Christmas Island, where other Australian evacuees from Wuhan are being held in quarantine for 14 days.
	You can read our full report on evacuees on Christmas Island below.
	Australia’s universities are going to come under financial pressure in coming weeks when classes start but Chinese students are unable to attend due to the coronavirus crisis, ratings agency S&P says.
	Students from mainland China are about 38% of tertiary enrolments, S&P says.
	International students are worth $11.3bn a year in fees, so that puts as much as $4.3bn in revenue at risk.
	S&P says universities can’t easily cut costs, such as staff wages and building maintenance, to offset the potential revenue plunge.
	“The health crisis underscores the risks that stem from the sector’s growing dependence on the lucrative international market, which has flourished against a backdrop of stagnant government funding and heavy investment in the pursuit of higher rankings,” the agency said.
	S&P also says German carmaker Volkswagen stands to take the biggest hit from factory shutdowns in Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, because it makes almost 40% of its cars and components in China.
	“While the Chinese market maintains its long-term attraction for most global auto manufacturers and suppliers, recent developments may contribute to turning 2020 into an ever more challenging year for global automakers and suppliers than we originally expected,” analyst Vittoria Ferraris said.
One Guardian reader in Shandong province, who is a teacher, has got in touch with me to say there’s confusion among UK citizens there about the British foreign office’s advice to leave China if they can. “My main hesitation with leaving China is I feel I would be more likely to contract the virus whilst in transit to the UK than if I stay in my apartment and wait for things to calm down here.	One Guardian reader in Shandong province, who is a teacher, has got in touch with me to say there’s confusion among UK citizens there about the British foreign office’s advice to leave China if they can. “My main hesitation with leaving China is I feel I would be more likely to contract the virus whilst in transit to the UK than if I stay in my apartment and wait for things to calm down here.
“My school is closed until at least the 17th of February (our classes have moved online) and I leave the apartment only for supplies and some exercise / fresh air. Whereas travelling to the UK would mean having to go on a train, tube and through at least two airports,” she says.	“My school is closed until at least the 17th of February (our classes have moved online) and I leave the apartment only for supplies and some exercise / fresh air. Whereas travelling to the UK would mean having to go on a train, tube and through at least two airports,” she says.
The 10 newly diagnosed Diamond Princess passengers include four Japanese nationals, the health ministry said on Thursday morning. The nationalities of the other six were not immediately available. The 10 patients comprise five people in their 70s, four in their 60s and one in his or her 50s, the ministry said.	The 10 newly diagnosed Diamond Princess passengers include four Japanese nationals, the health ministry said on Thursday morning. The nationalities of the other six were not immediately available. The 10 patients comprise five people in their 70s, four in their 60s and one in his or her 50s, the ministry said.
Shares have risen strongly again on Asian markets where there appears to be more confidence – helped by another strong day on Wall Street – that the economic impact of the new coronavirus will not be too damaging.	Shares have risen strongly again on Asian markets where there appears to be more confidence – helped by another strong day on Wall Street – that the economic impact of the new coronavirus will not be too damaging.
The ASX200 is up 0.55% in Sydney, the Nikkei has surged 1.6% in Tokyo and Seoul has gained 1.27%. Brent crude rose $1.32 yesterday to $55.28 a barrel.	The ASX200 is up 0.55% in Sydney, the Nikkei has surged 1.6% in Tokyo and Seoul has gained 1.27%. Brent crude rose $1.32 yesterday to $55.28 a barrel.
On the other side of the ledger, there is more evidence of how companies are being affected by the spread of the virus.	On the other side of the ledger, there is more evidence of how companies are being affected by the spread of the virus.
Cathay Pacific has asked its entire workforce of 27,000 to take up to three weeks of unpaid leave. it said on Tuesday that it was cutting 30% of its capacity in the coming weeks.	Cathay Pacific has asked its entire workforce of 27,000 to take up to three weeks of unpaid leave. it said on Tuesday that it was cutting 30% of its capacity in the coming weeks.
Adidas has announced that it is shutting a “significant” number of its 500 stores in China.	Adidas has announced that it is shutting a “significant” number of its 500 stores in China.
Foxconn, which manufactures the Apple iPhone, said it had applied to the Chinese authorities to restart operations at factories in China next week but it could take one to two weeks from then to resume full production due to the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reported, quoting a source with knowledge of the matter. However, a full resumption was not possible until late February due to various travel restrictions imposed to curb the virus.	Foxconn, which manufactures the Apple iPhone, said it had applied to the Chinese authorities to restart operations at factories in China next week but it could take one to two weeks from then to resume full production due to the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reported, quoting a source with knowledge of the matter. However, a full resumption was not possible until late February due to various travel restrictions imposed to curb the virus.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has just interviewed an Australian passenger on the stranded Diamond Princess cruise liner in Yokohama, where 10 more people were diagnosed with coronavirus on the ship (in addition to 10 diagnosed on Wednesday).	The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has just interviewed an Australian passenger on the stranded Diamond Princess cruise liner in Yokohama, where 10 more people were diagnosed with coronavirus on the ship (in addition to 10 diagnosed on Wednesday).
Vera Koslova said frustration amongst passengers was rising: “There’s been no announcements made as yet by the captain to let us know that there has been more cases.”	Vera Koslova said frustration amongst passengers was rising: “There’s been no announcements made as yet by the captain to let us know that there has been more cases.”
“I’m quite patient and have a very positive attitude and know that the Australian government is trying to do everything possible as well as Japan. But, um, just getting a just a little bit more nervous now,” she said.	“I’m quite patient and have a very positive attitude and know that the Australian government is trying to do everything possible as well as Japan. But, um, just getting a just a little bit more nervous now,” she said.
Qantas says it’s suspended a union delegate for telling employees it’s not safe to work on flights from China amid the coronavirus outbreak, Australian Associated Press reports (below).	Qantas says it’s suspended a union delegate for telling employees it’s not safe to work on flights from China amid the coronavirus outbreak, Australian Associated Press reports (below).
Just back to the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Yokohama ... the Guardian’s Justin McCurry in Tokyo says health officials now have the results of 102 tests conducted on 273 passengers. A total of twenty were positive. He says the second group of patients found to have been infected will be taken to hospitals in Kanagawa prefecture, where Yokohama is located, according to the health ministry.	Just back to the stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Yokohama ... the Guardian’s Justin McCurry in Tokyo says health officials now have the results of 102 tests conducted on 273 passengers. A total of twenty were positive. He says the second group of patients found to have been infected will be taken to hospitals in Kanagawa prefecture, where Yokohama is located, according to the health ministry.
Just while we are on Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific announced on Wednesday that all 27,000 employees would be asked to take three weeks of unpaid leave over the coming months. The CEO, Augustus Tang, said the airline was facing a crisis in the wake of the virus outbreak.	Just while we are on Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific announced on Wednesday that all 27,000 employees would be asked to take three weeks of unpaid leave over the coming months. The CEO, Augustus Tang, said the airline was facing a crisis in the wake of the virus outbreak.
“I am hoping all of you will participate, from our frontline employees to our senior leaders, and share in our current challenges,” Tang said in a video message posted online.	“I am hoping all of you will participate, from our frontline employees to our senior leaders, and share in our current challenges,” Tang said in a video message posted online.
Months of pro-democracy protests, including sit-ins at Hong Kong’s international airport, had already taken a toll on the airline.	Months of pro-democracy protests, including sit-ins at Hong Kong’s international airport, had already taken a toll on the airline.
In his video message to employees, Tang warned Cathay was experiencing “one of the most difficult Chinese New Year holidays we have ever had” because of the virus.	In his video message to employees, Tang warned Cathay was experiencing “one of the most difficult Chinese New Year holidays we have ever had” because of the virus.
“And we don’t know how long it will last,” he added. “With such an uncertain outlook, preserving our cash is now the key to protecting our business.”	“And we don’t know how long it will last,” he added. “With such an uncertain outlook, preserving our cash is now the key to protecting our business.”
He also warned that further steps may need to be taken. The airline has already reduced its flights to the Chinese mainland by 90%.	He also warned that further steps may need to be taken. The airline has already reduced its flights to the Chinese mainland by 90%.
This week United Airlines announced it was suspending all flights to Hong Kong from 8-20 February, days after it cut its flights to mainland China. American airlines also announced it was suspending its flights to Hong Kong form Dallas/Fort Worth and and Los Angeles until 20 February.	This week United Airlines announced it was suspending all flights to Hong Kong from 8-20 February, days after it cut its flights to mainland China. American airlines also announced it was suspending its flights to Hong Kong form Dallas/Fort Worth and and Los Angeles until 20 February.
Given the speed at which this story is moving, keeping track of global figures for the virus is quite a challenge.	Given the speed at which this story is moving, keeping track of global figures for the virus is quite a challenge.