ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Coronavirus: Hong Kong to slash border travel as virus spreads
January 28, 2020 23H:16 GMT/ZULU
Related Topics
Image copyright
REUTERS
Image caption
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam wore a face mask to speak to the media
by Xian Wan and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Analysts, Hong Kong
Hong Kong has announced plans to slash cross-border travel between the city and mainland China as the new coronavirus continues to spread.
More than 100 people have now died in China, with confirmed infections surging to more than 4,500.
High-speed trains and ferries that cross the border will be suspended from Thursday, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced. She wore a face mask.
The virus has spread across China and to at least 16 countries globally.
On Monday, Germany and Japan confirmed that they had cases involving people who had not travelled to China but caught the virus from someone who had.
This had previously been seen only in Vietnam, which borders China and where someone was infected by his father who had travelled from Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the outbreak.
- Cries of 'stay strong' heard from Wuhan windows
- Britons in China call for more UK coronavirus help
- Coronavirus: How worried should we be?
Several foreign governments with large numbers of citizens in Wuhan are planning air evacuations.
Wuhan, as well as the wider Hubei province, are already effectively in a lockdown with strict transport restrictions in and out of the area. Wearing masks in public is now mandatory in some Chinese cities.
On Monday, authorities in Beijing confirmed that a 50-year-old man had died - the first fatality in the Chinese capital.
WHAT'S HONG KONG'S PLAN?
Carrie Lam announced Hong Kong's new strategy to tackle the virus on Tuesday.
In addition to suspending train and ferry services, flights to mainland China will be halved. People will also no longer be able to receive permits to visit Hong Kong from the mainland.
A hospital workers union had threatened to go on strike unless the government heeded a list of demands, which included tightening the border with the mainland.
The city of seven million - a major financial centre - is part of China but retains significant autonomy.
Tens of millions of people visit from mainland China every year but numbers were down in 2019 because of the pro-democracy protests that rocked the city.
"The flow of people between the two places needs to be drastically reduced" amid the outbreak, said Ms Lam.
Analysts say restricting travel from the mainland to Hong Kong - a major international hub - could help limit the spread of the new coronavirus to other countries.
Media caption
"Wuhan, add oil!": Watch residents shouting to boost morale in quarantined city
WHAT'S THE LATEST ELSEWHERE IN CHINA?
The new coronavirus is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan.
The number of total cases confirmed by China rose to 4,515 as of 27 January, up from 2,835 a day earlier.
Most of the deaths have been in Hubei province. The initial victims were mostly elderly people or those with pre-existing respiratory problems, but few details have been released about the dozens of deaths confirmed in recent days.
On Tuesday, China agreed for WHO to send international experts to the country as soon as possible to help understand the virus and guide global response efforts.
Image copyright
AFP
Image caption
The new coronavirus causes severe acute respiratory infection
In another development, a Beijing hospital built in seven days in 2003 to accommodate patients with symptoms of the Sars virus is being refurbished for the coronavirus outbreak, the South China Morning Post reported.
Construction and medical workers have been stationed at Xiaotangshan Hospital on the northern outskirts of the capital for several days, it quoted local sources as saying.
About 4,000 people worked on the building in 2003, reportedly breaking the world record for the fastest construction of a hospital.
A similar hospital is currently being built in Wuhan, with officials hoping to have it finished in six days.
Image copyright
GETTY IMAGES
Image caption
Construction of the new hospital in Wuhan is taking place at breakneck speed
FEARS GROW OVER HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION
The news of more human-to-human cases of the new coronavirus will add to fears about how far this outbreak might spread.
These latest cases in Japan and Germany suggest that anyone coming into close contact with another infected person could catch it.
It's thought people with symptoms, such as a cough and fever, will be the most contagious.
But experts haven't ruled out that people with no obvious signs of infection could also pose a risk. And it can take more than a week for a person to develop symptoms.
The advice is to avoid close contact with people who are infected - that means keeping enough distance to avoid breathing air or touching surfaces contaminated with respiratory droplets from others carrying and shedding the virus.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION INTERNATIONALLY?
According to the World Health Organization and national authorities, there have been more than 50 confirmed cases outside China - but no deaths.
- Fourteen cases: Thailand
- Six: Japan
- Five: USA, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan
- Four: Malaysia, South Korea, France, Germany
- Two: Vietnam
- One: Nepal, Canada, Cambodia, Sri Lanka
Three further cases were confirmed in Germany on Tuesday. In Paris, an elderly Chinese tourist is in a serious condition, health director general Jerome Salomon told reporters. Authorities are attempting to find out how many people have been in contact with him.
In Japan, authorities said a bus driver caught the virus after transporting tour groups from Wuhan earlier this month.
Although the emergence of such cases is "not too surprising", the German case is particularly worrying, said Prof Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia.
"Because if the Chinese woman was indeed asymptomatic at the time of the training session it would confirm reports of spread before symptoms develop - making standard control strategies less effective."
Like many countries, the United States has urged its nationals to "reconsider travel" to China. The country plans to fly consular staff and US citizens out of Wuhan in the coming days.
Media caption
Road blocks and ghost towns: Inside the province where the virus originated
Japan is expecting to evacuate about 200 nationals on a chartered plane on Wednesday, with health workers on board to monitor passengers.
The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it would start helping to repatriate Europeans. There will be two flights from Wuhan to Europe, the first on Wednesday and the second later on in the week.
- China coronavirus: A visual guide
- Has China learned lessons since deadly Sars epidemic??
- Coronavirus: Facebook tells staff to avoid China
About 250 French citizens will be on the first flight and more than 100 citizens of other EU countries will be on the second, the Commission said.
France, India and South Korea have also said they plan to airlift citizens out of Wuhan.
The UK is yet to make a similar decision but has urged Britons to leave the area if they can - however this has upset some living in Hubei who complain they are trapped.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW VIRUS
Image copyright
GETTY
- Your questions: You asked, we answered
- The story explained: How worried should we be?
- Wuhan profiled: The city now in lockdown
- In detail: Follow all our coverage here
Media caption
What are viruses? And how do they spread?
RELATED TOPICS
SHARE THIS STORY ABOUT SHARING
- Workers told: 'Stay at home'
- 27 January 2020
- How worried should we be?
- 27 January 2020
- Virus 'spreads before symptoms'
- 26 January 2020
- Coronavirus: Facebook staff told to avoid China travel
- 28 January 2020
- Has China learned lessons?
- 24 January 2020
- The city where virus began
- 23 January 2020
- How do you quarantine a city?
- 23 January 2020
CHINA
Death toll from China virus outbreak passes 100
- 28 January 2020
- From the section
- China
Full article Death toll from China virus outbreak passes 100
Huawei set for limited role in UK 5G networks
- 28 January 2020
- From the section
- Technology
Full article Huawei set for limited role in UK 5G networks
Wuhan people cry out 'stay strong' from windows
- 28 January 2020
- From the section
- China
Full article Wuhan people cry out 'stay strong' from windows
More Videos from the BBC
- Is this the world's most dangerous island?
- The surprising psychology behind being rich
- The remote visa-free island at the top of the world
- Too wild to be a pet, too domestic for a zoo
- Students refuse to walk over US and Israeli flags
- Building collapse misses pedestrians by seconds
Elsewhere on BBC
- BBC.com
- The behind the scenes story. Huawei uncovered.
- BBC News
- 'I left a house party and got crushed under a car'
- BBC News
- Car stolen from house using wireless technology
You Might Also Like
- BBC Future
- How a vegan diet could affect your intelligence
- BBC Future
- Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property
- BBC Future
- The medications that change who we are
Posted by Biodun Iginla at 1:19 PM Email This
Labels: bbc news, china, coronavirus, hong kong, Xian Wan and Biodun Iginla
No comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
POPULAR POSTS
- Mexican troops kill 'El Chapo' family security chief
- 28 February 2018 - 03H20 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, France24, Mexico City in Share ? ...
- 'Difficult' fight for Hezbollah on Lebanon-Syria border
- 26 July 2017 - 22H55 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Nasra Ismail and Biodun Iginla, France24, JURUD ARSAL (LEBANON) in Share ...
- Analysis: Jacob Zuma resigns
- by Susan Peterson and Biodun Iginla, Political News Analysts, The Economist Intelligence Unit, Johannesburg The disastrous legacy of Sou...
- Italy election: Polls open in unpredictable contest
- March 4, 2018 08H:12 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger Share...
- BREAKING: Interpol chief Meng Hongwei vanishes on trip to China
- October 6, 2018 09H:04 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Messenger Share this with Twitter Sha...
- Julian Assange: Warrant for his arrest upheld by court
- 11H:37 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME 14 February 2018 Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger...
- Dagestan church shooting leaves five dead in Kizlyar
- February 18, 2018 20H:11 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger S...
- Facebook steps up facial recognition use
- December 20, 2017 15H:35 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger S...
- Brazilian inmates riot, take hostages in Rio de Janeiro prison
- February 19, 2018 00H:40 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Enrique Krause and Biodun Iginla, BBC News and Reuters, SAO PAULO SAO PAULO - Inmates...
- Fun facts about this year's Oscar nominees
- 04 March 2018 - 08H16 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME by Tamara Kachelmeier and Biodun Iginla, France24 Entertainment reporters, HOLLYWOOD (UNITED STAT...
FOLLOWERS
BLOG ARCHIVE
- â–¼ 2020 (103)
- â–¼ January (103)
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Coronavirus: Hong Kong to s...
- ANALYSIS: Coronavirus: Death toll climbs to 106 as...
- ANALYSIS: Accuser says Weinstein sexually assaulte...
- ANALYSIS: Calls grow for Bolton impeachment testim...
- ANALYSIS: Coronavirus: Death toll rises to 80 as C...
- BREAKING: Ex-basketball star Kobe Bryant, four oth...
- ANALYSIS: Clinton takes aim at Trump as she brings...
- ANALYSIS: China coronavirus 'spreads before sympto...
- ANALYSIS: Key vote in Italy as Salvini seeks to to...
- ANALYSIS: China coronavirus spread is accelerating...
- ANALYSIS: Protesters hit Beirut streets to mark 10...
- BREAKING: France confirms first three cases of Wuh...
- ANALYSIS: China coronavirus: Death toll rises as d...
- ANALYSIS: China coronavirus: Lunar New Year subdue...
- ANALYSIS: Trump impeachment trial: What happened s...
- ANALYSIS: China coronavirus: Death toll rises as m...
- ANALYSIS: Soros pledges $1bn to battle 'would-be a...
- ANALYSIS: More Chinese cities on lock down, New Ye...
- ANALYSIS: Impeachment: Democrats reject witness sw...
- ANALYSIS: Coronavirus: Wuhan to shut public transp...
- ANALYSIS: The strange impeachment trial of Donald ...
- ANALYSIS: Trump says he plans to expand US travel ...
- ANALYSIS: America’s census: Out for the count
- ANALYSIS: New China virus: US announces first case...
- UPDATE: Christian magazine editor quits in row ove...
- ANALYSIS: France apology after history textbook li...
- ANALYSIS: China's zero-waste activists fight overc...
- ANALYSIS: Isabel dos Santos: Africa's richest woma...
- ANALYSIS AND UPDATE: New China virus: Fourth perso...
- ANALYSIS: Donald Trump’s impeachment trial
- BREAKING: Hundreds of US-bound migrants cross rive...
- ANALYSIS: Sri Lanka: 'Too many twins' hinder world...
- ANALYSIS: Pyrenees glaciers 'doomed', experts warn...
- BREAKING: Brexit: UK rules out Gibraltar-EU travel...
- BREAKING: U.S.-bound migrant caravan in tense stan...
- ANALYSIS: Chinese travellers unfazed as SARS-like ...
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: New China virus: Number of ...
- BREAKING: Paraguay investigates mass prison escape...
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Trump impeachment: Legal te...
- BREAKING: Virginia's top House Republican warns "w...
- ANALYSIS: China says 17 new cases in virus outbrea...
- ANALYSIS: SpaceX to simulate astronaut ejection in...
- ANALYSIS: Who are Harry and Meghan?
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Harry and Meghan lose fundi...
- ANALYSIS: Harry and Meghan: The big question Canad...
- ANALYSIS: Experts warn over scale of China virus a...
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Wuhan pneumonia outbreak: F...
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: China's economic growth hit...
- ANALYSIS: The horrible housing blunder
- ANALYSIS: #MeToo gave women a voice but solutions ...
- Angola's Isabel dos Santos says run for president ...
- ANALYSIS: New obstacles ahead in China's pollution...
- ANALYSIS: In Seychelles, nature is prized above ma...
- ANALYSIS: Trump 'knew exactly what was going on', ...
- ANALYSIS: Fears for planet dominate as leaders pac...
- Amazon tribes gather to plan resistance to Brazil ...
- Delta flight dumps fuel on California school playg...
- ANALYSIS: Fashionistas grit their teeth and take t...
- ANALYSIS: Iranian clerics: Regime on edge
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Iran nuclear deal: European...
- ANALYSIS: A quick guide to the US-China trade war
- ANALYSIS: Assessing the Democratic field
- ANALYSIS: Harry and Meghan: Royals gather for talk...
- ANALYSIS: Taal volcano: Lava spews as 'hazardous e...
- Mexican president vows justice in visit to town sc...
- Iran plane downing: Pressure mounts on officials a...
- ANALYSIS: Libya conflict: GNA and Gen Haftar's LNA...
- ANALYSIS: Haiti remembers victims of 2010 quake as...
- BREAKING: Two US soldiers killed by Afghanistan ro...
- Iran plane crash: UK ambassador arrested in Tehran...
- ANALYSIS: Iran plane crash: Demands for justice af...
- ANALYSIS:Iran plane crash: Ukrainian jet was 'unin...
- ANALYSIS: Canada accuses Iran of downing a plane i...
- ANALYSIS: Iran plane crash: Evidence that missile ...
- California governor deploys trailers, tents, funds...
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: 'Megxit' trumps Brexit and ...
- BREAKING: Denied U.S. entry, Mexican cuts own thro...
- Bridal party, academics among Canadian victims of ...
- ANALYSIS: The US, Iran and Qasem Soleimani story e...
- ANALYSIS: Planes, trains and boxes: Carlos Ghosn's...
- BREAKING: Iran attack: US airbases in Iraq hit by ...
- ANALYSIS: Was America’s assassination of Qassem Su...
- ANALYSIS: Indigenous peoples key to saving threate...
- NASA planet hunter finds Earth-sized world in 'Gol...
- BREAKING: Thirty killed in northeast Nigeria bomb ...
- Netanyahu, in apparent stumble, calls Israel 'nucl...
- BREAKING: Weinstein sex crimes trial set to open i...
- ANALYSIS: Iran nuclear crisis in 300 words
- BREAKING: At least two rockets hit near US embassy...
- ANALYSIS: Iran rolls back nuclear deal commitments...
- ANALYSIS: US 'targeting' 52 Iranian sites if Tehra...
- ANALYSIS: Looking back at the legacy of Albert Cam...
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Qasem Soleimani: Bomb blast...
- ANALYSIS: US killing catapults Iraq back to afterm...
- ANALYSIS: US-Iran relations: A brief history
- ANALYSIS AND BREAKING: Qasem Soleimani: Iran vows ...
- BREAKING: Qasem Soleimani: Iran Quds force leader ...
- BREAKING: French citizen dies in custody of US imm...
- BREAKING: Australia fires: NSW declares week-long ...
- ANALYSIS: Study finds Google system could improve ...
- ? 2019 (880)
- ? 2018 (1455)
- ? 2017 (1396)
- ? 2016 (1402)
- ? 2015 (1710)
- ? 2014 (451)
- ? 2013 (215)
- ? 2012 (71)
- ? 2011 (233)
ABOUT ME
Biodun Iginla is a News Analyst for BBC News and a freelance writer and author who writes about politics and culture. He divides his time between Minneapolis, London, and Paris. He has also published 58 books, novels and nonfiction. Please see his books at amazon.com