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As it happenedended

Coronavirus: Cases double globally every five days as UK invests in search for new vaccine

Britain has 50 specialist beds and 500 more potentially to isolate victims, says health secretary 

Jon Sharman,Jane Dalton
Monday 03 February 2020 16:59 GMT
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UK-wide Coronavirus information campaign launches

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A British man who flew home from China ​suffering from coronavirus-like symptoms is expecting to receive results within hours telling him whether he has the illness.

Anthony May-Smith, who was put into isolation after landing, said later he felt fine.

The total number of deaths from the epidemic in China has risen to 362, with new infections in China increasing by 2,829 on Sunday, bringing the total to 17,205.

At least another 171 cases – including two in Britain – have been reported in countries including Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Spain and Thailand.

The number of cases of the virus worldwide is doubling roughly every five days, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, revealed.

It came as Chinese scientists revealed they had uncovered fresh evidence that the novel coronavirus had originated in bats. 

Please see below for what was our live coverage.

Cruise passenger tests positive

A passenger on a cruise ship has tested positive for coronavirus after the vessel left Hong Kong on 25 January.

The ship returned to Yokohama carrying 3,000 passengers and crew members after making port calls in Vietnam, Taiwan and Okinawa.

A team of quarantine officials and medical went aboard on Monday night to checking all passengers and crew, a health ministry official said.

The official added that some people on the ship had developed coughs, fevers and other symptoms, though they were not yet linked to the virus. The passengers and crew members may be quarantined on the ship if the captain agrees to the move.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 14:28

A tidbit of information here from Chinese scientists, via state-run media.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 14:40

This tweet from the World Health Organisation demonstrates the scale of what's necessary to combat the outbreak.

Those items aren't heavy by themselves.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 14:51

Cybercrime fears

Hackers are leveraging the fears surrounding coronavirus in order to carry out cyber attacks on a massive scale, security researchers have warned, writes Anthony Cuthbertson.

Malware and email viruses that use coronavirus-themed lures to trick people have spread to over a dozen countries, according to security firm Proofpoint.

The company also observed that attackers are beginning to register URLs and create fake websites relating to coronavirus in order to carry out malicious activity.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 15:06

Yet more flights dropped

The UAE is suspending flights to mainland China, except Beijing.

It means Etihad Airways and Emirates - both long-haul carriers based in the country - will not serve most of China from Wednesday.

Those flying from Beijing will be subject "to a six-to-eight hour comprehensive medical screening at the airport to ensure the safety of passengers before boarding", the UAE's state-run news agency said.

There have been five confirmed coronavirus cases in the UAE.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 15:16

Man who fell ill on evacuation flight speaks out

The man who was separated from the second group of Wuhan evacuees has spoken out.

Anthony May-Smith is in hospital in Oxford after developing a cough and a sore throat on the flight back to the UK, and was separated from his group.

He told Sky News: "When we boarded the plane in France to come to the UK, the nurse asked if any of us had had any symptoms. I made myself known to her and she told me to sit away from anybody else on the flight.

"There were people with babies on the flight and I obviously just didn't want to be anywhere near them. I feel fine now, I think it's probably the stress of getting back and being run down more than anything. I'm waiting for the test results to come back tomorrow."

An aircraft repatriating British nationals to the UK from Wuhan arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire (PA) 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: "During the most recent repatriation flight one passenger developed mild, cold-like symptoms.

"Following the agreed protocol, this individual was further separated from others on the flight and after landing was taken by ambulance to a specialist NHS facility for further assessment.

"The remaining passengers remain symptom-free and have been taken to Arrowe Park. They will be kept entirely separate from the first group of British nationals to arrive."

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 15:30

The UN secretary-general has called on people to avoid discrimination following the outbreak of coronavirus.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 15:40

11 US cases

Health officials in California have reported three more cases of coronavirus in the state, bringing the total number of patients infected with the respiratory illness in the US to 11 as the virus death toll climbs to 362 worldwide and infections spread to more than 17,400 people in nearly two dozen countries, writes Alex Woodward.

On Sunday, the San Benito County Health Department reported a 57-year-old man who returned to the US after travelling to Wuhan, China had infected his wife. The couple have isolated themselves inside their home.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 15:50

Recoveries

The number of people who have recovered from coronavirus infections is greater than the number who have died, according to John Hopkins University.

The elite institution's tracking page says 530 people have recovered, compared to 362 who have died.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 15:56

Duterte calls for reasonable behaviour

Rodrigo Duterte, the outspoken and provocative leader of the Philippines, has urged citizens not to discriminate against Chinese people in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The disease has stoked a wave of anti-China sentiment around the globe, from shops barring entry to Chinese tourists, online mocking or the country's exotic meat trade and surprise health checks on foreign workers.

"China has been kind to us, we can only also show the same favour to them. Stop this xenophobia thing", Mr Duterte said in a news conference after meeting with agencies on the coronavirus, which claimed its first fatality in the Philippines on Saturday.

Jon Sharman3 February 2020 16:01

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