Hong Kong today confirmed its first death from the coronavirus – the first fatality not from the mainland – while Thailand dispatched a commercial flight this morning to evacuate about 150 citizens from the outbreak epicenter of Wuhan.
The coronavirus has now infected more than 20,000 people and killed at least 425 in China, according to that nation’s health agencies. The 39-year-old Hong Kong man who died in hospital this morning had traveled briefly to Wuhan late last month and took ill after returning home. He was the second to die outside of China; a Wuhan man died Sunday in the Philippines.
Chief executive Carrie Lam yesterday announced more border closures with China but fell short of sealing off the territory completely from the mainland, as demanded by thousands who had gone on strike.
A Thai AirAsia flight was scheduled to leave Don Mueang airport at 7:10am this morning and depart Wuhan with at least 144 students and workers at 4:40pm, local time.
Consumers are grappling with rising prices of protective face masks and hand sanitizer. A move to add the products to a state price control list will be proposed to the cabinet today. Once approved, sellers and manufacturers are required to declare to the government details including production costs and sale prices.
Those exporting more than 500 face masks would be required to obtain approval.
Malaysians stranded in Chinese cities under quarantine arrived back home this morning, while Thais are expected to return home from Wuhan this afternoon.
More than 200 Taiwanese landed Taoyuan International Airport just before midnight last night after they were airlifted from Wuhan. At the same time, Australians were flown out of the Chinese city and taken to Christmas Island for quarantine.
In Japan, a cruise ship carrying 3,500 people has been quarantined since Monday evening after a previous passenger tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong. The 80-year-old passenger had disembarked the vessel Jan. 25 in Hong Kong.
Malaysians being evacuated from Wuhan arrived home this morning and were sent for health checks at the airport. Those with symptoms were to be taken to the hospital while the rest were taken to a monitoring center.
The evacuees were transported aboard an AirAsia flight along with six embassy officials, 12 flight crew members and eight individuals from humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. The plane landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at nearly 6am. When it left for Wuhan on Monday afternoon, it carried 500,000 pairs of rubber gloves as a contribution to China.
None of those evacuated from Wuhan to Indonesia’s Natuna Islands has shown symptoms of the coronavirus but remain under monitoring, the government said yesterday.
A total of 243 people, including a foreign national and five Foreign Ministry officials, flew out of Wuhan on a Batik Air flight and landed at the Hang Nadim International Airport on Batam island before being transferred to the Raden Sadjad Air Force Base in Natuna on the same day.
The country remained free of known infections as of Tuesday morning.
Following news of a patient in Thailand showing signs of recovery after taking HIV and flu antivirals, Manila’s health minister said today the country will wait for further research findings.
Echoing the World Health Organization’s stand on the cocktail of drugs, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the treatment is only backed by anecdotal evidence and lacks a scientific basis.
Singapore’s Health Ministry yesterday advised dorm operators and landlords against evicting or imposing excessive restrictions on occupants who are on leaves of absence.
Singaporeans and long-term visa holders returning to the country after visiting mainland China have to quarantine themselves at homes for 14 days to reduce interaction with the public and prevent spread of the disease.
Those on self-quarantine and living in shared apartments are also advised to minimize contact with their housemates, such as having separate mealtimes, using separate utensils and cutlery and sleeping on separate beds.
The city-state has not announced any confirmed new cases in two days.
Organizers have also called off the Singapore Airshow aviation summit due to the outbreak.
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