Hundreds of Japanese and Americans have been flown out of Wuhan, China. Australia is to evacuate citizens to Christmas Island, where they will be quarantined.
British Airways is canceling all flights to mainland China with immediate effect due to the coronavirus. SAS, on the other hand, is flying as before.
Yesterday, the UK decided to advise against non-essential travel to mainland China.
However, the airline SAS, which has direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai, has no plans to cancel departures.
”"We are currently planning to fly according to our traffic program. We are of course following developments very closely and following the recommendations and instructions from the authorities regarding travel," says Freja Annamatz, press officer at SAS.
Indonesian Lion Air will stop its flights to and from China from February 1st.
The number of infected in China now has at least 5,974 cases. Another 1,459 cases have been confirmed in a day. The death toll is up to 132. In addition, 228 patients are in critical condition, the country's health authority said, according to CNN.
An American and a Japanese plane left Wuhan, the epicenter of the infection. The Japanese plane with more than 200 passengers landed in Tokyo. Passengers with symptoms are being taken to a special facility, while those without symptoms are being taken to other hospitals for examination.
Turkey will also evacuate citizens who are in Wuhan, the country's ambassador to China announced.
Japanese automaker Toyota is keeping its plants in China closed until at least February 9. The plants were supposed to reopen next week after the New Year holiday.
In Canberra, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces that Australians stuck in Wuhan will be taken to Christmas Island, 1,500 kilometers from the Australian mainland. Infants and the elderly will be prioritized. At least 400 people have contacted Australian authorities asking for help.
”"We have made a decision this morning to prepare a plan for an operation to provide some assistance with departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians in Wuhan and Hubei Province," Morrison said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The passengers will spend two weeks in quarantine on Christmas Island, supervised by medical personnel trained to work in disaster areas.
Chinese President Xi Jinping likened the virus to a demon when he met WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing on Tuesday. The two agreed to send international experts to China.
”"Stopping the spread of the virus both in China and globally is WHO's top priority," Tedros said, according to the AFP news agency.
Previously, all infections globally had been in or near Wuhan. But on Tuesday, Germany and Japan reported their first cases of human-to-human transmission outside China. A person in Vietnam was also reported to have been infected outside China.
In Germany, 40 people are to be tested after four people were infected. The four people at a company in Bavaria, at least one of whom was infected by a colleague from China who was visiting their workplace. The woman reportedly flew back to her home country on January 23 and only discovered symptoms on the way home. She lives in Shanghai, but was reportedly visited by her parents from Wuhan before traveling to Germany.
”"A total of around 40 employees at the company have been identified as potential close contacts. As a preventive measure, everyone involved will be tested on Wednesday," said Bavaria's Health Minister Melanie Huml in a statement.
The first confirmed cases in the Middle East have been reported in the United Arab Emirates, where a family has been affected by the disease. It is not known how many family members are involved.
Measures against the virus
Many countries and companies are taking measures to try to prevent a wider spread of the coronavirus. Here are some examples.
British Airways is today suspending all flights to and from Mainland China with immediate effect.
Finnair was on Tuesday the first European airline to take action due to the virus, by canceling some flights to China until the end of March.
Indonesian Lion Air will suspend its flights to and from China from February 1.
Russian Urals Airlines has canceled some flights to the European cities of Munich, Paris, Rome and Sapporo in Japan. The reason is that the departures are popular with Chinese tourist groups. The company has previously canceled flights to several Chinese destinations.
Russia has decided to continue to keep its border crossings with China in the east closed for a while longer.
Japanese automaker Toyota is keeping its plants in China closed until February 9.
Several Asian countries have introduced various forms of entry bans. Mongolia has closed its entire long border with China to both motor vehicles and pedestrians.
Several countries, including the United States, France and Australia, have decided to evacuate citizens who are in the closed city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began.
Source: TT, Reuters, AFP.
