Tag: china

Herbal remedies for the coronavirus spark debate in China

by Jing Xuan TENG BEIJING, China (AFP) — A claim by Chinese scientists that a liquid made with honeysuckle and flowering plants could help fight the deadly coronavirus has sparked frenzied buying of the traditional medicine, but doubts quickly emerged. As the death toll from the SARS-like pathogen sweeping the country continues to rise, shoppers have swamped pharmacies in search of “Shuanghuanglian”. The rush came after influential state media outlet Xinhua reported Friday that the […]

Hong Kong medics strike for China border closure over virus fears

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hundreds of Hong Kong medical workers walked off their jobs on Monday, demanding the city close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading — with frontline staff threatening to follow in the coming days. The financial hub has 15 confirmed cases of the disease, many of them brought over from the Chinese mainland where the epidemic began and has so far killed more than 360 people. The action […]

Thailand sees apparent success treating virus with drug cocktail

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — A Chinese woman infected with the new coronavirus showed a dramatic improvement after she was treated with a cocktail of anti-virals used to treat flu and HIV, Thailand’s health ministry said Sunday. The 71-year-old patient tested negative for the virus 48 hours after Thai doctors administered the combination, doctor Kriengsak Attipornwanich said during the ministry’s daily press briefing. “The lab result of positive on the coronavirus turned negative in 48 hours,” […]

Coronavirus: What we know about first death outside China

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines has reported the first death outside China in the virus epidemic that has killed more than 300 people and spread to 24 nations. The 44-year-old Chinese man who died in the Philippines was from Wuhan, the city that has been ground-zero for the epidemic. Here is what we know — and don’t know — about him: Where he visited The man and a 38-year-old Chinese woman also from Wuhan, […]

Virus deaths in China rise to 360, exceeding SARS mainland toll

by Helen Roxburgh and Beiyi Seow BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s death toll from the coronavirus epidemic soared to 360 on Monday, with deepening global concern about the outbreak and governments closing their borders to people from China. The fresh toll came a day after China imposed a lockdown on a major city far from the epicenter and the first fatality outside the country was reported in the Philippines. Authorities in Hubei, the province at […]

20 China evacuees in France showing coronavirus symptoms: health minister

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (AFP) — Around 20 of the 250 people flown back to France from China Sunday because of the coronavirus outbreak are presenting symptoms of the virus, the country’s health minister said. “About 20 people who presented symptoms have stayed on the tarmac” at Istres airport in the south of France, Agnes Buzyn told journalists. They included French and non-European nationals. Army medics there were carrying out tests to establish whether or not they […]

US military ready to house 1,000 for virus quarantine

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States military will provide accommodation for 1,000 people if they need to be quarantined because of the deadly novel coronavirus, the Department of Defense said. Several facilities each capable of housing at least 250 people in individual rooms will be made available until February 29, the department said in a statement. The US is one of a number of countries isolating citizens returning from the center of […]

Novel coronavirus fatalities reach 305 with first virus death outside China reported in PHL

  (Eagle News) — The number of confirmed deaths from the novel coronavirus rose to 305 on Sunday, Feb. 2 — 304 from China, and one in the Philippines, the first outside China where it originated. Total confirmed cases meanwhile rose to 14,599 — most of which are in China at 14,422. Additional confirmed cases were also reported in various countries, with Britain, Russia and Sweden confirming their first nCoV-2019 infections this weekend. With the […]

Apple closes China stores until Feb 9 due to virus

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Apple announced on Saturday the closure of its stores, corporate offices and contact centres in mainland China until February 9 due to the new coronavirus epidemic. The virus has prompted the government extend the Lunar New Year holiday through this weekend in a bid to contain its spread, but many provinces and cities have called on companies to delay their return to work. “Our thoughts are with the people most […]

Australia to refuse entry to non-citizens arriving from China

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — The Australian government on Saturday said it would bar non-citizens arriving from mainland China from entering the country under new measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said only “Australian citizens, Australian residents, dependents, legal guardians or spouses” would be permitted into the country from mainland China from Saturday. “The arrangements are being put in place through our border authorities to ensure that that […]

Public urged to report hospitals that refuse treatment to Chinese nationals, suspected 2019-nCoV cases

(Eagle News)–The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) on Saturday, Feb. 1, reminded medical institutions they should not refuse medical services and discriminate against Chinese nationals and patients suspected of the novel coronavirus. “Part ng aming commitment… you do not discriminate ang ating mga kalahi, ibang lahi.. Kasi ang ospital is for all people na nangangailangan ng tulong,” PHAPi president Dr. Rustico Jimenez said in an   interview over radio dzbb. Jimenez said these […]

US declares virus ’emergency,’ bans travelers from China

  by Issam AHMED Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US said Friday it was declaring a public health emergency and temporarily banning the entry of foreign nationals who had traveled to China over the past two weeks to contain the spread of a deadly new virus. Sweeping new restrictions will also be imposed on American citizens, with those returning from the province at the disease’s epicenter placed in facilities for mandatory […]