by Sunghee Hwang SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Travel restrictions around the world on arrivals from virus-hit South Korea are plunging its Olympic preparations into turmoil, with some athletes considering self-imposed exile and some at risk of missing the Games altogether. South Korea is a country that takes the Olympics seriously, coming eighth in the medal table at Rio 2016 with nine golds, and fifth at London 2012 with 13. But it also has the […]
Tag: Virus
Asian markets plunge, yen and gold rally as virus fears mount
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian equities tumbled Friday as analysts warned the volatility that has characterized markets during the coronavirus crisis is likely to continue for some time. While governments and central banks have unleashed or prepare to roll out stimulus measures, the rapid spread of the disease and rising death toll are putting a greater strain on economies and stoking concerns of a worldwide recession. And with no end seemingly in sight — […]
DOH points to possible local transmission of COVID-19 after announcing fifth positive case in PHL
(Eagle News) – The persons confirmed to have the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines have now gone up to five after the positive test results on two additional cases, the fifth being a Filipino who had no travel history outside the country, the Department of Health announced on Friday, March 6. The latest development is significant because the fifth case, a 62-year old male Filipino who tested positive with COVID-19 on March 5, […]
Taiwanese nat’l who visited the PHL from Feb 28 to March 3 confirmed with COVID-19 upon testing in Taiwan
(Eagle News) A Taiwanese national who travelled to the Philippines with his friends from Feb. 28 to March 3 was found to be positive with the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) when he came back to Taiwan. This was according to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. In a statement, it said that the over 30-year old Taiwanese national, which it referred to as Case #44, resides in northern Taiwan but came to the […]
Italy reports 41 new coronavirus deaths, bringing toll to 148
ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italy on Thursday reported 41 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, its highest single-day total to date, bringing the number of fatalities in Europe’s most affected country to 148. The number of cases also jumped by a new high of 769, reaching 3,858 over the past two weeks. The latest figures mean Italy has the second-most deaths behind China, where the new virus was first detected at the end of last […]
First UK death confirmed in coronavirus outbreak
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain on Thursday announced its first death from coronavirus within the country, as the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 115. “I am very sorry to report a patient in England who tested positive for COVID-19 has sadly died,” England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty said in a statement. The patient, being treated in the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, west of London, was elderly and had “underlying health […]
US announces $8.3billion in coronavirus funding as cases surge
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — US lawmakers passed an emergency $8.3 billion spending bill to combat the coronavirus on Thursday as the number of cases surged in the country’s northwest and deaths reached 11. The Senate gave sweeping bipartisan support to the funding one day after the House passed the bill so that it could be quickly sent to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature. “The American people are looking for leadership, […]
Macron warns over virus epidemic as death toll rises
PARIS, France (AFP) — France is inexorably heading towards a coronavirus epidemic, President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday as the health ministry reported three more deaths from the disease, bringing the country’s toll to seven. “There is a moment when we all know that… an epidemic is inevitable,” Macron said. The country recorded 138 new virus cases in the biggest daily jump, bringing the total number nationwide to 423. In a sign of the growing concern […]
South Korea’s Culture Minister urges churches to suspend gatherings to contain COVID-19 spread
by Rona Lacap EBC Correspondent in South Korea (Eagle News) — As cases of the novel coronavirus continues to spread, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism encouraged churches in South Korea to halt church services and gatherings. Culture Minister Park Yang-woo asked the Head of the United Christian Churches of Korea to actively participate in the battle against the novel coronavirus as he visited the central office of the organization on Tuesday in Jongno, […]
290 million students out of school as global virus battle intensifies
by Dmitry Zaks, with Laurent Thomet in Beijing Agence France Presse Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home on Thursday with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus, as the IMF urged an all-out global offensive against the epidemic. More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which has now reached some 80 countries and territories. In California, Governor […]
Wuhan doctor recounts fears and hope at virus frontline
by Laurie CHEN BEIJING, China (AFP) — One month after makeshift hospitals opened to chaos and confusion at the epicenter of China’s coronavirus epidemic, frontline doctor Ma Yonggang is finally seeing more empty beds as fewer patients arrive. When 43-year-old Ma was first summoned to a sports stadium converted into a medical facility on February 4, it was a virtual construction site with electrical wiring and beds still being installed. Separated from his wife and […]
South Korea virus total nears 6,000
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea’s total number of novel coronavirus cases — the largest outside China, where the disease first emerged — approached 6,000 on Thursday as authorities reported 145 new infections. The total stood at 5,766, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 35 deaths. So far 36 countries and regions have imposed a blanket entry ban on people who have recently been in the South, according to the […]





