Coronavirus: China premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan as death toll hits 80 – live updates

The UK government is coming under pressure to evacuate UK citizens from Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei.

Both the home secretary, Priti Patel, and the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab have said ministers are considering an evacuation plan, but both stopped short of committing to one.

The response of other countries has added to weight to calls for the UK to order an full evacuation plan.

AP has a roundup of what are countries are doing for their citizens.

Japan

Chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said 560 Japanese citizens are confirmed in Hubei and chartered evacuation flights are being prepared to leave as soon as possible. “ The Japanese Embassy in Beijing said the initial evacuation is limited to those in Wuhan. Evacuees are expected to include employees of Honda, Electron, Aeon other Japanese companies operating in Wuhan. The prime minister Shinzo Abe said his Cabinet will designate the new coronavirus as an infectious disease subject to forced hospitalisation and isolation. Such preventative measures appear to be preparation for the evacuation.

United States

The US Consulate in Wuhan plans a charter flight on Tuesday to evacuate its personnel and some other Americans. The US Embassy in Beijing said the limited capacity on the flight to San Francisco meant priority will be given to to individuals at greater risk from coronavirus.

France

The health minister, Agnes Buzyn, said said French citizens who want to leave Wuhan will be taken on a direct flight to France in the middle of the week, and then held in quarantine for 14 days. French car makers PSA, which produces Peugeot and Citroen cars, said it was evacuating its expatriate employees and their families from Wuhan and quarantining them in another city.

The Associated Press has just published a useful list of the latest figures on coronavirus infections. It says these are up-to-date as of midday on Monday in Beijing:

• China: 2,744, with 769 of those newly confirmed in the 24 hours through midnight Sunday. Five are in Hong Kong and two in Macao. Nearly all of the 80 deaths have been in Hubei province, with four elsewhere in China.
• United States: 5, 2 in southern California and 1 each in Washington state, Chicago, and Arizona.
• Thailand: 8
• Australia: 5
• South Korea: 4
• Japan: 4
• Singapore: 4
• Malaysia: 4
• France: 3
• Taiwan: 3
• Vietnam: 2
• Canada: 1
• Nepal: 1

As I mentioned earlier, China’s premier, Li Keqiang, has been visiting Wuhan. There’s been plenty of video clips on social media of him meeting medical staff. He also visited a store where he had his temperature scanned upon entry.

Keith Zhai (@QiZHAI)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is visiting a local super market and get his temperature checked. 李克强总理在武汉的超市考察生活用品供应和稳定物价工作 pic.twitter.com/d1vCDjHpGQ

January 27, 2020

Singapore said on Monday that the coronavirus outbreak will hurt its economy this year. So far it has reported four cases of the virus.

“We certainly expect there to be an impact on our economy, business and consumer confidence this year especially as the situation is expected to persist for some time,” trade minister Chan Chun Sing said.

Singapore is currently forecasting growth in a wide range of 0.5-2.5% this year.

The country has announced a raft of new measures on Monday to halt the spread of the virus, including urging all school students and staff with a recent travel history to China to stay at home for a fortnight.

The head of the World Health Organisation will hold a special meeting with officials in Beijing on Monday to discuss how to contain the coronavirus.

The WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Twitter: “My WHO colleagues and I would like to understand the latest developments and strengthen our partnership with China in providing further protection against the outbreak.”

You can find our latest update on the virus outbreak below.

As I reported earlier, the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, has travelled to Wuhan, the centre of the virus outbreak. Li is China’s second most powerful man. According to the government outlet, the Global Times, he told medical staff at Wuhan hospital: “I am here to cheer you up”.

Global Times (@globaltimesnews)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told medical staff at #Wuhan hospital: I am here to cheer you up. Please protect yourselves while treating patients. pic.twitter.com/wNAhIXBjLj

January 27, 2020

The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has said that Hainan province confirmed on Monday that an 80-year-old woman has died after being infected with the coronavirus, marking the province’s first fatality in the rapidly spreading outbreak.

China’s state media is reporting of the more than 2,700 people infected with coronavirus, 461 are in a critical condition. Eighty people are known to have died in China from the virus.

China’s CGTN state TV channel has launched a live feed of the construction of the 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan. You can see it here:

The BBC’s China correspondent, Stephen McDonell, is reporting that China’s massive film studio, Hengdian studios, has suspended filming because of the virus. The studio’s website says it is the biggest film and TV shooting base in the world.

Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell)

All filming at #China’s huge Hengdian film studios suspended due to the #coronavirus emergency. pic.twitter.com/FSMLsJF2mX

January 27, 2020

More on the Australian cases of the virus, and the University of New South Wales, which is in Sydney, has confirmed that one of its students has tested positive for the virus. I am assuming that this is the 21-year-old woman referred to by the health authorities at a press conference in the past hour. The university says the student arrived back in Sydney on 22 January and was not infectious on the flight.

“The student did not attend any classes at the University and stayed on her own in. campus accomodation with no. close contact before she was admitted to hospital,” the university said.

Amy Coopes (@coopesdetat)

Further on this, @UNSW in Sydney confirms one if its students has tested positive to 2019-nCoV. Has been on campus but in dorm since arriving, did not attend classes #WuhanCoronavirus https://t.co/5eT8SV8Ug6 pic.twitter.com/U1dOB2rahU

The WA Department of

There have been no confirmed cases in WA with three people returning negative test results.