Beijing tells of big drop in virus cases but more deaths reported outside country

20 February 2020 - 16:01A delivery rider wears a facemask to protect against the COVID-19 coronavirus as he loads up his electric motorbike outside a supermarket in Beijing on February 20 2020. Picture: GREG BAKER/AFPChina on Thursday touted a big drop in new virus cases as proof its epidemic control efforts are working, but the toll rose abroad with deaths in Japan and South Korea.

South Korea reported its first death and the number of infections nearly doubled to 104 — almost half of them from a cluster centred on a religious sect. Chinese officials say their drastic containment efforts, including quarantining tens of millions of people in Hubei and restricting movements in cities nationwide, have started to pay off.

City authorities this week carried out a three-day door-to-door search for suspected patients, with the local Communist Party chief warning that officials would be held accountable if any infections were missed. The huge vessel moored in Yokohama is easily the biggest coronavirus cluster outside the Chinese epicentre, with 621 cases confirmed among the passengers and crew — one-sixth of the total.

But questions emerged over the wisdom of allowing former passengers to roam freely around Japan’s crowded cities, even if they have tested negative.

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Number of new coronavirus cases in Hubei rises after two days of fallsHealth officials report 1,933 new cases and 100 new deaths
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

WHO urges calm as China coronavirus death toll reaches 2000 - The Mail & GuardianThe death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak surged to 2000 on Wednesday, as Chinese and international health officials warned against excessive measures to contain the epidemic. I think they mean 20 000. We have been hearing other stories from anonymous Chinese
Source: mailandguardian - 🏆 2. / 92 Read more »

Gold steady above $1,600 as palladium spikes againBig wave of risk-off sentiment is subsiding but economic fallout from virus buoys gold demand
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

China sees drop in coronavirus cases, but more deaths abroadMore than 74,000 people have been infected by the new coronavirus in China, and hundreds more in over 25 countries.
Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »

Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »

Gold edges lower but new virus cases keep support at a highSilver shed 0.7% and platinum 1%, as palladium continues to rise
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »