Story at a glance
- The global cases and fatalities of coronavirus have risen past 28,000 and 500, respectively.
- A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official anticipates more cases in the U.S. despite quarantine efforts.
- The World Health Organization will meet in Geneva in several days to discuss control and treatment options.
The coronavirus continues to sweep through Asia, with Reuters reporting 10 additional people quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for the virus. One of the quarantined passengers, 75-year-old writer Gay Courter, told Reuters that he wants the U.S. to send transportation to retrieve American passengers from the ship.
“It’s better for us to travel while healthy and also if we get sick to be treated in American hospitals,” he said.
Further west in mainland China, approximately 563 deaths have been recorded, rising by around 73 victims from Wednesday.
Globally, there are now 28,344 cases globally, with the majority centered in China, according to real-time data from Johns Hopkins University. Total deaths, including locations like the Philippines and Hong Kong, are now at 565, and the total number of patients who have recovered also rose to 1,357 as the cause and treatment of the disease is better understood.
In the U.S., 12 cases have been confirmed, with no reported fatalities and one patient from Seattle reported recovered.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, told the Los Angeles Times that the virus is likely to spread.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said that officials “expect to find other cases in the United States.” There are six reported in California, making up about half the confirmed cases in the U.S.
Multiple industries have taken a hit in the fallout of the outbreak, but Wall Street closed on a high note yesterday, as China just announced tariff cuts on U.S. imports to keep trade flowing.
The World Health Organization (WHO), calling the outbreak of the Wuhan virus a global health emergency, will reportedly convene on Feb. 11 and 12 in Geneva to discuss vaccine and quarantine efforts and developments.
Governments and companies from different countries have responded in different ways. Sixteen cities in China, including the epicenter, Wuhan, are under quarantine, while airlines such as American and United have stopped flights in and out of Hong Kong due to a “lack of demand.” The U.S. has also banned entry to visitors who have traveled to China within the last two weeks.
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