All travellers entering Beijing from the virus hotspots of South Korea, Japan, Iran and Italy will have to be quarantined for 14 days, a top municipal official says.
World Health Organization chief says that the epidemics in South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan “are our greatest concern.” 0:00
The latest:
- WHO chief says supply of gloves, masks and protective gear needs to be stepped up.
- Travellers entering Beijing from South Korea, Japan, Iran and Italy to be quarantined 14 days.
- U.S. faces questions about handling of coronavirus outbreak as health officials report more than 100 cases, with 6 deaths.
- Ontario reports 2 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in Canada to 29.
- Canada says travellers from Iran will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days in move that matches practice for travellers coming from Hubei, China.
All travellers entering Beijing from the virus hotspots of South Korea, Japan, Iran and Italy will have to be quarantined for 14 days, the deputy secretary general of the Beijing Municipal Government, Chen Bei, said on Tuesday.
Shanghai earlier said it would also compel visitors who had recently travelled to countries with “relatively serious virus conditions” to submit to 14 days of isolation, but it did not name the countries.
The developments in China come as concern mounts over the growing number of cases outside China.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing Tuesday that there is a total of 90,893 cases globally, with 3,119 deaths.
Tedros said 12 countries had reported their first cases of COVID-19.
“The actions these newly affected countries take today will be the difference between a handful of cases and a larger cluster,” the WHO chief said.
Tedros, who has repeatedly urged countries to work toward containment but also plan for increased case numbers, expressed concern about the supply of personal protective equipment for health-care workers.
“Supplies are rapidly depleting,” he said, noting that WHO is working with governments and manufacturers to try and boost supply.
Earlier Tuesday, Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau and other G7 finance ministers issued a joint statement on Tuesday after a conference call saying they are closely following the impact the novel coronavirus is having on economies and markets.
“Alongside strengthening efforts to expand health services, G7 finance ministers are ready to take actions, including fiscal measures where appropriate, to aid in the response to the virus and support the economy during this phase,” the joint statement said.
Read on for a sense of what’s happening with COVID-19 in Canada, the U.S. and some of the hardest-hit communities around the world.
Here’s what’s happening in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alludes to the possibility of helping provinces with the costs of preparing for a COVID-19 outbreak. 0:33
Ontario announced two more cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total in the province to 20.
Tuesday’s announcement comes a day after health officials announced that travellers landing in Canada from Iran would be asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said the measure, which is similar to one already in place for travellers coming from Hubei, China, was put in place after new cases here were linked back to travel in Iran.
There are no plans for travel bans, Tam said.
“Viruses know no borders and we have to balance our public health measures knowing that they are never completely perfect.”
Health officials in Canada have reported 29 cases of COVID-19: 20 in Ontario, eight in British Columbia and one in Quebec.
The Public Health Agency of Canada, which is assessing risk as the outbreak develops, said the risk in Canada from COVID-19 is low.
Here’s what’s happening in the U.S.
Officials are scrambling to contain a coronavirus outbreak in Kirkland, Wash., near Seattle, where the cases have no known link to travel. 2:02
Seattle-area health officials confronting the nation’s first community coronavirus outbreak are planning new containment measures, ranging from possible school closings to temporary quarantine housing for mildly ill homeless patients.
The shift in strategy, with an emphasis on enlisting the public at large to take a more active role in curtailing the spread of the virus, came as health a