Updated 12:31, 28-Jan-2020
CGTN
SUMMARY
The pneumonia outbreak was first reported in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, in December 2019. Experts have attributed the outbreak to a novel coronavirus that has since spread across China and abroad.
Here is what we know so far:
- Confirmed cases: 4,535 in China, 52 abroad
- Deaths: 106 (all in China)
- Human-to-human transmission confirmed
- Health experts say the virus has the potential to mutate
- 30 cities and provinces have launched Level I emergency response, while Hong Kong declared its "highest" emergency response.
TIMELINE
18:36, 28-Jan-2020
Singapore, Japan report new cases of novel coronavirus
Two new cases of novel coronavirus were confirmed in Singapore by the country's Ministry of Health on Tuesday, bringing the total reported cases in the country to seven.
Japan also reported two new cases on the same day. There have been six confirmed cases in the country.
According to Japanese authorities, a man with no recent travel history to China was infected by the novel coronavirus – possibly after driving tourists from Wuhan.
Coronavirus: 2 new confirmed cases in Singapore, bringing total to 7
THE STAR
Tuesday, 28 Jan 20204:28 PM MYT
SINGAPORE (ANN): Two new cases of Wuhan virus have been confirmed in Singapore, bringing the total number of infected people here to seven, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday (Jan 28).
With three confirmed cases within the last 24 hours, the trend of infection among Chinese nationals from Wuhan's Hubei province in Singapore is accelerating, in line with the sharp increase in global infection rates, said the ministry.
This presents a heightened risk to Singapore, although there is at yet no evidence that the virus has spread in the community.
So new restrictions will include no entry or transit for travellers with passports issued in Hubei or those who have travelled there recently.
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In addition, there are about 2,000 recent travellers from Hubei who are in Singapore, and those assessed to be of higher risk and with a recent travel history to Hubei will be quarantined.
Quarantine orders have legal force, with severe penalties for non-compliance, including possible jail time.
Announcing enhanced measures on Tuesday, the authorities said that they apply to three groups: recent travellers from Hubei already in Singapore, returning residents of Singapore or long term pass holders with travel history to Hubei or with China passports issued in Hubei; as well as new visitors with a travel history to Hubei or China passports issued in Hubei.
Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, is the capital city of Hubei province.
For the first group - recent travellers from Hubei already in Singapore, the ministry has started contacting individuals with Hubei travel history and China nationals with Hubei passports.
There are an estimated 2,000 such individuals here, about 1,000 on on short-term visas. Half are visitors and half are residents.
Those assessed to be at higher risk will be quarantined.
For the second group - returning residents and long-term pass holders with travel history to Hubei or with China passports issued in Hubei - they will be quarantined on their return.
And from noon on Wednesday (Jan 29), there will be no entry or transit through Singapore for all new visitors with recent Hubei travel history within the last 14 days, or holders of China passports issued in Hubei - the third group in question.
And with immediate effect, those with China passports issued in Hubei will have a suspension of issuance of all forms of new visas, previously issued short-term visas and multiple-visit visas, and visa-free transit facility.
Like the previous five cases, the two new patients are from Wuhan.
One is a 56-year-old Chinese national, who arrived in Singapore on Jan 19.
He developed a cough on Saturday (Jan 25), and went to Changi General Hospital on Sunday.
He tested positive for the novel coronavirus at 11pm on Monday.
Before that, he had been staying with family members in Pasir Ris Grove.
The second is a 35-year-old man, also a Chinese national from Wuhan.
He arrived in Singapore on Thursday (Jan 23), and was staying at Marina Bay Sands. He developed symptoms on Friday, and went to Raffles Hospital, where he was transferred to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
He tested positive at 11pm on Monday. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
