FATALITIES REPORTED IN CHINA ONLY AS OF 01/28/2020
by Sharon Rondeau
(Jan. 28, 2020) — According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday night, the emergence of a “2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)” last month in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China “is a rapidly evolving situation” in which cases of the virus have been identified in at least 18 countries, including the U.S.
Wuhan is home to approximately 11 million, CBS reported.
Regions affected as of January 28, 2020 encompass Asia, North America, Australia, and Western Europe, the CDC reported.
WebMD reports that “corona” viruses are common and not normally deadly. “In most cases, you won’t know whether you have a coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus, such as rhinovirus,” the website states.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources report that it is believed coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans, although animals are not always involved. As with any other cold or virus, it is spread by direct or indirect contact with infected individuals.
On Tuesday morning, U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) Director Alex M. Azar told reporters that the coronavirus outbreak is “a very fast moving, and constantly changing situation” which could lead to “travel restrictions.”
Flights between the U.S. and China might be suspended by the White House, ABC News reported, with four airlines either altering flight schedules or accommodating cancellations without a fee.
On Monday, CNBC reported that “More than 2,800 people in China are now said to have been infected by the fast-spreading coronavirus while more countries have reported their first confirmed cases.” The illness, which can begin with standard cold symptoms, can lead to pneumonia and other serious complications.
On Tuesday evening, Chinese authorities reported 132 deaths from the outbreak. As of Tuesday morning in the U.S. and nighttime in China, CNBC wrote, “Chinese health officials said confirmed 1,459 new cases and 26 additional deaths (25 in Hubei and 1 in Henan). Those figures bring the total cases to 5,974 confirmed cases, with 132 deaths and 103 cured, according to the National Health Commission.”
At approximately 9:21 p.m. EST Tuesday, The New York Times confirmed 132 deaths as well as the number of those infected in China to be approaching 6,000. At the same time, five confirmed cases in the U.S. were reported.
Currently, there is no vaccine for the virus, The Times reported.
Australia is evacuating its citizens from Wuhan, and as many as 1,000 Americans may leave on Wednesday, CBS reported Tuesday night.
According to the Veterans Administration on Tuesday, seven distinct coronaviruses affecting humans have been identified to date by the scientific community.
“While CDC considers this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time,” the CDC reports as of late Tuesday.