The deadly coronavirus is rapidly spreading despite the Chinese Government’s best efforts to contain it.
As of Thursday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m. three Chinese cities are on lockdown, impacting 18 million people among them. Seventeen people are confirmed dead and there have been around 600 confirmed cases of the illness.
Lunar New Years celebrations are being cancelled while the Beijing government deals with what they are calling an “epidemic”.
Public transportation in the city of Wuhan has been shut down in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Several hospitals in Wuhan are asking for donations of medical supplies to offset their shortages.
WHO met for a second time this morning to decide whether to declare to declare a global health emergency.
There have been confirmed cases in China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he “has a plan to contain the coronavirus.” (Reuters)
The Government of Canada has issued a travel notice for China as of Jan. 22, 2020.
No cases have been confirmed in Canada yet, but the government is taking precautions to ensure it does not cross the border.
Customers wear masks inside a food market in Wuhan. (Courtesy of Reuters)
CNN says two species of snakes native to China may be the source of the virus: the Chinese Krait and the Chinese Cobra.
Four Chinese people in Scotland are currently being tested for coronavirus. (Sky News Breaking).
There are five patients in Montreal who had travelled from China, being monitored for infection.
The Chinese markets have taken big hits as a result of the restrictions currently in place around Wuhan and Beijing. (Bloomberg)
CNN says airports around the world are increasing health screenings for the virus, implementing new “quarantine procedures”.
CNN has released a list of symptoms of the virus here.
Please check out the Government of Canada’s website for more information, and to stay updated, about any upcoming travel to China.
UPDATE 1: At least one case of coronavirus has been identified in Vietnam.
UPDATE 2: Another case has been confirmed in Saudi Arabia.
