The new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak outside mainland China rages on, including in South Korea and Iran.
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AFP/YONHAP
Health workers in protective gear spray disinfectant on Sunday (23/2/2020) to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus at a market in Daegu, South Korea.
SEOUL, SUNDAY— The new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak outside mainland China rages on, including in South Korea and Iran. Worries of the virus’ presence in Indonesia increase after reports emerge of a Japanese man who was recently in Indonesia was found to have the virus.
As reported by Japan’s public broadcasting service NHK on Saturday (22/2/2020), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said a 60-year-old man had tested positive for COVID-19. Before his visit to Indonesia, the Tokyo-based nursing home worker had experienced fever-like symptoms. A diagnosis found no pneumonia.
After undergoing a self-quarantine at his home, he traveled to Indonesia with his family. He returned to Japan on Wednesday and experienced severe shortness of breath. He was then hospitalized and found to be infected with COVID-19 on Saturday.
It was not mentioned where the man went in Indonesia. Currently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is investigating his possible transmission source and close contacts, including those in the male nursing home.
A report by the Tokyo Novel Coronavirus Infectious Disease Control Center at the website of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said the man first experienced symptoms on Feb. 12. This information shows that it was highly likely that he carried the virus during his visit in Indonesia. The fact also shows that he passed a health screening at the Indonesian airport.
The information is required for a full epidemiology research on the disease’s spreading pattern.
The Indonesian government is waiting for the full information from Japanese authorities. The information is required for a full epidemiology research on the disease’s spreading pattern.
Health Ministry disease control and prevention director general Anung Sugihantono said in Jakarta on Sunday (23/2) that the government through its embassy in Tokyo had coordinated with Japanese authorities through the International Health Regulation National Focal Point (IHR NFP). The coordination aims to obtain comprehensive data on the patient’s status and travel history.
“We seek to obtain information on the patient’s name, transportation modes and travel history in Indonesia. After obtaining said information, we can do epidemiology research,” he said.
REUTERS/YONHAP
Ambulances stand by on Sunday (23/2/2020) near a hospital in Daegu, South Korea, to transport coronavirus patients.
Evacuation of Indonesians
Regarding a plan to evacuate Indonesians trapped on the Diamond Princess cruise ship currently docked in Yokohama, Japan, Health Ministry disease control and prevention directorate general secretary Achmad Yurianto said his office was waiting for a presidential decision.
“The Japanese government will announce the health examination results of everyone on board the ship on Tuesday. We are waiting for that result,” he said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Saturday 77,784 confirmed COVID-19 cases globally, with a significant majority in China. Of the confirmed cases, 1,402 were from 28 countries outside China. The report also cited 2,348 deaths in China and 11 deaths in other countries.
In Indonesia, the Health Ministry reported that no confirmed COVID-19 cases have been found. Of 130 specimens, the Health Ministry’s health research and development agency (Balitbangkes) received from 44 hospitals in 22 provinces, 126 have been cleared and four are still being examined.
South Korea on Sunday increased its alert level to red, the highest one, in the wake of an increase in positive cases.
Meanwhile, outside mainland China, South Korea has the most positive cases and Iran has the most fatalities. South Korea on Sunday increased its alert level to red, the highest one, in the wake of an increase in positive cases.
After an internal government meeting, South Korean President Moon Jae-in reported 123 new cases in the country, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 556, with five fatalities.
The highest level of alert enables the government to temporarily shut down schools and reduce the operation of public transportation, including flights from and to Seoul.
Iran reported three additional deaths due to the COVID-19 outbreak, bringing the total fatalities in the country to eight. With 15 new confirmed cases, the country now has 43 COVID-19 cases. Iran has the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths outside China.
AP PHOTO/EBRAHIM NOROOZI
Women wear masks in downtown Tehran, Iran, on 23 Feb. 2020, the same day that Iran\'s health ministry announced an increase in the deaths linked to the novel coronavirus to 8. International health authorities are concerned that clusters in Iran, Italy and South Korea could signal a new stage in the global spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, the number of cases in Lombardy, the Italian administrative region that includes Milan, has jumped from 54 to 89. Italy has 132 confirmed cases and two fatalities. It is the first European country to report fatalities. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is reportedly considering “extraordinary actions” to stop the disease from spreading further.
In mainland China, 648 new COVID-19 cases have been reported, bringing the total number in the country to 76,936, with 2,442 fatalities. The number of new cases in China in the last few days has dropped to less than 1,000 per day and the number of deaths has also dropped to 97 per day. (AP/AFP/REUTERS/TAN/AIK/ADH)
