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Mainland China Reports New Coronavirus Deaths, Cases

VOA News

   The number of new cases and related deaths from the new coronavirus
   rose Wednesday in mainland China, Chinese health officials said, while
   the discovery of new cases outside the mainland indicated the
   increasing spread of the outbreak.

   However, despite its increasing detection in numerous countries, the
   World Health Organization said the outbreak of the new coronavirus has
   not yet reached the level of a pandemic. Dr. Sylvie Briand, WHO's
   director of epidemic and pandemic diseases, told reporters in Geneva
   Tuesday the outbreak is at the phase "where it is an epidemic with
   multiple foci."

   As of Wednesday, at least 490 people, the majority in mainland China,
   have died from the coronavirus since it was first detected in December
   in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, with the total number of
   confirmed infections exceeding 24,000. There are about 150 confirmed
   cases in 23 other countries, including one death in the Philippines --
   the first outside of China.

   The epidemic has also been detected on the high seas. Japanese
   officials said 10 people tested positive for the coronavirus on a
   cruise ship quarantined at the Japanese port of Yokohama. They said the
   more than 3,700 remaining passengers and crew will remain quarantined
   on board Carnival Japan's Diamond Princess for further testing.

   The U.S. Department of Defense said about 350 Americans left Wuhan on
   Wednesday aboard two charter planes that are scheduled to land later in
   the day at two military bases in the U.S. western state of California.

   The U.S. State Department said it may schedule more flights to China on
   Thursday but did not provide additional information.

   Two U.S. based airlines on Wednesday announced plans to temporarily
   suspend flights to Hong Kong. American Airlines and United Airlines
   said they were halting flights there through February 20.

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