NEW CASES IN CHINESE JAILS
Iran reports 2 deaths, Israeli woman first victim in her country
TWO more people died from the new coronavirus in Iran, infections nearly doubled in South Korea and clusters surfaced in Chinese prisons yesterday, rekindling concerns about an epidemic that has killed more than 2,200 people in China.
The World Health Organisation warned nations could face a serious problem if they fail to “hit hard now” against the virus, which has infected more than 75,000 in China and 1,100 abroad.
China has pointed to official figures showing new cases slowing this week as evidence that its drastic containment measures are working, but fresh infections emerged at two hospitals here, and more than 500 others were reported in prisons nationwide.
Chinese authorities have placed tens of millions of people under quarantine in hard-hit central Hubei province, restricted movements in other cities far from the epicentre, and closed schools nationwide.
Many nations have banned travellers from China and airlines have suspended flights to and from the country. But clusters and outbreaks continue to emerge, and 13 people have now died outside mainland China.
Iran’s Health Ministry reported two more deaths among 13 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the number of fatalities to four and infections to 18.
Earlier cases had prompted Iraq to ban travel to and from its neighbour, and Kuwait’s national air carrier to suspend flights.
Seven of the new cases were in the Shia holy city of Qom, four in Teheran and two in Gilan, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Twitter.
In South Korea, the number of cases nearly doubled to 204, making it the hardest-hit country outside China. More than 120 members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu, have now been infected.
Two Australians evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, meanwhile, tested positive for coronavirus on their return home despite being cleared in Japan. An Israeli woman also tested positive upon returning home, becoming her country’s first Covid-19 case.
A 29-year-old Wuhan doctor died on Thursday, making him one of the youngest known fatalities and the eighth among medical workers.
Dr Peng Yinhua died on Thursday after becoming infected while working at Wuhan’s Jiangxia district People’s No. 1 Hospital.
The respiratory and critical illness doctor had planned to get married during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Peng “never got to send out his wedding invitations, which are in his office drawer,” said the official news agency Xinhua.
Seven guards and 200 inmates tested positive for the virus at Rencheng prison in eastern Shandong province.
Eight officials were fired over the issue.
In Hubei, 230 cases were reported at the Wuhan Women’s Prison, whose warden was also dismissed, and 41 others were reported at a penitentiary in Shayan county. One suspected infection was found at a juvenile detention centre.