Top events cancelled as virus hits 58 countries
UAE calls off cycling race, quarantines two hotels Switzerland cancels Geneva auto show as infections spread WHO raises coronavirus global risk assessment to ‘very high’
The UAE yesterday cancelled a major cycling race after two Italians tested positive for the coronavirus, setting off a quarantine that ensnared four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s decision to cancel the UAE Tour 2020 comes as the virus rapidly spreads across the Middle East, with over 500 confirmed cases.
The Department of Health — Abu Dhabi also quarantined guests at two hotels in Yas Island presumed to be contacts of the two Italians.
The UAE is coordinating with Iran to operate flights to evacuate Iranians visiting the UAE. Last week, the UAE banned flights to Iran, which yesterday reported 34 deaths as cases spiked to 388.
Meanwhile, Switzerland cancelled the Geneva auto show yesterday as Mexico, Nigeria, Estonia, Denmark, Netherlands and Lithuania reported their first cases, taking the number of countries affected to 58.
Global markets crashed, losing nearly $6 trillion in their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis.
The World Health Organisation raised its global risk assessment for the new coronavirus to “very high”.
Latest WHO figures indicate over 82,000 cases, with over 2,700 deaths in China and 57 in 46 other countries. China reported 327 new cases yesterday, the lowest since January 23. The death toll in Italy rose to 17.
The World Health Organisation yesterday raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level after the epidemic spread to sub-Saharan Africa and caused financial markets to plunge.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk was being raised to “very high” because of the continued increase in cases and the number of new countries affected in recent days.
These developments “are clearly of concern”, Tedros told reporters in Geneva.
But he added: “We still have a chance of containing this virus, if robust action is taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients and trace contacts.”
The virus has proliferated around the globe over the past week, emerging on every continent except Antarctica, prompting many governments and businesses to try to stop people travelling or gathering in crowded places.
Switzerland became the latest country to announce drastic measures yesterday, saying all events with more than 1,000 participants would be suspended until March 15.
The United States asked its military in Saudi Arabia to avoid crowded venues including malls and cinemas.
Mainland China reported 327 new cases, the lowest since January 23, taking its tally to more than 78,800 cases with almost 2,800 deaths.
China’s three biggest airlines restored some international flights and the Shanghai fashion show, initially postponed, went ahead online.
TROOPS DEPLOYED
But as the outbreak eases in China, it is surging elsewhere.
Five more countries have reported their first case of Covid-19, all with travel history connected to Italy. They were Nigeria, Estonia, Denmark, Netherlands and Lithuania, Lindmeier said.
Countries other than China now account for about threequarters of new infections.
Bulgaria said it was ready to deploy up to 1,000 troops and military equipment to the border with neighbouring Turkey to prevent illegal migrant inflows. It said it would not allow massive inflows at a time when it is stepping up preventive measures against the coronavirus. It has not reported any cases.
Mongolia, which has yet to confirm a case, placed its president, Battulga Khaltmaa, in quarantine as a precaution after he returned from a trip to China, state media reported.
A Chinese official called the epidemic the most difficult health crisis in the country’s modern history.
Stockpiling
Another said some recovered patients had been found to be infectious, suggesting the epidemic may be even harder to eradicate than previously thought.
In addition to stockpiling medical supplies, governments ordered schools shut and cancelled big gatherings to try to halt the flu-like disease known as Covid-19. US President Donald Trump’s administration was considering invoking special powers to expand production of protective gear.