Thursday, March 28, 2024

Popular News

HomeNewsAsiaBeijing puts news measures in place to contain coronavirus

Beijing puts news measures in place to contain coronavirus

The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak in China rises to 81 today as the government scrambles to contain the epidemic.

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday praised China’s commitment to contain the coronavirus outbreak and said he was praying for all those affected.

“May the Lord welcome the dead into his peace, – he said – comfort families and sustain the great commitment by the Chinese community that has already been put in place to combat the epidemic.”

China has allocated nearly 9 billion dollars to help contain the virus and over the weekend, President Xi Jinping admitted the country is facing a grave situation.

China’s National Health Commission confirmed over 2,700 cases, is investigating almost 6,000 suspected cases, and tracking over 32,000 close contacts with infected patients. Officials are warning that people who are carrying the virus but not showing any symptoms may be contagious, which could complicate early detection and isolation efforts.

In its latest bid to stop people from travelling and spreading the coronavirus, Beijing extended the Lunar New Year Holiday, the busiest time of the year for travel, and encouraged people to stay at home.

The city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the viral outbreak, is on total lockdown with more than a dozen neighboring cities facing severe transport restrictions.

Anyone who has traveled to Wuhan or other affected areas recently is being asked to register and quarantine themselves.

Outside China, the nations that have reported cases of infection are Thailand, Hong Kong, the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Macau,  Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, France, South Korea, Vietnam,  Canada and Nepal.

The head of the World Health Organisation  is in Beijing on Monday for a special meeting with officials to discuss how to contain the virus.

WHO officials ruled last week that the outbreak did not yet constitute a global health emergency.

Popular News

Save the Children decries ‘relentless mental harm’ suffered by Gaza children

Save the Children warns of the "complete psychological destruction" Gaza children are suffering due to five months of war. The humanitarian organization appeals once again for a ceasefire and for emergency aid to be able to reach the people immediately.

Archbishop Wojda elected head of Polish Bishops’ Conference

Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, the new president of the Polish Bishops' Conference, speaks about the challenges he faces in his new position in an interview with Vatican Radio and Vatican News.

French bishops reiterate opposition to enshrining abortion in constitution

The Bishops’ Conference of France reaffirms its opposition to enshrining the “right” to abortion in the French Constitution, as the Senate and National Assembly prepare to adopt a new bill.

Leaders of Jerusalem Churches strongly condemn deadly attack in Gaza

In a statement posted on Friday 1 March, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem condemn the "wanton attack against innocent civilians" by the Israeli army the previous day in Gaza during a distribution of emergency food aid. They call for a "immediate and lengthy ceasefire."