Latest on the coronavirus spreading across the globe

A NOVEL coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak that began in Wuhan, the capital of China’s central province of Hubei, has spread to more than 9,800 people globally, surpassing the total from the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. The new virus has killed 213 people.

Here is what we know:

* There are 129 confirmed cases in 22 countries and regions outside mainland China, including Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and the United States.

* No deaths have been reported outside of China.

* The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Thursday.

* The United States reported its first case of person-to-person transmission. Germany, Japan, Vietnam and South Korea have also recorded similar transmissions, which suggest greater potential for the virus to spread.

* Several Chinese cities have levied strict travel curbs.

* The US State Department told Americans in an updated travel advisory not to travel to China.

* Global airlines have suspended or scaled back direct flights to China’s major cities.

* Countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are working to evacuate citizens from Wuhan or have already started.

* A charter flight carrying 367 South Koreans from Wuhan landed in Seoul, after protests broke out against plans to use facilities in Asan and Jincheon south of the capital to quarantine the evacuees.

* China will release winter and spring vegetable reserves in major northern cities to ease supply shortages amid the new coronavirus outbreak, state news agency Xinhua reported.

* The Chinese Football Association said it would postpone domestic games in 2020.

* The World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled in the Chinese city of Nanjing in March have been postponed until 2021.

* The coronavirus should have little impact on the US economy, President Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser said.

* Some experts believe the virus is not as dangerous as the 2002-03 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that killed nearly 800 people, or the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed more than 700 people since 2012. - Reuters