Coronavirus live updates: Relapse in discharged patients pose new worry

Pet dog quarantined in Hong Kong with low levels of coronavirus

A pet dog was quarantined at an animal centre in Hong Kong after it tested positive to low levels of the new coronavirus, officials said Friday, in the first such case in the city. The canine, which belongs to a 60-year-old woman infected with the virus, has no "relevant symptoms", the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said.

One female Diamond Princess passenger dies

One female passenger who was on board a virus-hit cruise liner off Japan has died, Japanese media reported on Friday, citing the health ministry. The woman is Japanese and in her 70s, the reports said.

Coronavirus reappears in discharged patients, raising questions in containment fight

Experts say there are several ways discharged patients could fall ill with the virus again. Convalescing patients might not build up enough antibodies to develop immunity to SARS-CoV-2, and are being infected again. The virus also could be "biphasic", meaning it lies dormant before creating new symptoms. Read full story

South Korea reports 315 new coronavirus cases, takes total to 2,337

Tokyo Disneyland to close through mid-March on coronavirus concerns

Singapore ministers to take one-month pay cut on virus

All political office holders in Singapore will take a one-month salary cut in light of the coronavirus outbreak, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said Friday. President Halimah Yacob has pledged to take a similar one-month pay cut, Heng said in parliament. To show appreciation to those on the front lines battling the virus, the government will award public officers a special bonus of as much as one month’s pay, Heng said. These public officers include health care staff with the Ministry of Health and some government-owned hospitals, as well as others in agencies directly involved in tackling the situation. (Source: Bloomberg)

US schools start planning for possible spread of coronavirus

Schools across the United States are canceling trips abroad, preparing online lessons and even rethinking “perfect attendance” awards as they brace for the possibility that the new coronavirus could begin spreading in their communities. Districts have been rushing to update emergency plans this week after federal officials warned that the virus, which started in China, is almost certain to begin spreading in the US Many are preparing for possible school closures that could stretch weeks or longer, even as they work to tamp down panic among students, parents and teachers. President Donald Trump has worked to minimize fears about the virus, but on Wednesday he also recommended that schools to start planning for arrival of the COVID-19 virus “just in case.”

New coronavirus cases in mainland China fall to lowest since January

Mainland China had 327 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Thursday, the country's National Health Commission said on Friday, down from 433 cases a day earlier and the lowest since Jan. 23. Excluding Hubei, mainland China reported just nine new cases on Thursday.

Hyundai Motor halts work at S Korea factory after worker tests positive for coronavirus

Hyundai Motor shut down a factory in South Korea on Friday after a worker tested positive for the new coronavirus, disrupting production of several popular models. The company added that it was disinfecting the factory. It did not say when production would resume.

Poultry sales drop in India on coronavirus rumours

It is believed that misleading posts on social media claiming that humans can contract coronavirus through chickens is partly responsible for the drop in sales. Read full story

Russia temporarily bars Iranian citizens from entering

Coronavirus kills toxic Chinese garlic trade in Kolkata

300 fishermen from Gujarat, other states stuck in Iran

Over 300 fishermen from India are trapped at Bandar-e-Chiru, Chiruyeh, Hormozgan province in Iran as nearby airports have been sealed by local authorities following coronavirus scare. Read full story

Lithuania confirms first case of coronavirus

IMF to revise global growth forecast after coronavirus strain

The IMF is looking at all the data available and hopes to have a more concrete outlook of the ultimate impact when it publishes the next World Economic Outlook report in April, said IMF spokesman Gerry Rice. "We are likely to downgrade our growth projections for the world in April, he said.

New Zealand also confirms first case of coronavirus

Netherlands confirms first case of coronavirus

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health, in a statement, said that a man who lives in the town of Tilburg had been diagnosed with the virus after traveling to Italy's Lombardy region a few days ago. Read full story

Sensex down 1000 points amid fears of recession triggered by coronavirus outbreak

US spy agencies raise concerns about possible outbreak in India

While there are only a few known cases in India, one source said the country's available countermeasures and the potential for the virus to spread given India's dense population was a focus of serious concern. US intelligence agencies are also focusing on Iran, where the country's deputy health minister has fallen ill during a worsening outbreak. Read full story