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≡ WHO Urges Action On Coronavirus Outbreak Ahead Of Emergency Meeting
The World Health Organization has warned all governments to "take action" over the deadly SARS-like virus spreading from China.
So far, the novel coronavirus has claimed at least 132 lives in China and infected more than 6,000 people.
New cases were reported Wednesday in Finland and the United Arab Emirates.
The WHO is set to convene an urgent meeting Thursday over whether the viral epidemic should be declared a global health emergency, which could lead to increased international coordination.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said his organization has been monitoring the outbreak non-stop.
On Twitter, he said the WHO "deeply regrets" what he called a "human error" in their reports last week that referred to the global risk of the outbreak as "moderate" instead of "high."
Michael Ryan, head of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, said "the whole world needs to be on alert now."
Both officials also hailed China for its "extraordinary" efforts so far to contain the epidemic.
Meanwhile, various airlines around the world are suspending or reducing services in and out of China, following cases of human-to-human transmission outside the country.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>[2020.01.30]
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≡ S. Korea's Wuhan Evacuation Flights Hit Delay
The South Korean government's plan to begin evacuating its citizens from Wuhan, China on chartered planes has been delayed.
In an emergency notice sent out at 1 a.m., the South Korean consulate general in Wuhan informed passengers who were set to take off at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. this afternoon that a change had been made due to flight permit issues.
Amid growing concern over the coronavirus outbreak, four Korean Air charters were expected to airlift South Koreans out of the central Chinese city today through Friday.
An official of the foreign ministry said it is certain a flight will take off, but more likely in the evening.
The ministry said it was consulting with the Chinese government to make sure some 700 South Koreans are able to return home safely and as soon as possible.
The evacuees who arrive from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, will be taken to two government-run facilities -- one in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, and another in Asan, South Chungcheong Province -- to be kept in quarantine for two weeks.■
<Photo: Yonhap News> [2020.01.30]
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≡ Police To Arrest Suspected Coronavirus Patients Who Refuse Quarantine Efforts
People who are suspected of coronavirus infections may face arrest if they refuse to cooperate with the government's containment efforts.
The National Police Agency on Wednesday distributed new guidelines for dealing with the contagious disease that includes a clause on arrest for those who refuse to be quarantined despite showing symptoms of the deadly virus.
An official of the NPA explained it will allow police to send suspected patients to a medical facility even without their consent, adding the measure falls in line with public health efforts.
Similar moves were implemented in 2015 when the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, hit South Korea.
Local health authorities have so far confirmed four cases of the new strain of coronavirus in the country.
There have been no additional cases reported since Monday, but 28 people are currently being monitored for suspected infections.■
<Photo: Yonhap News> [2020.01.30]
