BACK TO SQUARE ONE: China fumes over new ‘imported’ virus cases

The coronavirus has now been detected on every continent on Earth except Antarctica, leading to new fears in China about how to keep the virus out. 

With Brazil confirming Latin America’s first case, the potentially deadly disease has now reached every corner of the globe after emerging in Wuhan in late 2019.

As officials around the world battle to contain the disease that experts believe can spread without showing symptoms, China is now facing a fresh challenge – keeping it out.

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This week the number of new cases of the virus outside China exceeded those inside the country for the first time.

Now, news that the infection had been carried into the country by a traveller from Iran raised the ire of users on social media. Many fumed the drastic lockdown measures the country had taken may have been in vain.
 

China’s local authorities said a case of “imported coronavirus” had been found in the Ningxia region, after a 23-year old translator returned from Iran where he worked.

A detailed report in state media said the man, known as Ding, travelled via Moscow, used a ride sharing app and took an overnight train.

A hashtag about the Ningxia case ratcheted up 100 million views on China’s Weibo platform.

“So many domestic efforts can’t be wasted because of the overseas arrival!” one online user wrote in a comment echoed by many others.

One user pointed out that the patient came back into China along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative — President Xi Jinping’s signature global infrastructure project.

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China is now facing the ironic possibility of adopting “targeted prevention and control measures” for those coming into the country. People landing in the Chinese capital from countries hit by the epidemic will have to self-quarantine.

It comes after other countries around the world banned flights from China in a bid to stop the virus getting out.

The new virus has infected more than 82,000 people and killed 2,800 worldwide since it originated in late December in China’s Hubei province

Northern Italy, South Korea, Japan and Iran have been particularly hard hit. Eleven towns in Italy have been locked down while authorities work to track the source of the disease. It has also spread throughout Europe’s open border network, including to Croatia, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Greece.

“Viruses don’t know borders and they don’t stop at them,” said Roberto Speranza, the Italian health minister, as towns in the country’s north remained under armed guard and supermarket shelves were bare.
 

EVENTS, FLIGHTS CANCELLED 

Countries around the world are scambling to contain the outbreak with flights and major events cancelled at short notice to prevent crowds mingling and spreading the disease.

Fear over the impact the virus could have has seen $A4.6 trillion wiped from the stock market this week. US Treasuries yields hit record lows on Thursday as the coronavirus spread faster outside China and investors fled to safe havens.

In Japan, nearly 13 million students have been told to stay home from 34,847 schools until spring holidays in late March.

“The coming week or two is an extremely important time,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. “This is to prioritise the health and safety of the children and take precautions to avoid the risk of possible large-scale infections for many children and teachers who gather and spend hours together every day.”
 

In the UK 15 cases have been confirmed and several schools have been shut down with some pupils told to self-isolate after trips to Italy. St Thomas’s Battersea – where Prince George, 6, and Prince Charlotte, 4, attend, is among those where four students are staying home due to virus fears.

St Thomas’s said: “Like all schools, we are taking very seriously the potential risks related to the spread of Covid-19 and to this end we are following the Government’s instructions to the letter on infection prevention and case management in which it is suspected that some staff member or students exposed to the virus or showing any symptoms.

“We currently have a very small number of students who have been evaluated and these individuals currently remain in their homes waiting to receive the results of their exams.
 

In Saudi Arabia, the monarchy cut off access for foreigners to the holy city of Mecca and the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina to stop the spread of the virus. The holy sites could still be shuttered in July when millions of Muslims plan to undertake the hajj.

“We ask God almighty to spare all humanity from all harm,” the country said.

Iran has also confirmed cases have spiked by over 100 to 254. Twenty-six people have died making it the highest death toll outside China.