February 5 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton and Amy Woodyatt, CNN

Updated 0228 GMT (1028 HKT) February 6, 2020
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9:13 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

Our live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak has moved here.

6:58 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

Confirmed cases of Wuhan coronavirus in China increases to 28,018

From CNN's Carly Walsh

The number of confirmed cases of Wuhan coronavirus in China increased to 28,018, by the end of day Wednesday, according to the National Health Commission. That number reflects an increase of 3,694 cases from the previous day.

6:36 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

Flight diverted to LAX after being notified of three passengers onboard who had been in China

From CNN's Sarah Moon

A Korean Air flight carrying over 200 passengers from Seoul, South Korea (ICN) to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas was diverted to Los Angeles' LAX airport after being notified of three US citizens onboard that had been to China within the past 14 days, Korean Air spokesperson Jill Chung told CNN. 

The three people are being screened at LAX right now and the plane is headed to Las Vegas with the rest of the passengers, Chung said. 

Federal Aviation Administration also confirmed the flight was diverted saying, “Korean Airlines Flight 005, a Boeing 777 flying from Seoul to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, diverted to LAX and landed without incident around 2:30 p.m.”

 

6:04 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

Coronavirus outbreak death toll climbs to 564 globally

From CNN’s Steven Jiang in Beijing

The Hubei health authority reported that 70 more people died after contracting the coronavirus in Hubei province on Wednesday, raising the Hubei death toll since the beginning of the outbreak to 549.

This brings the total number of deaths in mainland China to at least 562. The global death toll is 564, with one death in Hong Kong and one death in the Philippines.    

Authorities confirmed an additional 2,987 cases of the virus in Hubei on Wednesday, which brings the total number of cases in the epicenter of the outbreak to 19,665. 

There has been 14,314 patients have been hospitalized in Hubei, including 756 who are in critical condition, according to the health authority. 

The number of confirmed cases in mainland China is at least 27,378. The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases now stands at 27,602.

5:54 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

Wisconsin coronavirus patient is isolated at home

From CNN's Shelby Lin Erdman

The 12th US person with a confirmed case of Wuhan coronavirus is isolated at home in Wisconsin, according to officials at UW Health.

“The patient did not require hospitalization. They are currently in home isolation and doing well,” Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control at UW Health, said during a press conference today. “In this case, they did not have clinical symptoms that warranted hospitalization.”

Safdar said the medical center has a “very involved protocol that was put into play” when the patient sought care at UW Health on Jan. 30.

“When somebody comes in, they’re asked questions about travel history, whether they traveled to the relevant areas in question and whether they have symptoms of a respiratory nature,” Safdar said. “When there’s a positive answer to those questions they are taken back into a private room, that’s called a negative pressure room to prevent spreading the virus to anyone else. The health care workers that enter the room are fully garbed up with gowns, gloves, eye protection and face masks.”

Wisconsin’s Division of Public Health and UW Health are investigating the patient’s close contacts.

The patient is an adult who traveled from Beijing and was exposed to known cases while in China, UW Health said in an earlier news release.

4:02 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

General Motors is working to make sure its supply chain is not disrupted during outbreak

From CNN's Chris Isidore

General Motors cars are assembled at an auto plant in Wuhan.
General Motors cars are assembled at an auto plant in Wuhan. AFP/Getty Images

General Motors CEO Mary Barra told investors today that the company’s "thoughts and focus has been our people,” but added that they're working with their Chinese partner and health authorities to make sure their supply chain is not disrupted.

"It’s a very fluid situation,” Barra said at an investor conference following GM’s earnings report. “As we learn more, we’ll provide more updates."

GM has a large manufacturing plant in Wuhan — ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak. The plant employs nearly 6,000 people, about 10% of GM's total work force in China. 

The most interesting coronavirus wrinkle from GM is that the president of GM China, Matt Tsien, flew in last week to participate in today’s investor conference. But due to "an abundance of caution," he's participating by calling in rather than speaking in person.

Ford also had little hard info about the coronavirus on its own earnings call on Tuesday.

CEO Jim Hackett said the Ford team is “proactively monitoring the situation on several fronts, including the safety of our employees and their families. This is paramount.”

Hackett added that Ford is also monitoring their supply chain, but that its “too early” to tell the effect the coronavirus will have on its business.

Last week: Ford banned travel to, from and inside China, telling employees who had traveled there to quarantine themselves for 14 days after returning.

3:07 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

Pentagon approves additional housing support in Nebraska for quarantine efforts

Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has approved additional housing support at Camp Ashland in Nebraska for up to 75 people, the Pentagon said in a statement Wednesday.

The housing will be provided to people “who may need to be quarantined upon arrival from overseas travel due to the novel coronavirus,” the Pentagon said.

The approval followed a request for assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services.

3:06 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

12th confirmed case of coronavirus in US

From CNN Health’s Jacqueline Howard

Alissa Eckert/Dan Higgins/CDC
Alissa Eckert/Dan Higgins/CDC

The 12th confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus in the US has been reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

There are now 12 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the US and the first confirmed case in Wisconsin.

Six cases have been confirmed in California, one in Massachusetts, one in Washington state, one in Arizona, two in Illinois and one in Wisconsin. There are two instances of person-to-person transmission, one in Illinois and one in California.

By the numbers: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed 293 people under investigation for the coronavirus in 36 states as of Feb. 5, according to an update posted to the agency's website today. Among them, 206 were negative and 76 are still pending. These numbers are cumulative since Jan. 21.

 

2:48 p.m. ET, February 5, 2020

All 11 US coronavirus patients are "doing well," CDC official says

From CNN Health’s Jacqueline Howard

Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

All 11 patients diagnosed with the coronavirus in the United States are “doing well,” according to an official with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The 11 US patients, as far as I know, are all doing well,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "The ones who were sicker have improved.”

The CDC plans to continue to monitor each patient's health.