February 19 coronavirus news

By Ben Westcott, Adam Renton, Jack Guy and Ivana Kottasová, CNN

Updated 1745 GMT (0145 HKT) December 21, 2020
39 Posts
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12:03 p.m. ET, February 19, 2020

US health agency issues coronavirus-related travel advisory for Hong Kong

From CNN's Michael Nedelman and Nadia Kounang

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new travel advisory today for Hong Kong due to the coronavirus outbreak.

This is the only coronavirus-related travel advisory the agency has issued outside of mainland China. 

The CDC advises travelers to “practice usual precautions,” in accordance with a “Watch - Level 1” notice of three possible levels.These precautions include avoiding contact with sick people and cleaning hands. The agency also advises people to seek medical advice if they have spent time in Hong Kong during the last two weeks and feel ill with fever or respiratory symptoms. 

"At this time, CDC does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to Hong Kong,” the agency posted on its website on Wednesday. 

The agency currently lists mainland China as “Warning - Level 3” and advises travelers to “avoid nonessential travel.” The notice excludes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. 

11:09 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

Scientists on coronavirus origin rumors: "Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear"

From CNN's Michael Nedelman

Scientists around the world are slamming and debunking conspiracy theories that the novel coronavirus has its origins not in animals, but in a Chinese laboratory, according to a statement published today in the medical journal The Lancet. 

"We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin,” wrote the 27 authors, citing studies from scientists in multiple countries that have analyzed the virus’ genetic makeup.

These studies "overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens.”

"Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus," the scientists wrote in a statement.

What this is about: CNN previously reported statements by Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas this week on Fox News saying that “this virus did not originate in the Wuhan animal market” and implying that it may have started in a laboratory not far away. "We don't have evidence that this disease originated there ... but we at least have to ask the question,” Cotton said.

9:35 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

Singapore confirms 3 more coronavirus cases

From CNN's Akanksha Sharma in Hong Kong

Singapore’s Ministry of Health reported three new cases of the novel coronavirus today, bringing the nationwide total to 84 confirmed cases.

Here's a look at the new cases:

  • The first is a 57 year-old woman who is a Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China. On Saturday, she was admitted as a dengue patient in a general ward comprising of other patients at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. However, yesterday afernoon, subsequent test results confirmed she’s infected with the novel coronavirus. She has been isolated since. Patients who had shared the same room as her have also been tested for the novel coronavirus. Their results are pending.
  • The second case is a 54 year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China, but who travels frequently to Malaysia for work purposes. He was confirmed to have the novel coronavirus on Wednesday morning and is currently in isolation.
  • The third case involves a 35 year-old female Singapore Citizen.Though she has no recent travel history to China, she is linked to another previously confirmed case. This case involves a 28 year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China but he is linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God.
8:32 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

China expelled 3 journalists over a coronavirus opinion piece. Here's how foreign correspondents are reacting.

From CNN's Jack Guy

The Chinese government announced today that it would revoke the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters, the largest such expulsion of overseas media from the country in recent years.

What this is about: Chinese officials say the expulsion was due to an opinion piece the Wall Street Journal published earlier this month, entitled "China is the real sick man of Asia." It criticized China's initial reaction to the coronavirus epidemic and hypothesized what effect the outbreak might have on the country's economy and political system.

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) — a group of journalists based in China — expressed "deep concern and strong condemnation" over the expulsion.

The group said China's move "is an extreme and obvious attempt by the Chinese authorities to intimidate foreign news organizations by taking retribution against their China-based correspondents."

"FCCC member correspondents and their colleagues in China are suffering from an increasing frequency of harassment, surveillance and intimidation from authorities," said the statement.

"The expulsion of these three WSJ reporters is only the latest, and most alarming, measure authorities have taken."

China has not expelled a foreign correspondent since 1998, according to the FCCC. 

8:10 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

Here's where coronavirus cases have been reported around the world

Here's a look at where the cases are throughout the world, according to World Health Organization data.

These numbers may differ from those reported by national health authorities, who report updated totals at different times than the WHO.

7:54 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

What's happening on the Diamond Princess cruise ship?

Here's a look at the situation on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The case numbers here are from World Health Organization data that may differ from those reported by national health authorities, who report updated totals at different times to the WHO.

7:39 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

Scientists slam conspiracy theories about novel coronavirus origins

From CNN Health’s Michael Nedelman

Scientists around the world are slamming and debunking conspiracy theories that the novel coronavirus has its origins not in animals, but in a Chinese laboratory, according to a statement published Wednesday in the medical journal The Lancet.

"We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin,” wrote the 27 authors, citing studies from scientists in multiple countries that have analyzed the virus’ genetic makeup.

These studies "overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens.”

A security guard stands outside the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan on January 24. Chinese health authorities closed the market after it was discovered that wild animals sold there may be the source of the virus.
A security guard stands outside the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan on January 24. Chinese health authorities closed the market after it was discovered that wild animals sold there may be the source of the virus. Credit: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images

CNN previously reported statements by Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas this week on Fox News, who said “this virus did not originate in the Wuhan animal market” and implied it may have started in a laboratory not far away.

"We don't have evidence that this disease originated there ... but we at least have to ask the question,” Cotton said.

In the newly published statement, the scientists said: “Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus."

7:21 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

Iran confirms first two coronavirus cases

From CNN's Fred Pleitgen in Tehran

Iran has confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus, the country’s health ministry announced Wednesday. 

"In the past two days we came across several suspicious cases of possible coronavirus in Qom. As soon soon as we received the reports our identification teams for contagious diseases were dispatched to Qom," said health ministry spokesman Kianoosh Jahanpour in a statement. 

"The suspicious cases were isolated according to protocol and medical samples taken. Several minutes ago the central laboratory confirmed that the result of the initial test of two of the suspect cases has come back positive for coronavirus," he added.

The teams for contagious disease control are in Qom, a city located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) south of Tehran, the statement adds. 

7:11 a.m. ET, February 19, 2020

Adidas says business activity in China has dropped 85% due to coronavirus

From Chris Liakos, CNN Business

A security guard wearing a protective face mask stands on duty at an Adidas store in Beijing on February 8.
A security guard wearing a protective face mask stands on duty at an Adidas store in Beijing on February 8. Credit: Roman Pilipey/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

German sportswear giant Adidas released updated guidance Wednesday revealing its business activity in China has dropped 85% because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

“Our business activity in Greater China has been around 85% below the prior year level since Chinese New Year on January 25,” said the company, adding that other markets such as Japan and South Korea have also seen a decline in traffic.

Adidas said their business in China performed strongly the first three weeks of the year, but since then there has been “a material negative impact” on operations due to the outbreak.

The company has shut down a significant number of stores – both own- and partner-operated – and has observed a pronounced traffic reduction within the remaining store fleet, according to the guidance.

Another big German sports firm, Puma, also warned warned about the impact of the virus on its bottom-line.

“After a good start into 2020, February has of course been negatively affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 [a name for the disease caused by the virus]. The business in China is currently heavily impacted due to the restrictions and safety measures implemented by the authorities," the company said.

"Business in other markets, especially in Asia, is suffering from lower numbers of Chinese tourists.”

Both Adidas and Puma said it is impossible to forecast the overall impact of the virus at this point in time.