February 9 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Kara Fox, Christopher Johnson and Rob Picheta, CNN

Updated 6:29 a.m. ET, February 10, 2021
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6:49 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

"No substantial circulation of Covid in Wuhan before the late 2019 outbreak," Chinese health official says

From CNN's Sandi Sidhu

A WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference is held at the end of a WHO mission to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, on Tuesday, February 9.
A WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference is held at the end of a WHO mission to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, on Tuesday, February 9. Ng Han Guan/AP

WHO's international team of experts investigating the origins of Covid-19 have concluded their four-week mission to Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

They presented a summary of their findings during a joint press conference with Chinese authorities at a hotel in Wuhan on Tuesday, prior to their departure from China.

Liang Wannian, Head of the Expert Panel of COVID-19 Response of China National Health Commission (NHC) said at the "WHO-China Joint Study" press conference that "the findings indicated that there was no substantial unrecognized circulation of #SARScov2 in Wuhan during the latter part of 2019."

He said that the "first part," or the "Chinese part" of the global tracing research has been completed. 

The international team visited the Huanan seafood market that was linked to early case clusters and the hospital where the first cases were detected. 

They visited the Wuhan Institute of Virology and probed data provided by Chinese authorities from Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control.

The field visits concluded on February 6, and the team have been poring over data with Chinese counterparts.

WHO investigators spent fourteen days in quarantine collaborating with Chinese scientists, reviewing data on Zoom calls and conducted field visits in Wuhan to understand more about the origins of the Covid-19 virus.

The WHO team members are expected to depart from China on Tuesday and Wednesday.

4:22 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

40 hospitals across Washington state may have received counterfeit N95 masks, officials say

From CNN's Deanna Hackney and Amir Vera

Hospitals across Washington state thought they were receiving authentic N95 masks -- but it turns out that hundreds of thousands may be counterfeit, officials say.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a fraud alert Friday to the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), stating that 40 hospitals across the state may have received fake masks as part of a shipment of 2 million masks that arrived in December.

The hospital association alerted the 40 hospitals, but many of the masks had already been used, WSHA President and CEO Cassie Sauer told CNN Monday.

"They look and feel and fit and smell just like a 3M Mask," Sauer said.

The masks were purchased by hospitals and by WSHA to distribute to its members, according to the association. More than $1 million was spent on the purchase.

N95 masks are considered the gold standard in personal protective equipment because they block 95% of large and small particles utilizing a unique electrostatic filter.

Read the full story:

3:56 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

It's very risky for states to ease Covid-19 restrictions now, experts warn

From CNN's Christina Maxouris

Experts warned the US could be in the calm before the storm ahead of another possible surge in Covid-19 cases fueled by variants, and urged local and state leaders not to ditch their safety measures and restrictions.

"We're ... seeing what happens in other countries when these variants take over," emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen told CNN Monday night. "There is (an) explosive surge, even when the countries are basically in shutdown."

Wen, who is a former Baltimore City Health Commissioner, added that the US faces "something really potentially catastrophic, and we should be doubling down on the measures that we know to work."

More than 690 cases of Covid-19 variants first spotted in the UK, South Africa and Brazil have been reported in the US, according to CDC data updated Sunday.

Wen's comments follow several state leaders' announcements on easing of Covid-19 safety measures.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced last month the statewide mask mandate would be allowed to expire, telling CNN last week he was not concerned Covid-19 numbers would go up. In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed an executive order ending all mask requirements, gathering restrictions and other public health emergency mandates, while encouraging residents to follow recommended safety guidelines.

And New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday New York City indoor dining can reopen at 25% capacity on February 12.

Read the full story:

3:33 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

Germany edges closer to coronavirus goal — but variants pose a new threat

From CNN's Claudia Otto in Berlin

A medical assistant prepares a rapid antigen Covid-19 test at the Koeln Messe trade fair grounds on February 8 in Cologne, Germany.
A medical assistant prepares a rapid antigen Covid-19 test at the Koeln Messe trade fair grounds on February 8 in Cologne, Germany. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Germany's seven-day Covid-19 case incidence rate has dropped below 100 for the first time in three months, according to its infectious disease agency -- a key metric in the country's fight against the pandemic.

That means in the past week, the Robert Koch Institute only reported 72.8 infections per 100,000 residents.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has consistently told the public the goal is to push infections under the rate of 50 cases per 100,000 residents, in order to start reopening the country. 

The RKI's latest data shows 3,379 new Covid-19 cases and 481 additional deaths. 

The downward trend is promising: However, government spokesman Steffen Seibert warned on Monday that the country's second wave was not yet over.

New mutations pose a worrying threat, particularly the variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, which have increased in recent weeks. Nearly 6% of all German cases are of the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in the UK, according to RKI.

3:29 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

Iran begins rolling out Russia's Sputnik V vaccine

From CNN's Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran

In this photo released by Imam Khomeini Airport City, Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines are being unloaded at the Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on February 4.
In this photo released by Imam Khomeini Airport City, Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines are being unloaded at the Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on February 4. Saeed Kaari/IKAC/AP

Iran has started its rollout of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine on Tuesday, according to a live broadcast on state television.  

Nurses and doctors working in intensive care units will be among the first inoculated, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency, citing Health Minister Saeed Namaki.

Iran has been the hardest-hit country in the Middle East in total Covid-19 cases and deaths. On Monday, the country reported 7,321 new infections, bringing the national total to 1,473,756 cases since the pandemic began.

Restrictions are still in place around the country to prevent a larger outbreak of cases. 

2:27 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

Rise in attacks on elderly Asian Americans prompts new special response unit

From CNN's Eric Levenson, Stephanie Becker and Dan Simon

Several unprovoked attacks on elderly Asian Americans, including at least three in the Bay Area captured in disturbing videos in recent days, have raised concerns about anti-Asian discrimination related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At a news conference in Oakland's Chinatown on Monday, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley announced the creation of a special response unit focused on crimes against Asians, and particularly older Asians.

"The rapid increase in criminal acts targeted against members of the Asian community, particularly Chinese Americans, who live and work in Alameda County is intolerable," she said.

The new unit stems from two similar attacks in northern California last week as well as a spate of crime in Oakland's Chinatown.

In San Francisco, Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old from Thailand, died after he was abruptly attacked while out on a morning walk January 28, according to San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and elder abuse in the case, he said.

"This was a horrific, senseless attack, and I send my deepest condolences to the Ratanapakdee family for this unthinkable pain," Boudin said in a statement. "My heart goes out to the entire (Asian American Pacific Islander) community for the harm and fear this tragedy has inflicted."

Read the full story:

1:43 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

130 Hong Kong students put into quarantine after 2 classmates test positive for Covid-19

From CNN's Chandler Thornton

At least 130 students and five teachers from a Hong Kong high school were placed into quarantine after two students tested positive for Covid-19.

According to authorities, the infected students recently sat examinations at the Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School.

"As the two students attended the school for exams during the infectious period, those who had stayed in the same hall with them will be put under quarantine while others must undergo compulsory testing," the Hong Kong government said in a news release on Monday. 

Authorities are still counting the total number of people who were at the school for exams during the same time as the infected students.

The two infected students live in the same building, the government added.

"The total number of students in the other forms may be several hundred, so they will need to undergo testing. Also, the household members of those who have been put under quarantine will be subject to a compulsory testing order," the news release read.

Hong Kong reported 32 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, 28 of which were locally transmitted.

1:24 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

US reports more than 86,000 new Covid-19 cases

From CNN's Joe Sutton in Atlanta

The United States reported 86,646 new cases of Covid-19 and 1,465 additional virus-related deaths on Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

That raises the national total to at least 27,094,014 infections and 464,941 fatalities since the pandemic began.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.   

Vaccines: At least 59,307,800 vaccine doses have been distributed and at least 42,417,617 shots administered, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CNN is tracking US cases.

1:08 a.m. ET, February 9, 2021

Peru's coronavirus vaccine rollout begins Tuesday

From CNN’s Sharif Paget in Atlanta and Claudia Rebaza in London

A health worker prepares a syringe to inoculate a volunteer with a Covid-19 vaccine from China’s Sinopharm during its trial at the Clinical Studies Center of the Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru on December 9, 2020.
A health worker prepares a syringe to inoculate a volunteer with a Covid-19 vaccine from China’s Sinopharm during its trial at the Clinical Studies Center of the Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru on December 9, 2020. Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images

Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti will be vaccinated with China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday, signaling the start of the country's inoculation program, state news agency Andina reported Monday.

"The process will begin tomorrow (Tuesday) with the vaccination of the President. We are happy as this restores hope of tackling the health crisis," Nancy Olivares, Peru's vaccination team coordinator at the Ministry of Health, told a Peruvian news show. 

Sagasti will be vaccinated along with frontline health care workers during the first phase of the rollout, Olivares said. 

Peru took delivery of its first shipment of 300,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine on Sunday and expects to receive the remaining 700,000 shots on February 14.

Peru, with a population of more than 32 million people, has reported nearly 1.2 million Covid-19 cases.