'Stress test': Coronavirus fatalities rise to 361 in China
The death toll in China from the deadly coronavirus outbreak that originated in the central city of Wuhan, rose to at least 361 on Monday, as the Philippines became the first country outside China to confirm a death from the infection.
The National Health Commission said there were 57 new fatalities on Sunday, all but one of them in Hubei, which has been effectively sealed off from the rest of the country for more than a week.
The total deaths nationwide was at least 361, with 17,205 people across the country infected with the virus, after 2,829 new cases reported.
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Other countries have rushed to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan and Hubei, while many have also imposed extraordinary travel restrictions on travellers to and from China. Wuhan is the capital of Hubei.
Many of those brought out of Wuhan have been put in quarantine for 14 days and monitored for any sign of the infection. About 150 cases have been reported in two dozen other countries.
Dr Ali Khan, the Dean at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, told Al Jazeera the outbreak was a significant test of the world's public health systems.
"What we have available to us is good public health measures," Dr Khan said. "That means identifying those that are sick, getting them into the correct hospitals and making sure we do good contact tracing. This new coronavirus is a stress test of emergency preparedness of public health capabilities in countries worldwide."
Here are the latest updates:
Monday, February 3
China completes new hospital for virus patients
China completed building a 1,000-bed hospital for treating patients of the new coronavirus in just 10 days.
A second hospital with 1,500 beds is under construction.
China virus
A corridor between patient rooms at the Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan. The field facility was built in just 10 days [Shepherd Zhou/EPA]
British drugmaker GSK to collaborate with CEPI in coronavirus vaccine effort
British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline is collaborating with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) towards developing a vaccine for the coronavirus outbreak, according to a statement from GSK and CEPI.
GSK will make its "adjuvant platform technology" available for developing a vaccine against the virus.
The use of adjuvant allows for the production of more vaccine doses.
GSK will work with researchers funded by the CEPI with the first agreement signed with Australia's University of Queensland, the statement added.
Coronavirus
There is currently no vaccine available against the coronavirus but several organisations including CEPI, a public-private body based in Norway are working at developing one.
France's Pasteur Institute Foundation said on Friday it had set up a taskforce aimed at developing a vaccine against the virus in 20 months while Germany's research minister said she expected a vaccine to be developed within "a few months".
China stocks brace for virus hit as markets open after extended holiday
China's stock markets are expected to fall on Monday when they reopen after the Lunar New Year holiday that was extended because of the coronavirus outbreak.
INSIDE STORY: Is the response to coronavirus enough? (24:48)
Markets in the world's second-biggest economy have been closed since January 24, and reopen in Shanghai at 9.30am (01:30 GMT).
The government has been marshalling its forces to contain the economic fallout.
The central bank said on Sunday it would pump 1.2 trillion yuan ($173bn) into the economy. The day before it said it would step up monetary and credit support for businesses helping the fight against the virus, such as medical companies.
"Investors will release their emotions at first and then make further decisions based on the epidemic situation and the potential stimulus measures rolled out by the government," said Zhang Qi, an analyst with Haitong Securities.
Read updates from Sunday, February 2 here.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
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