The United Kingdom has confirmed its first two cases of the new coronavirus, a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global emergency.
At least 213 have died in China, as more countries announced plans to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak.
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Beijing said there are at least 9,809 people confirmed to have the infection, which has spread from Wuhan's Hubei province to every one of China's 31 provinces.
Another 102,000 people were also reportedly under medical observation with possible symptoms of the respiratory ailment.
Here are the latest updates:
Friday, January 31
Russia confirms first cases of coronavirus, cancels flights
Russia has reported its first two cases of coronavirus, saying the infected patients were Chinese nationals who had now been isolated.
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said the patients are in the Zabaikalsky region, which borders China, and in the Tyumen region, which borders Kazakhstan.
Golikova told reporters that all direct flights to China from Russia would be halted from 2100GMT on Friday.
Read more about which countries have confirmed cases of coronavirus here.
Companies in Beijing to resume work on Feb 10
China's capital Beijing has said that companies in the province will postpone reopening until February 10 in order to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, government newspaper Beijing Daily reported.
The measure is applicable to government and private companies but not to utilities and some other firms such as medical equipment companies, pharmaceutical companies and supermarkets, the newspaper reported.
Myanmar turns back China Southern flight
Authorities in Myanmar have turned back a China Southern flight from Guangzhou with almost everyone on board after one of the passengers was found with flu symptoms similar to the fast-spreading coronavirus, a government spokesman said.
The plane arrived in the commercial capital Yangon and the passenger, a Chinese national, was sent to a hospital in the city where he will be quarantined, said government spokesman Zaw Htay.
Two Myanmar nationals who also disembarked have agreed to isolate themselves in their homes for 14 days, he told reporters at a press conference.
The plane returned to Gaungzhou with everyone else on board. Myanmar has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
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Pakistan decides not to evacuate citizens from Wuhan |
Second Chinese film premiere moved online
The film Enter the Fat Dragon will premiere via video streaming on Saturday, makers China iQiyi Inc said, after plans for the film's premiere in cinemas were affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus;.
It will be the second film to debut online because of the outbreak following Huanxi Media Group's decision to premiere Lost in Russia on Bytedance's online platforms.
That decision drew protests from Chinese cinemas and film studios.
Plane evacuating French nationals from Wuhan lands
The first plane repatriating about 200 French nationals from China landed in France, French TV station BFM reported.
BFM said the plane had arrived at a military base in Istres, southern France, and was carrying around 200 people.
Italy declares state of emergency over coronavirus: Official
The Italian government has declared a state of emergency to fast-track efforts to prevent the spread of a deadly coronavirus strain after two cases were confirmed in Rome.
Italy had said on Thursday it was stopping all flights to and from China following the news that two Chinese tourists holidaying in Italy had tested positive for the virus.
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South Korean officials face anger over coronavirus quarantine centres |
Number of cases in China rises over 9,800: Ambassador
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China has risen over 9,800, the country's envoy to the United Nations in Vienna said.
"Altogether there are 9,809 confirmed cases. Among them, there are 1,527 cases of critical conditions, (plus) 15,238 suspected cases," the ambassador, Wang Qun - speaking through an interpreter - told member states and reporters.
He added that there had been 213 deaths.
Singapore introduces new travel restrictions
Singapore said it was suspending entry to travelers with a recent history of travel to China and suspending visas for Chinese passport holders.
The ban, effective from Saturday, will exempt Singaporean residents and work permit holders, the health ministry said, adding that it will also apply to those transiting through Singapore, a busy global travel hub.
Italy to discuss declaring coronavirus emergency
Italy's government is set to discuss declaring a state of national emergency over the new coronavirus, after confirming its first two cases, a cabinet statement said on Friday.
Evacuation of Germans from Wuhan to begin shortly: FM
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that a German military plane would be leaving for China shortly to evacuate more than 100 German citizens, none of whom are infected with coronavirus or suspected of having contracted it.
Maas said the plane would arrive in Germany on Saturday and the evacuees would be kept in quarantine for two weeks.
UK confirms first cases of coronavirus
The United Kingdom has confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus in two patients from the same family in England, England's chief medical officer said.
"The patients are receiving specialist NHS care, and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus," Chris Whitty said.
"The NHS is extremely well-prepared and used to managing infections and we are already working rapidly to identify any contact the patients had, to prevent further spread," he added.
Read the full story here.
Thailand confirms first case of human-to-human transmission
Thailand has confirmed its first human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus inside the country, a health official said.
The patient is a Thai taxi driver, said Tanarak Pipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control.
"The Thai person who got infected does not have the record of travelling to China and it is likely that he was infected from a sick traveler from China," Tanarak said.
Read more about which countries have confirmed cases of coronavirus here.
Oman advises against travelling to China
Oman's health ministry has advised against travel to China.
"It is advisable not to travel to China unless it is absolutely necessary," the ministry said in a post on Twitter.
Facebook to remove coronavirus misinformation
Facebook has said it will take down misinformation about the coronavirus in a rare departure from its approach to health content.
The company said in a blog post that it would remove content about the virus "with false claims for conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations and local health authorities," saying such content would violate its ban on misinformation leading to "physical harm".
Turkish Airlines halts all flights to and from mainland China
Turkish Airlines has suspended all flights to and from mainland China and is redirecting four flights currently in the air back to Istanbul.
The flights will be suspended until February 9, while flights to and from Hong Kong will remain in operation, the company said.
