Coronavirus: Here's What We Know So Far
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Since its outbreak in December 2019, the Novel Coronavirus has infected 37 558 people globally, causing 813 deaths in total as of 10 February 2020. Whilst the epidemic has been primarily confined to the Asia region, the degree of spread and increasing number of identified cases in regions outside of China has deemed its declaration as a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation as a necessity. The global scare that it has caused is likely to continue as the number of cases with transmission outside China rises.
In China, a travel ban has been imposed by the authority in multiple cities, including Wuhan, the origin of the outbreak, and the four major cities: Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing. As the circulation of information in the country is restricted, fears among the global public grow as fragmented information leaks have suggested conditions within China to be more severe than is reflected in official reports.
Outside Mainland China, prevalence of the virus is greatest in countries like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore and have been the most affected by the outbreak. A total of 175 people have been tested positive for the coronavirus on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, currently quarantined at Yokohama, Japan. The outbreak has had adverse impacts across a variety of sectors and industries; its impact on daily life being the most detrimental and impactful. Shortages of daily necessities such as facial tissues and surgical masks have occurred in Hong Kong, with scenes of empty shelves observed in supermarkets, devoid of food and basic supplies.
Despite there being no reported cases in some countries in the Asia region, this is unlikely to reflect the complete picture. In the case of Indonesia, which has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists escaping the outbreak back in their country, recent study by Harvard University public health researchers reveal that Indonesia should have reported a case of coronavirus outbreak, but the state has yet to inform the WHO of any confirmed cases. The Indonesian government has criticised the study, insisting it was on high alert. Similar worries exist about potential outbreaks in countries with weaker, less advanced healthcare systems, including African countries, which are also a popular destination for the Chinese.
WHO has been criticised for its inefficiency in tackling the outbreak, with an online petition calling for the resignation of the Director General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, which has gained over 350,000 signatures.
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