Updated on 3 February 2020
The Situation:
As of Monday, 3 February, over 17,400 confirmed novel coronavirus cases worldwide and 362 deaths. The first death was reported this past weekend outside of China with the death of a 44-year-old man in the Philippines. The trend remains that the majority of confirmed cases have had direct connections to recent travel to Wuhan – the capital of Hubei province – or close contact with someone who had recently traveled there and was infected. China’s Health Commission reported on 2 February there were 475 recoveries and 361 deaths nationwide, which health experts take as a positive sign that this virus is not as deadly as the SARs outbreak of 2002-2003. The SARS outbreak had a mortality rate of 9.6%, while the coronavirus has about a 2% mortality rate.
There have been cases of human-to-human transmission reported in, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, the U.S., France and Thailand. Chinese officials warn that the virus might spread during the incubation period – when a person has the virus but isn’t yet showing symptoms. Incubation period is currently believed to be anywhere from 1 to 14 days.
The World Health Organization's Emergency Committee met 30 January and declared the outbreak a global emergency amid the recent jump in the number of infected patients and the number of countries impacted. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State announced its highest travel Alert Level 4 – Do Not Travel for all of China late the same night – joining the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the U.S. Center for Disease Control
Number of Confirmed Cases by Country:
**Reports on numbers are expected to change rapidly as the exact impact of the virus is still under investigation and hospitals are increasingly overwhelmed by the current demands.
Mainland China: 17,491 (varying number being reported as some include Hong Kong and Macau)
Australia: 12
Cambodia: 1
Canada: 4
Finland: 1
France: 6
Germany: 10
Hong Kong: 15
India: 2
Italy: 2
Japan: 20
Macau: 8
Malaysia: 8
Nepal: 1
Philippines: 2
Singapore: 18
South Korea: 15
Sri Lanka: 1
Sweden: 1
Taiwan: 10
Thailand: 19
Tibet: 1
U.A.E.: 5
U.S.: 11
U.K.: 2
Vietnam: 6
Death Toll:
China: 361
Philippines: 1
Travel Effects
Chinese authorities have effectively quarantined Wuhan and 12 surrounding cities and advised its citizens not leave unless absolutely necessary
Many other Chinese cities have also chosen to cancel Chinese New Year festivities and major public events indefinitely.
Several countries, such as Japan, US and Australia, established plans to evacuate citizens from impacted areas.
Many countries have urged citizens to reconsider travel or avoid nonessential travel to China and avoid all travel to Hubei.
Airlines around the world suspended services to all or some of China
Several countries banned foreigners who recently traveled to China and/or are Chinese passport holders and increased health screening measure at ports of entry
Symptoms to Watch Out For:
Authorities have advised citizens to be on the lookout for the following symptoms:
High fever
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Cough and/or sore throat
Muscle Aches in some cases also being reported
Pneumonia (secondary infection)
Mitigating Measures to Apply:
Monitor local authorities for updates
Avoid travel to or through Wuhan
Avoid contact with animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat)
Wash hands frequently with soap and water; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water isn’t available
Older travelers and those with underlying health issues may be at higher risk, if traveling to Wuhan and should speak to their healthcare provider before travel
Avoid exposure to those presenting the above symptoms
Allow extra time for temperature screening at airports worldwide
Enroll in a Safe Traveler Program to receive warnings from your preferred embassy
Seek medical care immediately if you experience symptoms and have recently traveled to the infected areas; notify your healthcare provider of your recent travel
DISCLAIMER and Hold Harmless
Disclaimer: LSDSâ„¢ gathers information from multiple sources and offers insight and perspective to travelers. Sources cannot be validated for accuracy in every instance. Travelers assume all risk associated with their travel and are responsible for the decisions associated with travel and for their own safety. Users of this reference document agree, to hold harmless LSDSâ„¢ (LLC) its employees and clients associated with any risk or injury incurred during travel.