Agencies, BEIJING: The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 560 people and infected over 28,000 — the vast majority in China. Outside mainland China, it has spread to over 25 countries and territories, infected more than 250 and killed two people.
Close to 60 million people remain under lockdown in China, with three cities reporting over a thousand confirmed cases each.
Thousands of people are being quarantined on two cruise ships, docked in Japan and Hong Kong, after former passengers were confirmed to have the virus. Two newborns in Wuhan have been infected, according to China’s state broadcaster. The youngest was diagnosed at 30 hours old.
The death toll and number of people infected by the Wuhan coronavirus continues to grow, with no signs of slowing despite severe quarantine and population control methods put in place in central China.
The number of confirmed cases globally stood at 28,256 as of Thursday morning, with more than 28,000 of those in China. The number of cases in China grew by 3,694, or 15%, on the previous day. There have been 563 deaths so far, all but two of which were in China, with one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong.
Two newborn babies in Wuhan, China, have been infected with the coronavirus, according to China‘s state broadcaster CCTV. The youngest baby was diagnosed at just 30 hours old. The baby’s mother was also infected with the virus, and CCTV suggested that “there may be mother-infant transmission” where the mother passes the virus on to the baby in utero.
Hong Kong announced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all people entering the semi-autonomous city from the Chinese mainland, including residents. The move comes after all but three border crossings were closed to try and contain the virus.
