Zoom News : Jan 28, 2020, 01:02 PM
The first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Germany, a spokesman for the Bavarian Health Ministry announced late Monday. The man who contracted the virus is from Starnberg, 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Munich, and is in a "medically good state," according to the health authority.The ministry released a statement saying he was under surveillance in an isolation ward and that the risk of infection for the people of Bavaria is currently considered to be "low."
"People who have been in contact (with the patient) have been informed in detail about possible symptoms, hygiene measures and transmission channels," the statement added.
It also confirmed there would be a press conference regarding the issue on Tuesday morning.
Death toll passes 100
The new virus, which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan and can cause a pneumonia-like acute respiratory infection, has so far killed at least 106 people and infected more than 4,500 others in China, while cases of the illness have also been reported across the globe. Countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States, France and Australia have all confirmed patients who have contracted the disease.
Facebook restricts China travelThe US and Canada warned their citizens against traveling to Hubei province where Wuhan is located. Additionally, the US urged American nationals to reconsider any travel plans involving China. Separately, France, Morocco and Japan were preparing to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan. Several EU countries, including Germany, are also working on plans to fly their citizens out of the affected region.
Social media giant Facebook also told employees to halt any nonessential travel to mainland China in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. Employees who had traveled to China were encouraged to work from home.
The company took the steps "[o]ut of an abundance of caution," a spokesman told Reuters.
"People who have been in contact (with the patient) have been informed in detail about possible symptoms, hygiene measures and transmission channels," the statement added.
It also confirmed there would be a press conference regarding the issue on Tuesday morning.
Death toll passes 100
The new virus, which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan and can cause a pneumonia-like acute respiratory infection, has so far killed at least 106 people and infected more than 4,500 others in China, while cases of the illness have also been reported across the globe. Countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States, France and Australia have all confirmed patients who have contracted the disease.
Facebook restricts China travelThe US and Canada warned their citizens against traveling to Hubei province where Wuhan is located. Additionally, the US urged American nationals to reconsider any travel plans involving China. Separately, France, Morocco and Japan were preparing to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan. Several EU countries, including Germany, are also working on plans to fly their citizens out of the affected region.
Social media giant Facebook also told employees to halt any nonessential travel to mainland China in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. Employees who had traveled to China were encouraged to work from home.
The company took the steps "[o]ut of an abundance of caution," a spokesman told Reuters.