China on Sunday reported its lowest number of new coronavirus infections since January, with nearly all the 44 new cases in the outbreak epicentre Wuhan.
There were 27 new deaths from the virus, all in Wuhan and the lowest in more than a month, bringing the nationwide toll to 3,097, according to the National Health Commission.
Only three cases, all imported from abroad, were reported outside of Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, in Beijing and the northwest province of Gansu.
New infections reported from Hubei have been on a downward trend for several weeks and multiple cities in the province have reported zero new cases in recent days.
A senior government official hinted on Friday that China may soon lift the lockdown on the province imposed in late January, which has effectively restricted the movement of some 56 million people in Hubei.
Nationwide new infections have also been on a downward trend, but confirmed imported cases have prompted fears in recent days that infections could swell as people get infected overseas.
The two cases reported in Beijing Sunday were arrivals from Italy and Spain, the capital's health commission said.
The number of coronavirus cases has risen worldwide to more than 100,000, with 3,500 dead across 95 nations and territories.
Coronavirus: latest developments worldwide
Paris (AFP) March 7, 2020 –
With new tolls and key developments, here is the latest in the coronavirus crisis.
– More than 3,550 deaths –
Across the world there have been almost 105,000 cases recorded in 95 countries and territories with 3,556 deaths, according to AFP's latest toll based on official sources at 1700 GMT Saturday.
The main countries affected are mainland China (80,651 cases, 3,070 deaths), South Korea (6,767 cases, 44 deaths), Italy (5,883 cases, 233 deaths), Iran, (5,823 cases, 145 deaths), France (949 cases, 16 deaths) and Germany (785 cases, no deaths).
Colombia, Costa Rica, Maldives and Malta have announced their first cases.
– Cruise passengers –
The coronavirus was detected in 21 out of 46 people tested on board the cruise ship Grand Princess, moored off the coast of California with 3,533 passengers and crew members.
– Closures –
Russia has closed its borders to foreign travellers from Iran.
The European Central Bank (ECB) asked 3,700 employees based in Frankfurt to carry out a day of telework on Monday, to test its emergency plan in the event of confinement.
Facebook has closed its London offices and part of its premises in Singapore after a worker tested positive.
Nurseries and schools will be closed for two weeks from Monday in two French departments, Oise and Haut-Rhin, where outbreaks have occurred.
– Italian reinforcements –
Italy is to recruit 20,000 health care staff including retired doctors for hospitals and might create new quarantine zones.
– Pope's prayer –
Pope Francis has decided to deliver Sunday's Angelus prayer by livestream to keep crowds from gathering on Saint Peter's Square.
– Quarantine hotel collapse –
Around 70 people were trapped when a hotel used as a coronavirus quarantine facility in eastern China collapsed.
– Economy –
Chinese exports plunged 17.2 percent year-on-year in January-February.
Stock markets, oil prices and interest rates on sovereign debt have plunged.
– Cancellations –
The big cultural festival South by Southwest, which was to be held in mid-March in Austin, Texas, is cancelled.
The Scotland-France rugby match scheduled for Saturday in Glasgow for the Six Nations women's tournament has been postponed after a Scottish player contracted the coronavirus.
The Barcelona marathon has been postponed from March 15 to October 25.
Hungary has cancelled celebrations for its national holiday on March 15.
But Saudi officials reopened the area around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site.
– Dollars in quarantine –
Dollar banknotes on their way back to the United States after being used in Asia are subject to quarantine, for a minimum period of 7-10 days instead of five previously, and up to 60 days.
