AssistAlert: Coronavirus Update #3

The World Health Organization Declares Coronavirus a Global Health Emergency

January 31, 2020

SITUATION BRIEF

On Thursday, January 30, the World Health Organization declared the novel 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak a global public health emergency. The announcement was made after the first case of person-to-person transmission outside of China was confirmed. Such decision is a call on countries to coordinate their efforts to control the outbreak, communicate the risks, implement preventive measures, identify treatments, and minimize social and economic impacts.

 

As of Friday, January 31st at 10:00 EST, the number of confirmed cases has increased to 9,776 including 9,670 cases in Mainland China and Hong Kong and 106 cases spread out internationally. The death toll has now exceeded 200.

 

TRAVEL IMPACT

The impact of this new outbreak on travel is colossal and the list of countries that have urged their citizens against travel to China continues to grow overnight. The U.S. State Department raised the level of their warning to “Do Not Travel”, urging Americans not to travel to China. Singapore decided to close its border to people coming from China and foreigners that have visited China in the past 14 days. It announced the country will not issue visas to Chinese nationals. Mongolia stated that it too would bar visitors from China and shut its border. Russia and Kazakhstan are also among those countries that declared they would close their borders, stopping all rail and bus services with China.

 

As the number of cases is now exceeding 10,000 patients and over 200 deaths, airlines around the world have canceled or reduced flight service to China. Reasons for the decisions involve fear of the virus spreading and reduced demand for travel to China. Some airlines have canceled flights until the end of March and April. Besides canceling flights, most carriers have also suspended their reservations. Beijing and Shanghai are by far the most affected cities, although Hong Kong has also seen cutbacks. The airline carriers that have canceled flights to China include: 

Regional rail service is also impacted. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced that the high-speed rail line between Hong Kong and Mainland China would be closed beginning January 30th. The outbreak’s epicenter, Hubei Province, is still on lock down as of January 31st with domestic rail service to and from Wuhan area still discontinued until the outbreak is under control. 
 

While all this sounds incredibly alarming, most people infected with the virus will make a full recovery just like they would from the normal flu. According to Chinese media, China’s National Health Commission said that those most at risk are the elderly or people with pre-existing health conditions.

TRAVEL ADVICE