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Diary entries will chart the mood of Britain in coronavirus quarantine

People can contribute to projects that aim to leave a map of the national mood and allow future historians a glimpse of 24 hours in a pandemic

“I have underlying health conditions, including asthma,” writes a frightened 40-year-old woman , shortly before Sunday’s news of whether the lockdown will be eased. “I’m terrified to leave the house, even for exercise, but I’m not sick enough to be ‘extremely vulnerable’. Covid-19 could quite probably kill me.”

The anonymous contributor is part of a project called Covid-19 and Me, run jointly by the Young Foundation and the Open University, two of a number of organisations which are asking thousands of men and women of all ages, ethnicities, incomes, beliefs and backgrounds across Britain to keep diaries, complete questionnaires and be interviewed by their peers. They want to know what it is like, at an everyday level, to live through a global pandemic, to create an ongoing “weather map of public feeling”.

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More people think UK has handled coronavirus worse than Spain and Italy, poll shows

Only US is judged to have dealt with it worse, after it was reported the UK has the highest death toll of any country in Europe

More people in this country now believe the UK has performed worse than Italy, Spain and France in the Covid-19 crisis than say it has done better than its European neighbours, according the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.

The data shows that only the United States is judged by a majority of people in the UK to have fared worse. While two weeks ago more people thought that the UK had done better than Italy and Spain, now the reverse is the case.

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Johnson to announce coronavirus warning system for England

Prime minister expected to outline ‘roadmap’ to new normality in address on Sunday

Boris Johnson is expected to unveil a coronavirus warning system for England when he outlines his plans to gradually ease the lockdown.

The prime minister will drop the “stay home” slogan and instead tell the country to “stay alert, control the virus and save lives” when he outlines his “roadmap” to a new normality during an address to the nation on Sunday. Johnson is planning to tell workers who cannot do their jobs from home to begin returning to their workplaces while following social distancing rules.

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Coronavirus live news: three White House Covid-19 taskforce members go into self-quarantine

Anthony Fauci and top advisers from CDC and FDA to work remotely because of potential exposure to Covid-19; global cases pass 4 million; Russia cases approach 200,000. Follow the latest updates

A navy ship carrying evacuees from the Maldives arrived in India today as part of an effort to bring home hundreds of thousands of nationals stranded overseas due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Workers and students were unable to return home after India banned all incoming international flights in late March as part of the world’s biggest lockdown to combat the spread of the deadly infectious disease.

Malaysia’s government extended the time frame for movement and business curbs by another four weeks to 9 June, amid a gradual reopening of economic activity stunted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, businesses were allowed to resume business as usual, albeit under strict health guidelines, after having to close shop for two months as health authorities worked to contain the pandemic. Malaysia has so far reported 6,589 cases with 108 deaths.

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Vaccine orders plummet amid coronavirus outbreak: CDC

Washington (AFP) - Orders for vaccines against diseases such as measles have declined since a national emergency was declared in the United States because of the coronavirus pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.





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House Democrats ask 5 companies to return coronavirus aid

A Democratic-led subcommittee overseeing federal coronavirus aid is demanding that five companies return loans the panel says should have gone to smaller businesses. The subcommittee led by Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., sent letters Friday to the companies as its first official action. The House voted last month to create the panel over the objections of Republicans who say it is partisan and duplicative of other oversight efforts around the federal government.





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Coronavirus: Volunteering at Calais' migrant camps

Tia has decided to work at a migrant camp in Calais instead of returning home to her family during lockdown.




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Coronavirus: Elon Musk vows to move Tesla factory in lockdown row

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the firm will leave California after he is ordered to keep a factory shut.




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Coronavirus: UK sent 50,000 Covid-19 samples to US for testing

The government says "operational issues" in the UK meant 50,000 samples had to be flown to US labs.




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Coronavirus: Number of global cases rises above four million

Experts warn the true number of infections may be higher due to low testing rates in many countries.




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Coronavirus: Obama says US response a 'chaotic disaster'

Ex-president strongly criticises successor Donald Trump over his handling of the coronavirus crisis.




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Coronavirus: White House task force members self-isolate

Top diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci is one of the three members of President Trump's task force to self-isolate.




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Coronavirus: Tests offered at Vienna airport to avoid quarantine

The tests are for people arriving in Austria who want to avoid 14 days of quarantine, and cost €190.




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Coronavirus: The faces smiling behind the masks

Laura Fuchs is capturing New Yorkers who are trying to stay positive in the midst of the pandemic.




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Coronavirus: How South Korea 'crushed' the curve

South Korea was once a Covid-19 hotspot but used technology and testing to avoid a total lockdown.




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Obama lashes out at Trump, calls his response to coronavirus an 'absolute chaotic disaster'

More than 78,400 people with COVID-19 have died in the United States and more than 1.3 million people have tested positive, according to the latest estimates from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University




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Coronavirus update: US FDA okays new antigen tests with fast results

Coronavirus update: Quidel said that the test can provide an accurate, automated result in 15 minutes. The company said it specialises in testing for diseases and conditions including the flu and Lyme disease.




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Coronavirus in Delhi: School teacher involved in distributing ration tests COVID-19 positive

Coronavirus Delhi update: The teacher had last come to school on April 28 and started showing COVID-19 symptoms from May 2. His test report came on Friday




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Coronavirus crisis: Elon Musk threatens to move Tesla HQ out of California over COVID-19 curbs

Musk has been ranting about the stay-home order since the company's April 29 first-quarter earnings were released, calling the restrictions fascist and urging governments to stop taking people's freedom




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Maharashtra coronavirus update: State on edge with cases past 20,000; death toll at 779

Coronavirus in Maharashtra: In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra's COVID-19 positive cases jumped 1,165. Coronavirus has killed as many as 779 people in Maharashtra. The state reported 48 deaths in last one day




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Coronavirus post-lockdown: NDMA issues workplace safety guidelines for industries

The measures comprise 24-hour sanitisation of factory premises, providing face masks and PPEs to all workers, temperature check of all employees twice daily, no sharing of tools, and ensuring physical distancing by raising barriers on work floors as well as dining facilities, among others




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Telly tattle: Gauri Pradhan is proud of sister Geetanjali, a doctor who's one of the frontline Corona warriors

Gauri Pradhan is proud of sister Geetanjali Pradhan who is a doctor and one of the frontline Coronavirus warriors. She also doffs her hat to all the medical professionals fighting the pandemic. Gauri's actor husband Hiten Tejwani has also lauded Geetanjali's accomplishments.

Taking to her Instagram account, Gauri even shared a post and hailed her baby sister's efforts in fighting the pandemic. Have a look right here:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

So proud of my baby sister!And so proud of everyone else who’s doing the same!! #drgeetanjalipradhan #fightagainstcorona #lockdown

A post shared by Gauri (@gpradhan) onMay 7, 2020 at 12:03pm PDT

Miss you, ma

Vikas Sethi is missing his mother Suraksha who is stuck in Ludhiana. She was visiting relatives when the lockdown was announced. As she is a heart patient, it is a cause of worry for him. It's his birthday on May 12, so her absence will be felt even more on his big day. Sethi is waiting for her to return. He will welcome her back home with a tub of her favourite ice cream. It's very unfortunate that there are so many TV and Bollywood actors that are not able to meet their mothers due to the nationwide lockdown.

We guess once the lockdown ends and life comes back to normal, the first thing on the cards for all these actors would be an emotional and a long-overdue reunion with their mothers and their entire family. We only wait for that day and hope it comes soon!

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Coronavirus Outbreak: Uber offers free rides to BMC frontline health workers

In the fight against COVID-19, Uber has extended support by offering free rides to frontline BMC healthcare workers and non-COVID patients in Mumbai through its recently launched UberMedic service.

All UberMedic cars are fitted with a roof-to-floor plastic sheeting enclosing the driver. Additionally, all drivers are being trained in safety procedures and provided with personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, sanitisers and disinfectants to sanitise the cars between rides.

The agreement is part of Uber’s recent offer to provide free rides worth Rs 1 crore to the Maharashtra government. Prabhjeet Singh, Director, Operations and Head of Cities, Uber India & South Asia, said, “The BMC has been working tirelessly to contain the spread of COVID-19. We feel privileged to be supporting them in these challenging times and will help move what matters by leveraging our global experience, technology and network of drivers.”

Uber’s recently launched UberMedic service has been transporting frontline medical workers in 35+ hospitals across 23 Indian cities.

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Coronavirus outbreak: No time for large sarvajanik murti for Ganesh Chaturthi

The city might miss seeing Lord Ganesh in his full glory this year, as work on the gigantic idols, which usually adorn the biggest and richest pandals during Ganesh Chaturthi, has taken a big hit due to the Coronavirus outbreak and the resulting lockdown. Sculptors, who usually start work in May for the annual festival that will be celebrated on August 22 this year, have been forced to put all orders on hold, as raw materials aren't available, and most of the artisans are stuck in their hometowns. The government too, hasn't given permission to begin work. With the lockdown extended till May 17, the sculptors say that mandals might have to settle for scaled-down versions of the idol.

Mumbai has over 10,000 sarvajanik Ganesh mandals. To ensure that the idols are delivered on time, sculptors start work three months in advance, first making the pattern, a rough model, which is then corrected with welding at the workshops. Another 20 days are invested in painting the idol, and giving it the final touches. Mandals usually accept delivery of the idols 10 days before the festival begins.


A Ganesh idol-making workshop at Chinchpokli, where work otherwise begins in May, is currently shut due to the lockdown

With the way the situation has panned out till now, work is unlikely to begin before July. This will leave sculptors with just about a month to complete work. Reshma Khatu, daughter of late sculptor Vijay Khatu, says, "Currently, we have put all the orders and planning on hold and are awaiting the government's decision. The crisis doesn't seem to be nearing an end. We do not want to put our workers at risk. Even if one person is detected COVID-19 positive, work will go for a toss and the entire workshop will be sealed."

The other problem is that at least 70 per cent of the workers employed, hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They work in Maharashtra during May to October. Vijay Kumar Soni, hails from Patna, but is currently stuck in Konkan, where he and his employer Rajan Zaad, have been working on rough designs. "We came here in March, and hence could begin work. Some of the dyes are ready, and we hope to get started on the idols when we return to Mumbai. But, I am not sure if the other workers from Patna will be able to make it on time." Zaad, who is a sculptor from Lalbaug, says that he will be requesting the mandals to accept smaller-sized idols.


Sculptor Rajan Zaad says he intends to request mandals to have smaller-sized idols this year

The raw materials for making the larger idols come from Rajasthan and Kerala, while shadu—a kind of clay used for the sculpture—comes from Gujarat. But transportation has taken the biggest hit, and state borders are sealed.

Ankush Kambli, a sculptor from Parel village, says he has started work from home with the help of his family members but is running out of raw materials. Ditching the ubiquitous plaster of Paris, he has decided to use only shadu. "There is no clarity, if we will be able to get back to our routines of working from a workshop. We understand that there is the need for social distancing and that is the sole reason why we are working from home."


Reshma Khatu

The Brihanmumbai Murtikar Samanvay Samiti, an umbrella body of Ganpati sculptors, has decided to share their concerns with the government. Gajanan Tondvalkar, president of the samiti, and a sculptor in Naigaon, Dadar, says, "We will request the government to help ensure transportation of raw materials, so that we can work from home, at least."

Meanwhile, the city's Ganesh mandals, have decided to put discussions about the festivities on hold. Sudhir Salvi, secretary of Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal, says, "Calls that need to be taken regarding the celebrations will be done once the Coronavirus situation is under control." The secretary of Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal, popularly known as Ganesh Galli Ganpati, Swapnil Parab, says the committee is yet to take a decision and will honour the government's directive.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

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corona

Coronavirus outbreak: Maharashtra has more than 20,000 COVID cases

Maharashtra's count for COVID-19 cases crossed 20,000 cases and the city had 722 new cases on Saturday. The bar of the state's death toll rose higher with 48 deaths, and 27 of them occurred in Mumbai.

State health officials said that while Mumbai has 12,864 COVID-19 cases, an additional 178 cases have been reported, but are yet to be added to the tally. Apart from 27 deaths that occurred in Mumbai, 10 were reported in Pune, eight in Malegaon and one each in Akola, Nanded and Amravati. State health officials said that the 48 deaths had occurred between April 25 and May 8.


Migrant workers, who were walking to MP on the Eastern Expressway, were herded back by policemen before the Mulund Toll Naka. Pic/Sameer Markande

Civic officials said that among the 27 patients who died, 21 of them were suffering from other ailments and three of the patients who died were less than 40 years old. In order to reduce the burden on the city's hospitals, the civic body is now urging people who test positive but have no symptoms to refrain from visiting hospitals. They are encouraging asymptomatic positive patients to visit COVID care centres instead.

Meanwhile, 25 new cases were reported from Dharavi which included one death. Five of the cases were from Mukund Nagar, the slum pocket with the highest concentration of cases. Dharavi alone now has 833 positive cases. Five other cases were reported from Mahim, 18 in Dadar, including eight cases from Kasarwadi.

In order to avoid the spread of the infection as seen in Dharavi, officials from H West ward are sealing the Khar Danda area, which includes slum pockets. The decision was taken after five members of a family in a residential building in the area tested positive earlier this week. "We found a high-risk patient while tracing the contacts of the family that tested positive. We are sealing the area. We are figuring out the arrangements for food," said an official from H West. In other parts of Bandra West, 13 cases have been reported from Shastri Nagar and 14 from the slaugherhouse near the Bandra Railway Station. Civic officials said another 12 cases have been reported from the Nargis Dutt Nagar slums.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

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Even the Coronavirus can't stop rampant Pangolin poaching

It seems that there is rampant poaching of pangolins taking place during the lockdown in the Konkan belt, and their scales are being illegally sold in the local black market. During the raids, the forest department recovered two kilograms of pangolin scales and six nails. The pangolin is one of the most trafficked wild animals across the world as there is a huge international demand for its scales.

Range Forest Officer (RFO), Vaibhav Borate, said, "Based on the tip-off received from our sources, our forest department team raided the house of Kalpesh Tukaram Balgude at Karanjali [Balgudewadi] village near Dapoli. During the search operation of the house, our team recovered one tortoise shell, one jungle hare, and 22 kg of pangolin scales and nails. We have taken the accused into custody and investigation is on."

As evidence related to wildlife trade have been found from the house of the accused, the forest department is exploring the possibility of him doing this regularly. The forest department team has registered an offence under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

According to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) website, "Major threats to pangolins in India are hunting and poaching for local consumptive use and international trade. Another reason for hunting pangolin is its meat. There is now greater evidence of its inclusion in illicit international trade, in particular its scales, from India through Myanmar to China and South-East Asian countries as the most likely, final destinations. Inadequate information on population and distribution further accentuates the threats arising from hunting and poaching."

The Indian Pangolin is found sporadically throughout the plains and lower slopes of hills from south of the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, except the north-eastern region. The Chinese Pangolin is found in India in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and the northern part of West Bengal.

Why Pangolins?

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, for their scales [made of keratin], which are boiled off their bodies for use in traditional medicine. Their meat is a delicacy in Vietnam and China; and their blood, which is considered to be a healing tonic.

Pangolin could help find cure for COVID-19?

Soon after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, there were many media reports that claimed that the endangered pangolin was linked to the initial outbreak of the disease in China. However, this hasn't been proven yet. Now, a research conducted by the Medical University of Vienna in Austria, has revealed that certain genes sense when a virus enters the body, and trigger an immune response in most mammals. They found that pangolins, which have been called the 'missing link' between bats and humans, lack two of those virus-sensing genes. This means that not only are the endangered animals carriers, but they also seem to be immune to it, via an unknown mechanism. This evolutionary advantage and its understanding may give way to possible treatment options for COVID-19.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

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corona

Coronavirus deaths in India cross 2,000-mark; total tally hits 62,939

With 3277 new cases and 128 new fatalities, total case count of novel Coronavirus rose to 62,939 and total deaths getting past the 2000 mark, the health ministry said on Sunday, May 10.




corona

United States Coronavirus Cases

United States recorded 1347318 Coronavirus Cases since the epidemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, United States reported 78616 Coronavirus Deaths. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United States Coronavirus Cases.




corona

United States Coronavirus Deaths

United States recorded 80040 Coronavirus Deaths since the epidemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, United States reported 1347318 Coronavirus Cases. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United States Coronavirus Deaths.




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United States Coronavirus Recovered

United States recorded 238080 Coronavirus Recovered since the epidemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, United States reported 80040 Coronavirus Deaths. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United States Coronavirus Recovered.




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Spain to begin limited loosening of coronavirus lockdown

Madrid and Barcelona must wait as other areas relax restrictions on restaurants and shopping




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Coronavirus latest: China detects new cases near North Korean border




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Experts warn coronavirus will divert resources from killer diseases

Fears for prevention and treatment of other illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever




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Coronavirus deepens north-south divide in Italy and Spain

Uneven recoveries from pandemic expected to exacerbate decades-old inequalities






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Italy's parks are filled with sunseekers as coronavirus deaths rise by 194 to 30,395

The Italian public took to bicycles around the Piazza Venezia and the Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome while people of all ages walked and cycled to Ruffini Park in Turin during Phase Two of lockdown.




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Nine great paintings in Britain you must see after the coronavirus lockdown

Britain is home to works of art by some of the most important painters of all time, from J.M.W Turner to Salvador Dali. Here we pick nine unmissable masterpieces and show you where to find them...




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RBS set to target 'Generation Rent' after coronavirus crisis

RBS forecasts a big fall in home ownership and experts expect the trend to accelerate as house sales resume.




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LORD PATTEN: China's nasty, lying, bullying Communist regime must face judgment over coronavirus

Pin the blame where it belongs. This is not the fault of the Chinese people. It is the Chinese Communist dictatorship which hold the responsibility for the spread of the coronavirus.




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When did China know about coronavirus

One study found this virus spreads so fast that if officials had acted three weeks sooner, they would have reduced cases by 95 per cent. Even one week faster could have cut numbers by two-thirds.




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Kremlin-linked cyber hackers steal hundreds of medical trial records from British coronavirus lab 

This newspaper revealed last week how hackers linked to Russia and Iran were behind 'utterly reprehensible' hits on British institutions.




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ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: The sober truth about my coronavirus lockdown wine habit

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: How much are you really drinking in these lockdown days? Studies claim that one person in three is drinking less often that causal, but I can't say I've come across them.




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Up to 50,000 coronavirus test samples are sent to the US for analysis after 'operational issues' 

Daily coronavirus tests fell the below 100,000 target for a seventh day in a row. Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged Boris Johnson to 'give me a break' in a furious bust-up over the coronavirus crisis.




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Britons urged to shine a light from windows on Tuesday in tribute to nurses on coronavirus frontline

Public are being encouraged to shine a light from windows in recognition of nurses in the coronavirus fight, described as the 'greatest health emergency in NHS history'.




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Metropolitan police officers' spokesman blasts coronavirus response as 'wishy washy'

The Metropolitan Police Federation's Ken Marsh said British authorities 'needed to be firmer right from the beginning'. Pictured: Sunbathers in Greenwich Park, London yesterday.




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Australian share market drops due to coronavirus and tourist fears

The ASX fell by 1.7 per cent, wiping $36billion off the market amid fears the outbreak will reduce the number of tourists visiting from China.




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Australians trapped in coronavirus epicentre could REJECT offers to be evacuated on emergency flight

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday plans to remove more than 600 citizens currently trapped in China's Hubai province amid escalating health fears.




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Australians in Chinese coronavirus epicentre will pay $1000 to be evacuated to Christmas Island

Around 600 Australians are trapped in the Hubei province amid fears over the deadly outbreak that has so far killed 170 people and affected more than 7,000 in China.