The latest coronavirus (2019-nCoV) assessment shows 14,628 confirmed cases and 305 deaths worldwide. Wenzhou, a city of 9 million in China, has enforced strict lockdowns. The first fatality outside China occurred in the Philippines, while French repatriates from Wuhan remain stable and promising treatments advance.
Since the 2019-nCoV outbreak began two months ago, all fatalities had occurred in China—until now. According to the South China Morning Post on February 2, 2020, a 44-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan arrived in the Philippines on January 21 via Hong Kong and later succumbed to the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) verified the death. This news followed hours after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced a flight ban from China, including Hong Kong and Macao.
On January 31, a flight carrying 180 French citizens landed in Istres, France, followed by quarantine in Carry-le-Rouet, Bouches-du-Rhône, as reported by Ouest-France. A second evacuation flight departed from Paris to bring home more nationals.
Those in isolation at a holiday center receive daily medical monitoring. Occupants describe adequate comfort amid the unusual circumstances.
Per TVA Nouvelles, researchers are testing treatments like Kaletra (an anti-HIV drug), interferon, and Remdesivir against 2019-nCoV, building on studies of related coronaviruses SARS and MERS.
Inserm's I3M Institute Director Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah outlines three advanced strategies. The WHO plans an international randomized clinical trial incorporating monoclonal antibodies.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Ouest-France, TVA Nouvelles
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