The latest 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak figures show nearly 31,000 confirmed cases and 638 deaths. Tragically, the first whistleblower, Dr. Li Wenliang, has succumbed to the virus. A newborn in Wuhan marks the youngest case to date.
The 2019-nCoV outbreak persists, with daily increases in fatalities. According to the South China Morning Post on February 7, 2020, there are 31,401 confirmed cases and 638 deaths, alongside 1,341 recoveries. Hubei province and Wuhan, the epicenter, report more than 22,000 cases and 636 deaths in the hardest-hit areas.
Japan has recorded 86 coronavirus cases, including 61 among the 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess, which remains under quarantine as testing expands.
Outside China, Singapore leads with 30 cases, followed by Thailand at 25. Two deaths have been reported elsewhere: one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines.
Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, became the first to sound the alarm. He posted on Weibo about patients with SARS-like symptoms but faced police pressure and threats of legal action for "spreading rumors." His death has sparked widespread outrage and tributes, positioning him as a hero on social media amid criticism of epidemic handling.
A baby born in Wuhan tested positive for coronavirus just 30 hours after birth, per BBC reports—the youngest human diagnosed. Doctors are investigating: possible in-utero transmission or postnatal exposure from the mother. Children remain rare among cases, as seen in prior SARS (2003) and MERS (2012) outbreaks. The average patient age is 49 to 56 years.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Liberation, BBC
Related Articles:
