NE NEW SERVICE
RIYADH/ TOKYO/BEIJING, FEB 28
The coronavirus’ rapid spread in Iran, Italy, South Korea and elsewhere left alarmed governments and people across the globe rushing on Thursday to implement emergency measures. Saudi Arabia on Thursday stopped entry of foreigners for the Umrah pilgrimage and tourists from some two dozen countries where the new coronavirus has spread, an unprecedented move that raises questions over the annual hajj.
For the first time, new infections around the world in the past 24 hours surpassed those in mainland China.
The Saudi government’s step comes ahead of the holy fasting of Ramadan, which begins in late April this year, when visits by Muslims to the kingdom accelerate for Umrah. More than 7.5 million people performed the minor pilgrimage in the birthplace of Islam throughout 2019, according to official figures.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have not reported any coronavirus cases, but the other four Gulf Arab states have. Kuwait and Bahrain recorded more cases on Thursday, all in people who had been in Iran, to bring their totals to 43 and 33 respectively. Oman has diagnosed four cases and the UAE, a main air transit hub, has reported 13 cases.
In Japan, where cases rose to 200, there was particular concern after a female tour bus guide tested positive for a second time – one of very few worldwide to do so. Tokyo has halted big gatherings and sports events for two weeks, and is closing schools early for the spring break.
The coronavirus has mainly battered China, causing 78,596 cases and 2,746 deaths. But it has spread to another 44 countries with 3,246 cases and 51 deaths reported. A rash of countries have had their first cases in recent days, the latest being Denmark with a man back from a ski holiday in Italy, and Estonia with someone returning from Iran.
New cases in South Korea took its total to 1,261 with 12 deaths, while Europe’s hotspot Italy had 453 infections and 12 deaths, and Iran reported 245 cases and 26 fatalities. Iranian authorities called off Friday prayers in several cities, including Tehran.
The new coronavirus epidemic is at a “decisive point” globally, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday, urging affected countries to “move swiftly” to contain the disease.
India evacuates 112 people from China, 124 from Japan
India on Thursday brought back 112 people from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan and another group of 124 from Tokyo who were on board a cruise ship infected by the deadly virus. A C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft of Indian Air Force evacuated 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals from Wuhan while an Air India flight brought back the group of 124 people from Tokyo. The foreign national evacuated from Wuhan included 23 from Bangladesh, six from China, two each from Myanmar and Maldives and one each from South Africa, USA and Madagascar. Besides 119 Indians, the people evacuated from Japan included two from Sri Lanka and one each from Nepal, South Africa and Peru. The group was among 3,711 people who were on board the coronavirus-infected Diamond Princess ship when it docked at the Yokohama port near Tokyo on February 3. Three Indian crew members conveyed their wish to continue their stay on-board the cruise ship to complete the period of extended quarantine put in place by the Japanese government. The evacuees will undergo 14-day quarantine at a facility in Manesar, Haryana. Agencies
