Novel Coronavirus Update – February 6, 2020

Doctor Li Wenliang has died of coronavirus. Wenliang is the Chinese medical doctor who first warned the public of a potential “SARS-like” disease in December 2019. A statement by Wuhan General Hospital confirmed his death.

“Our hospital’s ophthalmologist Li Wenliang was unfortunately infected with coronavirus during his work in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

“He died at 2:58 am on February 7, 2020, after attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful” reported Wuhan General Hospital in a statement.

The scope of the novel coronavirus

The number of confirmed cases are at 28,275 globally as of Thursday, February 6, 2020. There are more than 28,000 cases in China. The number of reported cases of the virus in China has grown by 3,694, or 15%, compared to Wednesday.

There have been 565 deaths reported. All of those deaths have been in China with the exception of two. There has been one reported death in the Philippines and one death reported in Hong Kong.

There are about 3,600 passengers and crew who are currently waiting onboard a cruise ship docked in Hong Kong. The cruise ship is being quarantined after eight travelers from mainland China who were on the ship on an earlier voyage later tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Canada Ready – Minister Hajdu

Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu reports, “Minister François-Philippe Champagne and I provided an update today on our progress repatriating Canadians from China. Our flight left Wuhan earlier today.

All passengers were screened prior to boarding and will be screened again during the flight and upon arrival in Canada. We’re ready for these travelers at Canadian Forces Base Trenton. Out of an abundance of caution, all passengers will remain quarantined at CFB Trenton for 14 days.”