WHO REQUESTS TO GET ALERT

AGAINST CORONAVIRUS

This name has only been used for certain epidemics: in particular, those of the so-called H1N1 flu

"Swine" in 2009, that of the Zika virus in 2016 and the Ebola virus between 2014 and 2018. Meanwhile, its director of emergency programs, Michael Ryan, yesterday called on the whole world to "be on the alert" and "To act" to protect populations from this disease.

170 dead and 8000 cases

The current death toll stands at 170 dead in China and nearly 8,000 cases of people with proven infections around the world. A fifth person was hospitalized in France. If the number of contaminations recorded outside of Chinese territory remains low at present, it would be likely to increase and widen the epidemic.

WHO experts have indeed recalled the confirmation of "human-to-human transmission" in three countries other than China. In Germany, Japan and more recently in Vietnam, sick people from one way or another from Wuhan have infected local people without prior contact with China.

Repatriations and activity sessions

Among the countries which organized repatriation flights for their nationals present in Wuhan or in his province of Hubei, only three Japanese citizens recently returned to their country showed symptoms of the infection. After the Americans and the Japanese it's time for the French to leave Wuhan, cut off from the world for a week. France has planned to repatriate around 350 Europeans, including 250 French on two consecutive flights, the first of which should arrive in Paris at the end week. Social life takes a hit

Beyond Wuhan, in the rest of China, where the Lunar New Year holidays have been extended until February 2, most of the residents, frightened, desert shopping centers, cinemas and restaurants.

The American coffee chain Starbucks and the Swedish furniture giant Ikea have announced that they will close half of their businesses.