February 29 coronavirus news

The US Food and Drug Administration announced on Saturday a policy allowing certain US labs to test for the novel coronavirus using diagnostics the labs developed and validated, even before the agency has reviewed them.

The policy will enable more rapid testing capacity, the agency says.

“We believe this policy strikes the right balance during this public health emergency,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement. “We will continue to help to ensure sound science prior to clinical testing and follow-up with the critical independent review from the FDA, while quickly expanding testing capabilities in the US.”

The guidance goes into effect immediately: Once labs have validated a test, they must notify the FDA and should submit a request for an emergency use authorization within 15 business days. This policy applies only to labs certified to perform high-complexity testing.

Local and state labs’ ability to test for the novel coronavirus was delayed because test kits previously developed by the US Centers for Disease Control were flawed.

The CDC said Friday that US labs were able to start testing for coronavirus using revised instructions for kits previously sent out. CDC also has manufactured brand new test kits that are available for order.

The CDC said its goal was for every state and local health department testing for coronavirus by the end of next week.

The global death toll from coronavirus has reached 2,932.

In mainland China, more than 79,250 people have been confirmed to have the virus, and at least 2,835 people have died.

Outside of China, there are 6,285 cases of the virus:

1.           Afghanistan (1 case)    

2.           Algeria (1 case)     

3.           Australia (25 cases)

4.           Austria (2 cases)    

5.           Bahrain (38 cases)     

6.           Belarus (1 case)    

7.           Belgium (1 case)     

8.           Brazil (1 case)     

9.           Cambodia (1 case)    

10.         Canada (16 cases)     

11.         Croatia (1 case)     

12.         Denmark (1 case)    

13.         Egypt (1 case)     

14.         Estonia (1 case)    

15.         Finland (2 case)     

16.         France (40 cases, 2 deaths)    

17.         Georgia (1 case)      

18.         Germany (53 cases)     

19.         Greece (4 case)    

20.         Hong Kong (94 cases, 2 deaths)     

21.         Iceland (1 case)   

22.         India (3 cases)     

23.         Iran (593 cases, 43 deaths)     

24.         Iraq (8 cases)     

25.         Israel (7 cases)     

26.         Italy (821 cases, 21 deaths)    

27.         Japan (935 cases, 11 deaths)     

28.         Kuwait (43 cases)     

29.         Lebanon (3 cases)   

30.         Lithuania (1 case)   

31.         Macao (10 cases)    

32.         Malaysia (25 cases)     

33.         Mexico (3 cases)   

34.         Monaco (1 case)   

35.         Nepal (1 case)    

36.         Netherlands (1 case)   

37.         New Zealand (1 case)   

38.         Nigeria (1 case)   

39.         North Macedonia (1 case)     

40.         Norway (1 case)     

41.         Oman (5 cases)    

42.         Pakistan (4 case)     

43.         Philippines (3 cases, 1 death) 

44.         Qatar (1 case)     

45.         Romania (1 case)     

46.         Russia (5 cases)     

47. Singapore (102 cases)     

48.         South Korea (3,150 cases, 16 deaths)

49.         Spain (46 cases)     

50.         Sri Lanka (1 case)     

51.         Sweden (1 case)     

52.         Switzerland (15 cases)     

53.         Taiwan (39 cases, 1 dead)     

54.         Thailand (42 cases)    

55.         United Arab Emirates (19 cases)   

56.         United Kingdom (20 cases)    

57.         United States (67 cases)    

58.         Vietnam (16 cases)  

Panic over the novel coronavirus is hitting a fever pitch in the US. And despite repeated pleas from health officials not to purchase them, Americans can't stop snatching up masks and respirators.

The mask boom has prompted sellers to jack up prices and exploit demand. This has meant a shortage for medics who need them. And Chinese Americans are buying in bulk to send to their families overseas.

"We need to make sure those N95 masks are available for the doctors and nurses that are going to be taking care of individuals that have this illness," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said during a House Foreign Affairs hearing on Thursday.

"And it really does displease me, to find people going out, there is no role for these masks in the community."

Read full story

With new cases of novel coronavirus reported daily in countries across the globe, many travelers are wondering if they should cancel or postpone existing plans and hold off on booking trips.

"Should I cancel my trip to Rome and Florence?" one CNN reader is wondering.

"What is the threshold for rethinking domestic travel plans?" another asks.

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

It's very much an individual calculation, experts say, taking a number of factors -- the traveler, their companions, the destination and more -- into consideration.

Read the full story here:

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Should you travel during the coronavirus outbreak?

By Marnie Hunter, CNN

France has identified new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of registered cases to 73.

Of those identified cases, 59 people remain in hospital, 12 people have recovered, and two have died, health minister Olivier Véran said Saturday during a press conference in Paris.

Véran identified two main transmission clusters in Oise and Haute-Savoie, adding that the government is now focused on “limiting the diffusion” of the virus.

Events and gatherings cancelled: According to the health ministry, all public gatherings of more than 5,000 people within confined spaces are to be cancelled; including the Paris Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, and the Annecy Carnival due to take place next week.

Despite these guidelines, the health minister asserted that “all essential activities must continue” and there are currently no plans to place restrictions on public transport networks or on the municipal elections, which are due to take place in mid-March.

The death toll in Iran, one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak, reached 43 on Saturday, according to health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour.

The total number of confirmed infected people in Iran is 593, Jahanpour said, Iran's state-run news agency IRNA reported.

Iranian officials are scrambling to contain the virus, and some suspect under-reporting of the nation's total number of cases.

Coronavirus in Iran: Iran has emerged as a regional breeding ground for the pathogen, with the most confirmed cases in the region and the vast majority of cases across the Middle East linked to the country.

Several government officials, including the deputy health minister, have tested positive for the virus.

Italy’s Serie A football league has postponed five matches due to coronavirus concerns.

In a statement, the Serie A League said that “considering the various and urgent rules issued by the government to respond to this extraordinary health protection emergency”’ the following matches, due to be played this weekend – have been postponed to May 13.

Postponed:

JUVENTUS – INTER

MILAN – GENOA

PARMA – SPAL

SASSUOLO – BRESCIA

UDINESE – FIORENTINA

Qatar's Ministry of Public Health announced on Saturday that the country has registered its first confirmed case of Covid-19, according to state-run Qatar News Agency. 

No details were immediately available regarding the individual who has been infected. 

The head of the Federalberghi Italian hotel association, Bernabò Bocca, has expressed concern after the US State Department raised its travel advisory for Italy to the second-highest-level warning, Level 3: Reconsider Travel, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

According to the Federalberghi study center, US citizens represent about 9% of foreign tourists who are hosted every year in Italian accommodation establishments, with 5.6 million arrivals and 14.5 million overnight stays per year.

The study said US tourists in Italy spend is around 5 billion euros per year, with an average value of around 140 euros per day -- among the highest on the market.

Bocca said while he appreciated economic measures decided by the Italian government in Friday night's cabinet meeting, "unfortunately they are not sufficient."

Coronavirus in Italy: Italy has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe, with 821 cases and 21 deaths. Forty-six people have recovered.

The country has already taken an economic hit from the epidemic, as stadiums and museums have been much quieter than usual in light of the virus.

Cases of the virus in Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have all been linked to Italy.