Australia confirms first coronavirus case

10:11, January 25, 2020

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  First coronavirus case confirmed in Finland

  (Photo: AFP)Helsinki (People’s Daily) -- Finland has reported its first case of the new coronavirus.According to Finnish media, a Chinese tourist was confirmed as having symptoms of the virus after being admitted to hospital in Lapland, Finland.Infectious diseases specialist Markku Broas from Lapland Central Hospital said that the 33-year female tourist left Wuhan province five days ago.She first sought medical attention in Ivalo when symptoms first appeared. Samples were taken after she was transferred to Lapland Central Hospital in Rovaniemi.Tests conducted in Helsinki showed the samples were confirmed to contain the new strain of coronavirus.So far, officials estimate that about 15 people may have been exposed to infection.

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  Italy confirms first coronavirus cases

  Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. (Photo: Xinhua)Rome (People’s Daily) – Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the country had reported its first two cases of the novel coronavirus, according to Reuters.Italy is the fourth European nation, after France, Finland, and Germany, to have confirmed cases of the virus.Following the announcement, Conte suspended air travel between Italy and China.

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  Australia testing first suspected case of coronavirus

  File photo: CGTNA man showing symptoms of a SARS-like virus after visiting China is being held in isolation at his Australian home, in the countrys first suspected case of the coronavirus, health officials said Tuesday.A Queensland Health spokesperson said man had recently returned from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, believed to be the epicentre of an outbreak of coronavirus, which has infected a total of 218 people and caused at least four deaths.Queenslands chief medical officer Jeannette Young said he was recovering at home in the northeastern city of Brisbane, where health authorities were awaiting the results of tests to determine whether he had contracted the new virus.News of Australias first suspected case came as the country said it would introduce heightened medical screening for travellers arriving in Sydney from Wuhan starting Thursday.Biosecurity and health officials will meet the flights in Sydney, handing out pamphlets in English and Chinese encouraging people who suspect they might have the disease or are suffering any symptoms to identify themselves.There are just three direct flights each week between Wuhan and Australia, all landing in Sydney.Australias chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, said the screening program may also be expanded to other flights from China carrying a high proportion of passengers from Wuhan, but doing so provided no guarantees of stopping its spread into the country."Many people who have this may present as asymptomatic. So its about identifying those with a high risk and making sure those who have a high risk know about it and know how to get medical attention," he told reporters in Canberra."Theres no way of preventing this getting into the country if this becomes bigger."However, Murphy said the risk to Australians was "relatively low" and there was no need for alarm.