Health Notes

Coronavirus, a.k.a. COVID-19, infects at least 500 hospital staff in Wuhan, according to Hong Kong-based newspaper

by Charlie Smith on February 11th, 2020 at 2:28 PM
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      There's more grim news about a new pathogen that's got the world on edge.

      Today, the South China Morning Post reported that at least 500 hospital staff have contracted the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the outbreak.

      The news came on the same day that the World Health Organization gave it a new name: COVID-19.

      “That is why we have been crying out for more donations of medical supplies, especially hazmat suits,” one doctor told the Hong Kong–based daily paper. “We have seen too many colleagues falling ill because of insufficient protection.”

      Another 600 hospital staff are suspected of catching COVID-19. 

      And for the first time, more than 100 people have died of the disease in a single day.

      Video: China records first day with more than 100 novel coronavirus deaths.

      The SCMP article also stated that the Chinese government is not providing the "full picture", but it has been confirmed through a slide showing the extent of the epidemic.

      There have been 1,018 deaths from COVID-19. Of those, all but two were on the Chinese mainland, with the other deaths occurring in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

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