A man who died from the coronavirus in the Philippines is the first reported death from the illness outside of China, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

The 44-year-old was a resident of Wuhan, the Chinese city in Hubei province, which is the epicentre of the outbreak.

A 38-year-old woman, who travelled to the Philippines with the man and is also from Wuhan, tested positive for the virus and remains in hospital isolation in Manila.

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She was the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the Philippines.

The man who died had developed severe pneumonia and had "showed signs of improvement" before his death on 1 February, the WHO said.


Dr Rabi Abeyasinghe said: "This is the first reported (death) outside of China. However, we need to keep in mind that he came from Wuhan, China.

"San Lazaro Hospital and the Department of Health assured that infection prevention and control measures are in place, including personal protective equipment to health workers."

The death in the Philippines comes as China is facing mounting isolation in the face of increasing travel restrictions and flight suspensions, as the number of dead from the coronavirus outbreak rose to 305.

The epidemic has led to countries including the UK and the US evacuating their citizens from China, and risks worsening a slowdown in growth in the world's second largest economy.

New Zealand has said it will bar all foreign nationals arriving from mainland China from Monday - following the US, Singapore and Australia after they took the same action.

South Korea says it will stop people who have visited Hubei province from entering the country from Tuesday, while Vietnam has suspended all flights to and from China.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China has reached more than 14,411. More than 146 cases have also been reported across at least 25 other countries including the UK, US, Russia, France, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

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The US confirmed its eighth case - a student at the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts - while the Pentagon has said it will provide housing for people arriving from overseas who might need to be quarantined.

Japan confirmed an additional three cases of the new coronavirus among evacuees from Wuhan, bringing the country's total to 20 cases.

Meanwhile, six officials in the Chinese city of Huanggang, neighbouring Wuhan, have been fired over "poor performance" in handling the outbreak, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The agency cited the mayor as saying the city's "capabilities to treat the patients remained inadequate and there is a severe shortage in medical supplies such as protective suits and medical masks".

The WHO, which declared the outbreak a global public health emergency last week, has said global trade and travel restrictions are not needed.

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But the list of international airlines suspending all or some flights to China is growing.

The latest were the Australian airline Qantas Airways Ltd and Air New Zealand, which said travel bans forced them to suspend their direct flights to China from 9 February.

United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, the three major US carriers, said on Friday that they would cancel flights to mainland China.

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The commander of US forces in the Pacific has banned travel to China for all service members and civilian personnel under his authority and ordered those now in China to leave immediately, officials said.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper has approved a request from the Department of Health and Human Services for the possible use of military facilities to accommodate 1,000 people who may have to be quarantined upon arrival from overseas due to the coronavirus.

The US, from Sunday, will begin directing all flights from China to seven major airports where passengers can be screened for illness.

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Apple Inc said on Saturday it would close all of its official stores and corporate offices in China until 9 February.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has called for calm and warned against hysteria as more than 100 Germans and family members landed in Frankfurt, with none showing any symptoms of the virus.

Germany had eight confirmed cases as of Saturday evening. German newspaper Der Spiegel reported on Sunday that a further two people who flew into the country from Wuhan were infected.

Image: German and foreign nationals are seen being evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan

Britain, which has had two confirmed cases, said it was withdrawing some staff from its embassy and consulates in China.

One of the British people infected with the coronavirus is a student at the University of York.

Health authorities are rushing to identify anyone who has come into contact with the pair.

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The Russian military will start evacuating Russian citizens from China on Monday and Tuesday, the Interfax and TASS news agencies reported.

Russia, which has already restricted direct flights with its biggest trading partner, also said it was suspending visa-free travel for Chinese visitors and halting work visas.

Most international cases have been in people who had recently travelled to or were visiting from Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak.

The province has been under a virtual quarantine for the last week, with roads sealed off and public transport shut down.

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Chinese authorities have placed restrictions on travel and business in other parts of the countries.

The provincial government in Hubei has extended a holiday break in the country to 13 February in a bid to contain the outbreak, the Hubei Daily reported.

Infections have jumped in two cities flanking Wuhan, where the new virus is believed to have originated, raising concerns that new hot spots are emerging despite strict transport restrictions.

Efforts to contain the virus risk slowing economic growth in China.

The virus impact prompted Goldman Sachs to cut its estimate for first-quarter growth to 4% from 5.6%.

China's central bank has said economic impacts as a result of the virus are temporary and economic fundamentals remained sound, but that it would increase credit support, lowering lending costs for affected companies.