A two year old girl who recently flew from Thailand to Israel is in hospital due to fears she might be infected with the 19nCoV coronavirus. It isn’t clear whether the girl is an Israeli citizen.

Hospital staff say she’s suffering from fever and diarrhea, and “this is currently a condition that requires hospitalization in isolation.”

Israel’s Health Ministry yesterday updated its procedures for travelers feeling unwell after returning from a number of countries in the past 14 days, in light of the increase in the number of coronavirus cases. In a statement, the ministry said that travelers returning from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Macau who have a fever, coughing or any other respiratory symptoms must seek medical help and go for testing.

Anyone who’s had close contact with any individual confirmed to have the virus must also go for testing, and must warn the medical center prior to their arrival. Patients must cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth and are asked to avoid using public transportation.

The number of deaths from the epidemic has jumped to 724, and is now poised to surpass the 774 deaths recorded globally during the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic

86 people died from the virus just in the past day, according to China’s national health commission. All but five were in Hubei province, where the disease emerged in December. In its daily update, the commission also confirmed another 3,399 new cases. There are now more than 31,774 confirmed infections in China.

Japan yesterday reported 61 cases of the coronavirus on a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama harbor with about 3,700 people confined aboard, including some 15 Israelis. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said none are believed to be infected with the virus.

Meanwhile, China finished building a second new hospital Thursday to isolate and treat patients. A 1,500-bed center in Wuhan. Earlier this week, another rapidly constructed, 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan. With prefabricated wards and isolation rooms began taking patients.

Altogether, more than 50 million people are under virtual quarantine in hard-hit Hubei province, in an unprecedented, and unproven, bid to bring the outbreak under control.

Source: Times of Israel

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