BREAKING: South Korea confirms 571 more cases of coronavirus
From Journalist Hyoungjoo Choi in Seoul
Workers wearing protective gear disinfect ticket gates as a precaution against the coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, February 28. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
South Korea confirmed a total of 571 cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, according to the South Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 571 cases confirmed on Friday afternoon includes 256 cases announced earlier on Friday morning.
That brings the national total to 2,337 cases -- the largest outbreak outside of mainland China.
The number of cases reported on Friday is 67 higher than Thursday, when 505 cases were confirmed.
The latest figures include one more military personnel, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the South Korean military to 26.
No new deaths were reported on Friday, so the national death toll remains at 13.
Among the 571 new cases, 447 are from Daegu, where the outbreak has been concentrated. Many of the cases are linked to a religious group in the city.
10:01 a.m. ET, February 28, 2020
Beijing dismisses online rumors of South Koreans seeking coronavirus refuge in China
From CNN's Steven Jiang in Beijing
Chinese social media has been awash with stories in recent days of South Koreans fleeing their native land to seek refuge in China, often citing “massively oversold flights” as supposed proof.
The number of confirmed coronavirus patients has spiked in South Korea, while the outbreak appears to be stabilizing in China outside the epicenter in Hubei province.
The Chinese government on Friday dismissed the online speculations.
“Airlines have cut flights since the outbreak began and that has led flights from South Korea to China to be full,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a regular news briefing. “But the overwhelming majority of passengers on these flights have been Chinese citizens based in South Korea.”
Zhao also noted tightened quarantine measures in Beijing and other cities targeting international arrivals apply to Chinese and foreigners alike.
“We will strengthen information sharing and cooperation with South Korea, and provide assistance within our ability,” he added.
10:01 a.m. ET, February 28, 2020
The race is on to contain the coronavirus outbreak in Europe
A woman wearing a protective mask seen on public transport on Thursday in Milan, Italy. Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images
Tens of thousands in a "red zone" in northern Italy have been put on effective lockdown, as officials race to stop it spreading throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Belarus and Lithuania have reported their first cases of the virus, as France reported two new infections, bringing its total to 40.
Economic impacts: That could have a major effect on the country's economy, with the Italian finance minister saying Thursday that the four most affected regions make up 50% of the country's GDP. The outbreak could also have a major affect on tourism, a big driver of the Italian economy.
Borders remain open: At present, Italy does not plan to close its borders, Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri said.
"I don't think right now there is any reason to close the border, especially because the two areas are very well confined and we know exactly the two major outbreaks and all the people that we found all around Italy -- which are very few -- are coming from that area," Sileri said.
Warning against panic and paranoia: "I think paranoia and anxiousness and panic will run much much more than the virus and we had problem with this in the last few weeks," Sileri added. "This is the first epidemic event in era of social media, and this doesn't help, absolutely doesn't help."
Italy outbreak spreading: There is evidence that the Italian outbreak has already spread beyond its borders, with Spain, Germany, Denmark and the UK reporting cases among travelers who had been in Italy.
"There is a feeling in Italy that the numbers are high because the government has been aggressive in its policy response," Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia Group told CNN. "There is also a feeling that other member states have lower numbers because they haven't been aggressive."
From CNN's Taylor Barnes and Radina Gigova in Atlanta
A woman with "mild symptoms" has become the first confirmed coronavirus case in Lithuania, the country's Ministry of Health told CNN in a statement today.
She is currently in isolation in Republic Siauliai Hospital, which has the required infrastructure, the ministry said.
Three family members of the patient are being closely monitored in hospital and have not experienced symptoms so far.
Other people who have been in contact with the infected patient are being identified and their health is being examined, the ministry said. None of them have experienced symptoms.
“Despite the efforts made and the proactive preventive measures that we took among the first, we regret to declare that Lithuania did not avoid the coronavirus,” said Minister of Health Aurelijus Veryga. “We were well aware that the threat existed, and we were actively getting ready for this scenario.”
10:02 a.m. ET, February 28, 2020
France confirms two new coronavirus infections, bringing its total to 40
From CNN's Barbara Wojazer in Paris
Two new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in France, bringing the total number of identified cases in the country to 40.
The two cases are in the eastern region of Haute-Savoie, mayor of local town La Balme-de-Sillingy Francois Daviet told French TV channel BFM on Friday.
The two infected people are relatives of a person who had previously tested positive. They had attended a party together, before that individual was aware that they had coronavirus, Daviet said.
The mayor added that it was "possible" that there were other cases in his municipality.
10:02 a.m. ET, February 28, 2020
Mongolian President in quarantine after visit to China
From journalist Isaac Yee in Hong Kong
Mongolia's President Khaltmaagiin Battulga attends a roundtable summit session in Beijing on April 27, 2019. Alexey Nikolsky/AFP/Getty Images
Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga has been placed under a 14-day quarantine after a one-day visit to China.
According to state news agency Montsame, Battulga along with several other government officials, including the minister of foreign affairs, visited China to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
The delegation -- including the President -- were immediately placed into a two-week quarantine upon their return to Mongolia on Thursday night as a precautionary measure.
Montsame also reported that Battulga met with Xi during his visit in which the two discussed joint efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Battulga also announced a donation of 30,000 sheep to China.
Measures in Mongolia: Mongolia has not reported any cases of the coronavirus and has taken measures to stop it entering the country. Schools will be closed until the end of March and the delivery of coal to China is suspended until March 2.
3:08 a.m. ET, February 28, 2020
Global stock markets fall amid rising fears of coronavirus spread
From CNN's Laura He and Michelle Toh in Hong Kong
A pedestrian walk past an electronic quotation board displaying share prices of the Nikkei 225 Index, left, and New York Dow, right, in Tokyo on February 28. Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images
A historic fall in US stocks on Thursday has caused shockwaves through Asia Pacific markets today, with drops in major exchanges across the region.
Japan's Nikkei 225, South Korea's Kospi and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 each lost more than 3%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 2.49%, while China's Shanghai Composite slid 3.7%.
It followed a record drop in the United States. The Dow dropped 1,191 points on Thursday, in its worst one-day point drop in history, while the S&P 500 posted its worst day since 2011.
In general, stocks are on track for their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. Markets are shaky amid fears that the coronavirus outbreak could turn into a global pandemic.
Economic pressures grow in China: The uncertainty is taking its toll on a growing number of businesses. Chinese search giant Baidu warned Friday that revenue could drop as much as 13% in the first quarter compared to the same time last year.
Revenue for the company's core business, which includes online marketing and advertising, could plunge as much as 18% year-over-year, according to the company's guidance.
Online marketing revenue in 2019 fell 5% compared to the year before.
10:11 a.m. ET, February 28, 2020
US Navy orders self-quarantine for ships that have made stops in the Pacific
From CNN's Ryan Browne
The USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US Navy's 7th Fleet, makes a port call in Hong Kong in April 2019. Brad Lendon/CNN
The US Navy has ordered all ships that have visited countries in the Pacific region to effectively self-quarantine and remain at sea for 14 days in order to monitor sailors for any symptoms of coronavirus.
"Out of an abundance of caution, Pacific Fleet is implementing additional mitigations to prevent Sailors from contracting COVID-19, and to monitor Sailors who have traveled to higher-risk areas," US Navy spokesman Lt. James Adams told CNN, using the official name for the virus.
No evidence of cases: The spokesman said that "at this time, there are no indications that any US Navy personnel have contracted" the coronavirus but said the Navy was acting out of an abundance of caution.
Remain at sea: The commander of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet, Adm. John Aquilino, issued guidance instructing Navy vessels departing from countries in the region "to remain at sea for at least 14 days before pulling into another port, in order to monitor sailors for any symptoms of the virus."
The self-quarantine is only the latest step the Pentagon has taken to protect its service members from the virus
Military drills cancelled: An upcoming military exercise with South Korea was suspended due to concerns about the virus.
Travel restrictions: The US military's Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees all US troops in the region, restricted all non-essential travel to South Korea for all US service members, contractors and defense department civilians serving as part of the command.
Military bases: On US military bases in Italy, access to on-base schools, child-care facilities, gyms and other public buildings has been temporarily halted and troops are bracing for the possibility of similar restrictions on other bases in Europe.
The novel coronavirus, a cousin of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, has symptoms that include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, possibly a headache and maybe a fever, which can last for a couple of days.
For those with a weakened immune system, the elderly and the very young, there's a chance the virus could cause a lower, and much more serious, respiratory tract illness like a pneumonia or bronchitis.
