Germany is planning to join other western countries in evacuating people from China as the deadly coronavirus claims more victims.
“We are checking and preparing for all options; that means we are also considering a possible evacuation of all those willing to leave,” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said at a press conference with EU High Representative Josep Borrell in Berlin.
A ministry spokeswoman told the DPA news agency that there were around 90 Germans living in Wuhan.
These included “citizens who live, work, study, or are married,” she said. “We have no indication at the moment that any Germans are affected by the illness.”
“All citizens should keep up with the Foreign Ministry travel advice, which is being updated daily,” Maas said. “Travelers should consider delaying or canceling non-essential journeys to China.”
A consular team is being sent from Beijing to Wuhan, where the virus broke out, this evening to get an idea of the situation on the ground.
Maas also said that a government crisis management team was meeting in his ministry to discuss further steps, with experts from the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s leading public health body, being consulted.
Earlier on Monday, German Health Minister Jens Spahn told the DPA news agency that Germany had pandemic plans in place should the virus break out. “We are fundamentally very vigilant, we take things very seriously, but we are well-prepared,” he said.
Read more: Coronavirus: What you need to know
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Pneumonia-like virus hits Wuhan
On December 31, 2019, China notifies the World Health Organization of a string of respiratory infections in the city of Wuhan, home to some 11 million people. The root virus is unknown and disease experts around the world begin working to identify it. The strain is traced to a seafood market in the city, which is quickly shut down. Some 40 people are initially reported to be infected.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
New strain of coronavirus identified
Researchers initially rule out the SARS virus, the deadly respiratory illness that originated in China in 2002, killing nearly 800 people worldwide. On January 7, Chinese scientists announce they’ve identified a new virus. Like SARS and the common cold, it is in the coronavirus family. It is temporarily named 2019-nCoV. Symptoms include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
First death in China
On January 11, China announces the first death from the coronavirus — a 61-year-old man, who had shopped at the Wuhan market, dies from complications with pneumonia.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Virus reaches neighboring countries
In the following days, countries such as Thailand and Japan begin to report cases of infections in people who had visited the same Wuhan market. In China, a second fatality is confirmed in the city. By January 20, three people have died in China and more than 200 are infected.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Transmission unclear
Through mid-January, scientists scramble to find out how the illness is being spread among people. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to people. Some coronaviruses can be transmitted by coughing and sneezing. Airports around the world begin screening passengers arriving from China. On January 20, officials confirm the virus can be passed directly between humans.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Millions under lockdown
China places Wuhan on quarantine on January 23 in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. Transportation is suspended and workers attempt to quickly build a new hospital to treat infected patients, which total over 830 by January 24, as the death toll climbs to 26. Officials eventually extend the lockdown to 13 other cities, affecting at least 36 million people.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
A global health emergency?
More and more cases are confirmed outside of China, including in South Korea, the US, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. As the number of infections rises, the World Health Organization on January 23 determines that it’s “too early” to declare a global public health emergency.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Coronavirus reaches Europe
On January 24, French authorities confirm three cases of the new coronavirus within its borders, marking the disease’s first appearance in Europe. Hours later, Australia confirms four people have been infected with the respiratory virus.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Lunar New Year
The Chinese Lunar New Year begins with subdued festivities on January 25. Officials cancel many major events in a bid to contain the outbreak, as millions of Chinese travel and take part in public celebrations. The death toll rises to 41, with over 1,300 infected worldwide — mostly in China. Scientists hope to have the first coronavirus vaccines ready within three months.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Germany braces for virus
On January 27, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says Germany is considering evacuating German nationals from Wuhan. There are no reported cases in Germany yet but officials are preparing to fight the virus. German researchers in Marburg are part of international efforts to work on a possible vaccine for the coronavirus. The death toll in China reaches 81, with 2,700 affected worldwide.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
Extended holiday for China as virus spreads
By late January, 17 Chinese cities, home to more than 50 million people, are in lockdown. Lunar New Year holidays are extended by three days to limit population flows. Cambodia confirms its first case, while Mongolia shuts its border with China for cars and Russia suspends tour operations to China. The cost to global tourism is put in the billions and oil prices also plummet.
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Coronavirus: Timeline of the deadly virus in China and worldwide
First case confirmed in Germany
On the evening of January 28, Germany announces the first known case of the virus in the country—a 33-year-old man in Bavaria who contracted the disease at his workplace during a training with a visiting Chinese colleague. He is put under quarantine and medical observation at a hospital in Munich, where health officials say he is doing well.
Author: Cristina Burack, Elliot Douglas
First cases in Europe
Borrell added that the EU Commission was coordinating with member states over its response to the outbreak, with a health ministers’ summit being organized to establish how suspected cases would be dealt with and reported. He said the EU was also in contact with the World Health Organization (WHO).
France has confirmed three cases of the virus, which has killed over 80 people in China and infected at least 2,800 people. Both France and the US, which has also had a handful of confirmed cases, are also organizing evacuations.
A few cases have also been confirmed in several Asian countries, as well as Australia and Canada.
Global reactions
The United States on Monday warned nationals to reconsider plans to travel to China due to the virus outbreak while France, Morocco and Japan made moves to evacuate citizens out of Wuhan, the sprawling city at the center of the epidemic.
Meanwhile, Spain is currently in negotiations with EU officials to move Spaniards out of the affected area in eastern China and other European nations, such as the Netherlands and Great Britain, are seeking ways to evacuate their own citizens.
France expects to repatriate a few hundred nationals in the coming days, Morocco will evacuate 100 of its citizens and Japan is arranging charter flights as early as Tuesday for any Japanese people who wish to return from Wuhan. Indeed, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said about 430 Japanese nationals have been confirmed to be in Hubei, the province that encapsulates Wuhan.
Canada issued a travel warning as the coronavirus continued to spread. The country has two confirmed cases of the virus so far and is investigating another 19 suspected instances, while warning its citizens to avoid travel to China’s Hubei province.
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