Authorities in China now say 213 people have died after contracting the new coronavirus, while the number of confirmed infections has surged past 9,600.
Japan's Prime Minister has called the spread of the new coronavirus an unprecedented crisis and told a government task force not to hesitate to take necessary measures against the outbreak.
A Japanese government expert panel has agreed to a plan to reduce the amount of radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, by releasing it into the sea or the air.
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Key words : now say 213
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Authorities in China now say 213 people have died after contracting the coronavirus, while the number of confirmed infections has surged past 9,600.
Medical staff are overwhelmed in Hubei, the province at the center of the outbreak. More than 30,000 people a day have been rushing to hospitals and clinics there, complaining of fever.
The number of cases is also rising outside mainland China. Over 120 infections have been confirmed across more than 20 other countries and territories. Italy has just reported its first two cases. Both are Chinese tourists.
Human-to-human transmission is now suspected in Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, France and the United States.
Washington has now raised its travel advisory to the highest level. It's urging Americans to avoid all travel to China, and to consider leaving if they're in that country.
The World Health Organization has now declared the outbreak a global emergency, in a bid to keep the virus from spreading further across borders.
It is the 6th time the organization has taken that step. It did so during the swine flu pandemic in 2009, the spread of polio in 2014, and the Ebola epidemic last year.
Experts are racing to learn more about the deadly new strain. Scientists in China say the virus may have originated in bats.
They say the gene sequence is 96 percent identical to a virus found in that species.
The head of a team of government experts says it may have spread to humans via other wild animals...as happened with SARS.
Tests are being done to determine if that's the case.
Key words : Abe called the spread of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200131_37/
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called the spread of the new coronavirus an unprecedented crisis and told a government task force not to hesitate to take necessary measures against the outbreak.
Abe issued the instruction on Friday at a meeting of the task force set up to deal with the outbreak.
He said the government will drastically strengthen various measures with a strong sense of crisis, as the infection is spreading globally, posing an emergency situation.
Abe said the government on Saturday will start enforcing ordinances that allow it to tighten immigration controls and take other measures to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further.
The government initially planned to start enforcing the ordinances next Friday.
Abe said people infected with the virus will be denied entry into Japan, in accordance with the rules.
He also said immigration control must be strengthened even when infection cannot be confirmed, as people have tested positive despite showing no symptoms.
He said the government cannot deal with the unprecedented crisis if it sticks to past examples, pointing out that the situation is continuously changing.
Key words : another plane epicenter
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Another plane carrying Japanese evacuees from the epicenter in China has arrived in Tokyo. It's the third flight of its kind this week.
The chartered plane landed at Haneda Airport on Friday morning, after picking up 149 people in Wuhan.
Passengers will be sent to medical institutions to be tested for the virus. Officials say eight people were transported by ambulance.
Those without symptoms will be staying at hotels and government facilities while they await the test results.
Government officials say about 300 people who are still in Wuhan have indicated they want to return to Japan.
They are making arrangements with the Chinese government to send a fourth flight next week.
The Defense Ministry is also considering offering evacuees temporary lodging on a ferry that's contracted to transport Self-Defense Force units.
It says the vessel could be docked at a port in Tokyo area for the purpose.
Key words : tourism organization
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The Japan National Tourism Organization is offering phone consultation services for foreign tourists who are concerned about the new strain of coronavirus.
The Japan Visitor Hotline offers 24-hour services in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.
The hotline can refer callers who may be infected with the virus to the nearest medical institution. It also provides information on measures to prevent infection such as hand washing and gargling.
The organization encourages foreign tourists to call if they have any concerns.
The hotline number is 050-3816-2787.
Key words : expert panel
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200131_38/
A Japanese government expert panel has agreed to a plan to reduce the amount of radioactive wastewater stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, by releasing it into the sea or the air.
Water used to cool the molten nuclear fuel from the March 2011 accident is treated to remove most of the radioactive material. But tritium and some other substances are left in the treated water, and the amount stored has reached about 1.2 million tons in almost 1,000 tanks.
The industry ministry panel on Friday discussed a proposal to dilute wastewater and release it into the sea, as well as vaporize and release it into the air, both in compliance with environmental and other standards.
The panel said these are realistic options since they have almost no impact on the environment and human health, and there are similar precedents.
They said releasing the wastewater into the sea only needs simple equipment and monitoring the spread of radioactive materials in the sea will be easier to do than in the air.
But they also pointed out that the reputational damage from sea release would have a significant social impact.
The panel plans to finalize its proposal before compiling a report.
Panel chief Ichiro Yamamoto urged the government to take the panel's conclusion into account and listen to local opinions, to find a way to achieve reconstruction of the local areas and decommission the plant.
The government will make the final decision on the disposal method.
Key words : US research
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A US research firm says Huawei overtook Apple last year to become the world's second-largest smartphone manufacturer.
The Chinese tech giant is facing charges of violating US sanctions on Iran and other allegations, but that has not held it back from gaining market share.
The survey by IDC shows South Korea's Samsung Electronics held on to the top spot, with more than 21.6 percent of global shipments.
Huawei was second with 17.6 percent, and Apple third, with 13.9 percent.
Other Chinese manufacturers raced up the ranks with lower-priced devices.
Xiaomi came in fourth with 9.2 percent, and Oppo was fifth with 8.3 percent.
IDC also noted that smartphone shipments overall were down 2.3 percent from 2018. It said consumers in China have been waiting for more affordable 5G models to come on the market.
Key words : segmet wrapping up the top stories of the week
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