The decline in reported new COVID-19 infections continues this week but the World Health Organization still has reservations to rule out further epidemic evolution. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "every scenario is still on the table."
On Tuesday, China's National Health Commission said there were 1,886 confirmed new cases and 98 deaths. In total, China has 72,436 confirmed cases and 1,868 deaths. Twenty-five other countries reported fewer than 700 cases in total.
Aside from China, the WHO is working closely with Japan in monitoring the situation inside the Diamond Cruise Ship docked in Yokohama. As of press time, Japan confirmed 99 new cases of infections. The total infected passengers are now at 454.
All eyes are on the cruise ship because different nationalities are onboard and highly possible that they can spread the virus into their country once sent home.
Indeed, 10 of the Americans who were evacuated back to the United States are now deemed "high risk." These Americans, together with their spouses, were sent directly to Nebraska hospital.
At the same time, three passengers are now under strict monitoring as they started showing symptoms. After the 14-day required quarantine onboard Diamond Princess, the evacuees are still required to undergo the same isolation period inside the country.
To date, there are still about 60 Americans in Japan including those who are still on board.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom has yet to finalize plans of evacuation although officials said that Britons will be rescued. More than 70 Britons were on board the cruise ship. The UK government has been receiving backlash because of accusations that it is abandoning its citizens due to fear of spreading the virus inside the country.
Meanwhile, Holiday Inn at Heathrow Airport is the designated quarantine quarters for those who are considered at risk but due to travel bans worldwide ended in the country and nowhere to go. Heathrow is the UK's largest airline hub both for incoming and in-transit passengers.
In Russia, a court apprehended a woman who escaped her quarantine from the hospital. The woman was ordered to return to the hospital which according to her complaint is not treating her well, hence, her escape.
At the same time, Russia confirmed that a citizen aboard the cruise ship is infected with COVID-19.
Australia said it will evacuate more than 200 citizens from Diamond Princess. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Australians should be traveling back to the country by Wednesday. Once they arrive, they will be required to undergo another 14-day quarantine.
Also, onboard, the cruise ship is 27 Filipino crew all whom the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed are infected with COVID-19.
As the virus continued to ravage on, organizers of the International Exhibition of Inventions was canceled officially. The event was supposed to happen in Geneva, Switzerland. The organizers said they are looking into September for a possible new date for the event.
The cancellation was decided upon because more than 50% of the supposed attendees are coming from Asia, a third from mainland China and a few more from Hong Kong.
