Coronavirus: two deaths in Wuhan thought to be first of foreign nationals
US citizen, 60, died of virus, while Japan says citizen who died had symptoms of virus
Sat 8 Feb 2020 09.40 GMT

A US national in China has become the first foreigner confirmed to have died from the new coronavirus, while a Japanese man also died after experiencing symptoms consistent with the disease, authorities have said.

Officials announced the death toll had risen to 724, with 86 more people dying in mainland China – the highest one-day jump so far. The toll is nearing the 774 killed worldwide during the 2002-03 Sars epidemic.

The 60-year-old US citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died on 6 February at Jinyintan hospital in Wuhan, the centre of the virus outbreak, a US embassy spokesman in Beijing said. “We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss,” the spokesman said. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we have no further comment.”

A Japanese man taken to hospital with pneumonia in Wuhan died after suffering flu-like symptoms consistent with the coronavirus, Japan’s foreign ministry said. The man in his 60s was suspected of having been infected with the coronavirus but due to difficulties in diagnosing the disease the cause of death was given as viral pneumonia, the ministry said, citing Chinese medical authorities.

As of midday on Thursday, 17 foreigners were being quarantined and treated for the disease in China, according to government figures. No updated figures were immediately available on Saturday.

The only reported fatalities outside the mainland have been a Chinese man in the Philippines and a 39-year-old man in Hong Kong.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... -officials