The coronavirus outbreak, which began in early December in the Chinese city of Wuhan, had as of Wednesday sickened more than 6,000 people across at least 15 countries and claimed more than 130 lives, all of them in China. Experts don’t yet know how contagious, or how deadly, this new virus is. But the growing crisis has inspired panic. Cities around the world are bracing for a potential wave of infections. Stock and oil prices are tumbling. And experts in just about every global industry are fretting over the many supply chains that could be disrupted — from prescription drugs and surgical masks to rare earth metals — if the outbreak grows into an even wider epidemic.
| WHO Statement on the Coronavirus Outbreak issued 23 January 2020. New Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Macao, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong, Nepal and South Korea. Additional cases have also been reported in Japan and Thailand. |
Global Hazards
Australia
Huge hail batters Canberra as severe thunderstorms hit south-eastern Australia
Australia’s south-east has been lashed by severe thunderstorms and large hailstones that destroyed buildings and cars in Canberra and left two tourists in hospital after they were injured by lightning.
Two supercell thunderstorms brought hail and heavy rain to cities and towns across the east coast on Monday, battering the outer suburbs of Sydney about 3pm, with 4.5cm hailstones recorded and strong winds bringing trees down over cars in the Sutherland area.
Canada
Extreme winter storm
An extreme blizzard left streets deserted across much of eastern Newfoundland, trapping some people in their homes and prompting officials to declare a state of emergency in St. John’s.
Here are some scenes, below, of conditions in the provincial capital, where Mayor Danny Breen said businesses were to remain closed on Saturday and all vehicles are prohibited from using city streets, except emergency vehicles.
Snow was piled high over and around vehicles in the city’s Battery neighbourhood.
This is a group of blocks in columns. Column layouts can be adapted to fit different needs.
China
Death toll rises as more cities restrict travel
The restrictions will affect at least 20 million people across 10 cities, including the capital, Wuhan, where the virus emerged.
On Thursday, a coronavirus patient died in northern Hebei province – making it the first death outside Hubei.
Another death was later confirmed in north-east Heilongjiang province.
The province borders Russia and is more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) from Wuhan.
CRISIS WORLDWIDE 