Coronavirus news – live: ‘Super-spreading event’ sparks panic as entire city told to stay at home after quarantine declared across Daegu

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World Health Organisation gives an update on coronavirus

The mayor of Daegu, South Korea’s fourth largest city, has urged its 2.5 million population to refrain from going outside amid a spike in coronavirus cases within the region.

Kwon Young-jin said the city was facing “an unprecedented crisis”, with 49 reported patients traced to an infected individual who had attended a local church.

But the World Health Organisation director general insisted the number of South Korean cases is “really manageable”, adding he hopes officials can contain the outbreak at an “early age”.

It comes as the Japanese government confirmed the death of two citizens, both in their 80s, who contracted the virus while aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. More than 620 people onboard the ship – which was carrying 3,700 passengers – have tested positive for the condition.

Meanwhile in the UK, a total of 5,549 British nationals had been tested as of 2pm on Thursday. Nine cases of the virus have been discovered so far.

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Key Points

• South Korean city in lockdown after 'super-spreading event'
• Two infected passengers from stricken cruise ship die
• Worldwide death toll surpasses 2,110
• BA announces further cancellations for flights to China

[20 February 2020 17:28 · Andy Gregory]

Too early to predict economic growth following outbreak, IMF chief says

The International Monetary Fund is still reviewing its projections for growth in China, looking at the impact of the epidemic on the global economy, the organisation's managing director has told a news conference in Morocco.

The IMF said last month global growth is projected to rise from an estimated 2.9 per cent in 2019 to 3.3 per cent in 2020 and 3.4 per cent in 2021.

But Kristalina Georgieva said it would be premature to give precise projections of growth in China and globally in 2020 following the outbreak.

"We are still hoping that the impact will be a V shaped curve" with a sharp decline in China and sharp rebound after the containment of the virus, Ms Georgieva said.

"But we are not excluding that it might turn to be a different scenario like a U curve where the impact is somewhat longer."

[20 February 2020 17:44 · Andy Gregory]

Virus fears lead Iranian health officials to urge suspension of religious gatherings, day before elections

State media said officials are urging all religious gatherings be suspended in Qom, where four of Iran's five cases have been discovered.

Two elderly sufferers died on Wednesday in the city, the first fatalities seen in the Middle East.

Iran is holding parliamentary elections tomorrow. Read more detail on Friday's ballot from The Independent's defence and security editor Kim Sengupta below:

[20 February 2020 17:58 · Andy Gregory]

FBI orders $40,000 of sanitiser and face masks 'in case of US pandemic'

The bureau's "pandemic preparedness" order states they “are to be stored throughout the country for distribution in the event of a declared pandemic”, CNBC reported, citing the acquisition document.

[20 February 2020 18:09 · Andy Gregory]

South China Morning Post has compiled footage of the delivery workers, pharmacists and cleaners braving infection to provide food and essentials to their fellow Wuhan residents, and keep the city running.