French Minister of Health, Anees Bizon, announced yesterday that an elderly Chinese tourist died in a hospital in France due to the Corona virus, in the first death of the virus in Europe, while Chinese health officials said that there are more than 2,600 new cases of the virus in the country, and that the number Deaths rose by 143 cases.

In detail, the French Health Minister said that the elderly Chinese tourist died in a hospital in France due to the Corona virus, in the first death of the virus in Europe.

France has recorded 11 cases of the virus, out of 63 thousand and 851 cases worldwide.

Bizon said she learned, on Friday, that the 80-year-old tourist, who had been hospitalized in Becha Hospital in north Paris since January 25, had died of a pulmonary infection caused by the Corona virus.

The French minister indicated, during a press conference, that this death is "the first outside Asia, and the first in Europe."

She added that six of the 11 confirmed cases in France are still in hospital and their health conditions are not cause for concern, including five Britons were injured in the Alps, while four cases have been cured.

China is struggling to return its economy, the second largest in the world, to work after a prolonged Lunar New Year holiday, as the central bank pledged to support companies, but travel bans and quarantine orders negatively affect business.

Beijing has demanded the returnees from the vacation stay in quarantine, for 14 days.

The National Health Committee said that the total number of injuries, on the Chinese mainland, was 66,492, after 2,641 people were confirmed injured Friday.

She added that the deaths increased by 143 cases to 1523 people, and most of the new deaths were in the central province of Hubei, especially its capital, Wuhan, a city where 11 million people lived, and the outbreak began in December.

It is difficult to predict the course of the virus, after the authorities decided, last week, to reclassify the suspected cases as confirmed cases, which led to an increase in the number of declared cases.

However, the World Health Organization has said that the new numbers do not necessarily indicate the extent of the outbreak.

The official Beijing Daily reported that the authorities would punish people returning from holidays if they did not comply with orders to isolate from others.

"All those returning to Beijing should stay at home, or join a group observation for 14 days, starting from the day of arrival," said the Beijing Virus Prevention Working Group.

"Anyone who rejects central or household observation and other control and prevention measures will be held accountable, according to the law," she added.

Outside the mainland, the number of cases has reached nearly 500 in nearly 24 countries, and three deaths have been recorded in Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Africa recorded the first case of infection, after Egypt detected the first case of an alien carrying the virus.

The Diamond Princess saw the largest number of corona virus infections outside of China. The ship is owned by Carnival Corp. and has been under quarantine since its arrival in Yokohama, Japan, on February 3.

Of the 3,500 passengers and crews on the ship, 285 were confirmed to be infected with Corona.

The United States, in a statement, said that the United States has invited its citizens on board the ship to leave "out of great caution" and to return on a special flight arriving in Japan on Sunday, although they will be subject to quarantine for another 14 days upon their return.

The embassy added, "We understand that this is frustrating ... but these measures are in line with the precise policies that we have put in place to limit the possible spread of the disease."

The embassy did not say how many Americans were aboard the ship, but said that those who would refuse to board the plane would not be allowed to enter the United States, for a period of time, to be determined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A warning was issued about this vessel, after a man who had left it in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. The confirmed victim was taken to hospital.

The United States imposed some of the most severe restrictions on arrivals from China, although the World Health Organization did not recommend a travel ban, while Chinese officials criticized the "exaggerated response" from some countries.

Yesterday, Singapore authorities confirmed that five cases of the "Covid-19" virus were detected. According to Bloomberg News.

The Belgian postal system stopped sending letters and parcels to China temporarily, because fears of the Corona virus prompted the concerned authorities to cancel the planes, which could carry the mail there.

China is subject to the banknotes of stone and sterilization

The Central Bank of China has announced a decision to "clean" banknotes in circulation, by placing them in a "quarantine", in order to reduce the spread of the Corona virus, stressing that it will continue to support companies suffering from the epidemic.

The central bank’s deputy governor, Fan Yifei, said that banks use ultraviolet radiation, or very high temperatures, to sterilize banknotes, before isolating them for a period of 7 to 14 days.

He indicated, in a press conference, the possibility of returning the banknotes to circulation, after the expiration of the "quarantine" period, which depends on the severity of the epidemic in the region concerned.

He added, "We must maintain the safety and health of the users of cash flow," referring to the suspension of financial transfers between the Chinese provinces.

The central bank's measures come in parallel with the increasing reluctance of the Chinese to use the currency, for fear of catching the infection, although most consumers use their smartphones to pay their dues and the price of their daily purchases for years. Beijing - AFP

Beijing: We are making great progress in curbing the "Corona" outbreak

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that his country was making great progress in curbing the outbreak of the new Coruna virus. Yesterday, during the Munich International Security Conference, the Chinese foreign minister said that China's 1.4 billion people are fighting decisively in this "smoke-free war." Munich - dpa

- The Belgian Post stops its services to China for fear of the Corona virus.

- The discovery of 5 confirmed cases of corona in Singapore.