The coronavirus in China could in the opinion of consultants meet the global auto industry sensitive . There are many producers and suppliers in the province of Hubei and the adjacent areas. Production outside of China is also at risk because some are dependent on parts from China. There is also a decline in sales in China.
The number of coronavirus deaths in China rose to 1,770 . 105 other people died as a result of the disease, including 100 in the particularly affected Hubei province, the national health commission announced on Monday.
In addition, more than 2,000 new infections were reported across China. This brought the total number of cases to over 70,500 .
The quarantine for the 120 Chinese returnees and helpers isolated in a barracks in Germersheim (Rhineland-Palatinate) has ended. New laboratory tests were negative. In Bavaria, more patients were released from a clinic.
Background about the corona virus:
- German corona virus expert says: "We have to prepare for a pandemic"
- "The virus is transmitted more easily than Sars": This is how the Berlin Sars explorer estimates the corona virus
- What are corona viruses - and how do they work? Everything you need to know about the deadly pathogen
- New data from hundreds of infected people: The coronavirus is probably more difficult for men than women
- The pathogen's path around the world: Interactive maps show how the corona virus has spread
- With face masks against the corona virus? What really protects against the transmission of germs
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Japan cancels Emperor Naruhito's birthday party
Due to the spread of the novel corona virus, the Japanese Imperial Palace has canceled the celebrations for the birthday of Emperor Naruhito. As the Imperial Palace announced on Monday, the palace grounds in Tokyo will not be open to visitors next Sunday. Naruhito will therefore not appear in public and there will be no book for congratulations. Usually tens of thousands of well-wishers flock to the palace on the birthday of the Japanese emperor.
In Japan, at least 60 people have now been infected with the novel Chinese corona virus. On Sunday, the government therefore advised the Japanese to avoid "non-urgent and not absolutely necessary gatherings of people" from now on. Older and sick people in particular should be careful. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato spoke of a "new phase" of the coronavirus epidemic.
Emperor Naruhito had climbed the chrysanthemum throne in May 2019 after his father Akihito's abdication. His solemn enthronement with state guests from all over the world took place in October. On February 23, his birthday was to be celebrated for the first time since he ascended the throne. (AFP)VW extends production break in China
Volkswagen continues to feel the effects of the new corona virus in China. There were problems in the supply chains and logistics as well as limited travel options for production employees, Volkswagen said on Monday in Beijing. For this reason, production in the plants of the joint venture with Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) is only scheduled to resume on February 24. So far, this was planned for February 17th.
The other plants, which are operated by First Automotive Works (FAW), would have partially restarted production or should all run again "in the coming days". The production capability in each plant is checked individually, which leads to different start times, the message says. Without the outbreak of lung disease, production would have started again after the Chinese New Year holiday on February 3. China is the most important market for the car manufacturer.
In order to take the circumstances into account, the company wants to focus more on online channels in marketing, for example. (AP)Why the corona virus particularly affects the automotive industry
According to consultants, the corona virus in China could hit the global auto industry severely . According to a study by the consulting firm BCG, almost two million cars are manufactured at a dozen locations in the particularly affected Hubei province alone . That is about eight percent of China's vehicle production.For light commercial vehicles, Hubei is the country's most important production site after Guangdong province on the border with Hong Kong. However, plants were shut down not only in Hubei for days, but in a number of provinces. For comparison: The global market leader VW sold a good 10.9 million cars in 2019.
The corona virus has affected many industries, according to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). "But the auto industry stands out as one that feels the effects quickly and deeply given the crucial role of China." The country is the largest sales market for new cars and at the same time an important location for manufacturers and suppliers, "The auto industry will be affected locally and around the world," write the consultants with regard to disrupted supply chains.
In total, there are over 700 foreign and Chinese suppliers in the province with its sealed-off capital, Wuhan. Foreign automakers are also heavily involved in Hubei: A large part of the production of joint ventures with Chinese companies is in the province, according to BCG. Joint ventures of the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng with Honda, PSA and Renault, for example, have their headquarters in Wuhan.
A slump in production could have global consequences for supply chainsbecause China is one of the largest exporters of vehicle parts - such as brakes, electronics, chassis and wheels. Each of these categories represents $ 5 to $ 6 billion in exports, BCG said. Over half of these exports go to the United States and the EU. The consequences of disrupted supply chains would "be felt in company headquarters around the world," they predict. Car companies with large China business should prepare their supply chains for turbulence or activities to other countries. (AP)United States fly cruise ship passengers home
The United States has brought hundreds of its citizens from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been quarantined in Japan. 40 US passengers had been infected with the corona virus and would have to stay in hospitals in Japan, a representative of the US health authorities told CBS on Sunday. The remaining passengers are flown to the United States, where they are quarantined for two weeks.
The US authorities announced on Saturday that around 400 people would be flown out. However, some passengers from the United States refused to leave the ship. All others were brought from the ship in groups at night on Monday and driven to the airport in buses.
The "Diamond Princess" has been held in quarantine in the port of Yokohama since early February due to the corona virus. According to the Japanese Ministry of Health on Sunday, 355 infections were found on the huge ship with more than 3700 people on board. It was initially unclear whether the 40 US citizens were included in this count.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, 1,219 passengers were tested by Sunday. Due to a lack of materials and personnel, not all people on board have been tested so far. The passengers on the "Diamond Princess" come from a total of around 50 countries. Hong Kong, Canada and Italy have also announced that they will bring their citizens to safety on board the ship. (AFP)1,770 dead, 70,500 infected
The number of coronavirus deaths in China rose to 1,770 . 105 other people died as a result of the disease, including 100 in the particularly affected Hubei province, the national health commission announced on Monday.In addition, more than 2,000 new infections were reported across China. This brought the total number of cases to over 70,500 . The vast majority of deaths and infections continue to occur in Hubei. From there, a further 1933 cases of infection with the pathogen were reported on Monday. The authorities have largely isolated the province from the outside world.The authorities had recently seen a decline in new infections. The latest figures were again slightly higher than those from the previous day , but significantly below the figures for Friday and Saturday. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Sunday of hasty optimism. It is "impossible" to predict the further course of the epidemic, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. (AFP)Altmaier sees no burden on the global economy
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier does not see any coronavirus effects on the global economy . "At the moment, I believe that this will not put a lot of strain on the global economy," said the CDU politician on Deutschlandfunk.The spread of China's lung disease is a serious challenge. "But we have seen in the past that economic effects can be limited and controlled." He was in discussion with the German business associations on this topic.
Altmaier pointed out that the Chinese economy had already grown less rapidly in the past year. In view of the trade conflicts between the United States and China and the EU, many are currently cautious about investing in the export-oriented German economy. Therefore, all the more work must be done to resolve conflicts."The signs on the horizon have not deteriorated so dramatically in recent months that we have to call the path of a recession likely." (Dpa)Decline in new infections in China - WHO warns of hasty optimism
In China, the number of new infections with the new type of corona virus continues to increase - albeit less strongly than before. In the hardest hit province of Hubei, the authorities recorded a decline in new infections on Sunday for the third day in a row . The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of hasty optimism. It was "impossible" to predict the further course of the epidemic, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized. In France, the first death from the novel pathogen was reported in Europe.
In China, the number of deaths from the virus rose to 1665 , the health commission said.Around 68,500 people in mainland China are now infected with the pathogen.
The health commission also reported new cases of infection nationwide in 2009, most of them in Hubei. At the same time, there was a decline in new infections for the third day as a result. In other parts of China, the number of new infections has been falling for twelve days. (AFP)
"At some point you knew every blade of grass"
As one of the approximately 120 returnees from China , student Ann-Sophie Muxfeldt described the end of the two-week quarantine in Germersheim in the Palatinate region as a relief.
The feeling of being “a bit locked up” for about 14 days was difficult, said the 22-year-old. “When you went out, you could only walk around the barrack block, at some point you knew every blade of grass. It feels a little strange after a while. ”The carers of the German Red Cross had put a lot of effort into it, said Muxfeldt, who was picked up by her parents.
“We had, among other things, table tennis tables, billiards and badminton. You could get busy. A lot was also done for the children. ”After a while, she might be a little sad that she had to stop her stay in China. "I hope that it will go back sometime." (Dpa)
Ann-Sophie Muxfeldt was in the barracks for about 14 days. Picture: Ann-Sophie Muxfeldt / dpa
Other patients in Bavaria are allowed to go home
In Bavaria, more coronavirus patients were discharged from the hospital this weekend. The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday in Munich. A ministry spokeswoman said that the Robert Koch Institute's (RKI) discharge criteria had been met . The authority did not want to provide any further information on those affected.
The first of a total of 14 patients registered in Bavaria was discharged from a Munich clinic last Wednesday. The person had been told that the person was completely healthy again and no longer contagious.
All 14 infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus in Bavaria are related to the Stockdorfer auto supplier Webasto.A Chinese colleague had introduced the pathogen during a business trip in January. (AP)Taiwan also reports the first deaths
The first person to die from the corona virus in Taiwan . Health minister Chen Shih Chung said that a man over 60 years old had succumbed to the consequences of the infection. The man had not traveled abroad recently and also had diabetes and hepatitis B as previous illnesses.A total of 20 cases of infection have been registered in Taiwan so far. Previously, deaths outside of China had only occurred in France, Japan, the Hong Kong SAR and the Philippines. (Reuters)All returnees from China in Germersheim released from quarantine
After around two weeks, the quarantine for the more than 100 returnees from China in a military base in Germersheim, Palatinate, ended. The results of further tests for the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus were negative , a spokesman for the Air Force said in the morning. The departure was closed to the public.
122 German citizens and family members had flown to Frankfurt am Main from the Chinese city of Wuhan, which was particularly affected by the Sars CoV-2 virus, and were taken to the barracks in Germersheim on February 1. The quarantine period of 14 days stems from the fact that the maximum incubation period, i.e. the period from the possible infection to the onset of the disease, probably lasts that long. In addition to the returnees, 22 helpers from the German Red Cross had also spent the past few days in the barracks. (AP)Altmaier does not expect major global economic problems
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier does not see any coronavirus effects on the global economy. "At the moment, I believe that this will not put a lot of strain on the global economy," said the CDU politician on Deutschlandfunk. The spread of China's lung disease is a serious challenge. "But we have seen in the past that economic effects can be limited and controlled." He was in discussion with the German business associations on this topic. (AP)Mouthguards as a fashion accessory at London Fashion Week
Stylish face masks are hip at London Fashion Week - on the catwalk and with the audience. According to the British media, they are on display this year like a fashion accessory that ends on Tuesday in the British capital. However, like all mouth masks, they do not offer 100% protection against pathogens such as the corona virus.Due to the novel lung disease, the number of participants in Fashion Week has declined this year, according to the organizers. Fashion designers complained about delivery bottlenecks because many factories in China are closed. Influential investors and buyers from East Asia also failed to appear, according to Sky News.
The Beckham family attended Fashion Week today. Ex-football star David Beckham watched a show of his wife Victoria with his mother, mother-in-law and children. (AP)
A visitor to the fashion show with a mask. Picture: Henry Nicholls / Reuters
China tightened measures in Hubei Province
In order to curb the spread of the virus, the government has issued a driving ban in the particularly affected Chinese province of Hubei . The regional government reports that police cars, ambulances, vehicles with essential goods or those that are needed for public service are exempt.In addition, health checks would be carried out regularly for all residents of the province. Also, companies could only resume work after receiving government approval. Hubei is the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic. (Reuters)
A street in Wuhan in Hubei Province (archive picture). Image: Reuters
RKI boss continues to rate risk for Germany as low
After the first coronavirus death in Europe, the President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Lothar Wieler, warned of panic attacks. "We continue to rate the risk to the population in Germany as low," said Wieler in an interview with Reuters-TV. The deceased in Paris was an 80-year-old Chinese man who had been infected and then had a complicated pneumonia. Wieler spoke of a tragic case. We know that some older and sick people could die from the virus.
"But if you see the number of cases outside of China, (...) it becomes clear that the containment measures are quite successful," he said, referring to the number of people affected in China itself, which is now over 68,000. About 600 cases were registered abroad. The Robert Koch Institute analyzes the situation every day.There is currently no country outside of China where further transmission of the virus by sick people has been identified. Wieler also recalled that there is a distorted perception of the dangers in public. As a comparison, he mentioned that 40,000 cases of influenza have been registered in Germany since the beginning of the year, and 60 people have died.
Nevertheless, Wieler also warned of trivialization of the coronavirus (Covid-19) and, above all, called for increased efforts in poorer countries in the event that the virus should also occur there. "This is a very dynamic situation. The possibility of spreading is great," he said. (Reuters)
The President of the Robert Koch Institute: Lother Wieler. Image: Photo: Soeren Stache / dpa
China's President Xi is on the offensive
A previously unpublished speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping that he was apparently involved in fighting the outbreak earlier than previously known. In the speech dated early February that the state media was now spreading, the President spoke of the fact that he had already given instructions on January 7 to combat the virus.
"I asked during a meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee on January 7 to contain the outbreak," the president was quoted as saying. The speech also made it clear that Xi Jinping personally initiated the strict travel controls in the particularly hard-hit province of Hubei, where numerous cities have been cordoned off for weeks.On Sunday, the country's health agency also announced that China had taken action to curb the spread of the virus.
With the publication, the state propaganda apparently wants to demonstrate that the central government and the party leader have been involved in the fight against the corona virus from the start. However, it is also clear that the heavily criticized local government did not make the decisions alone. In the past few days, a number of high-ranking politicians have had to resign in Hubei and the provincial capital Wuhan, where the virus originally broke out.
Recently, there has been increasing criticism of the inaction or slow reaction of the authorities to the outbreak . The death of doctor Li Wenliang caused nationwide dismay and sympathy last weekwho warned early of the outbreak of the novel corona virus, but was reportedly forced to stop spreading these "rumors". The 34-year-old died because he was infected with the virus. On Thursday, Hubei surprised with a drastic increase in new deaths and newly diagnosed infections, as the counting of the diagnoses was changed. (AP)
Another 142 dead in China
The number of infections and deaths from the novel corona virus has increased again in China. As the Beijing Health Commission announced on Sunday, 142 patients died of the lung disease, which is now called Covid-19, bringing the total number of victims in China to 1,665. In addition, new infections with the pathogen Sars-CoV-2 were detected in 2009. Since the outbreak of the disease, 68,500 cases have been confirmed in China. However, experts suspect a high number of unreported cases. (AP)
But infection case on cruise ship "Westerdam"
A coronavirus case has now been identified among the passengers of the Westerdam cruise ship that went ashore in Cambodia. An 83-year-old American had been tested positive for her onward journey via Malaysia , the Malaysian health authority said on Sunday. The shipping company first wanted to wait for further tests before commenting.
The American was one of 145 passengers who wanted to fly home via Malaysia, the health agency said.Upon arrival, the woman and her husband were diagnosed with symptoms of the new virus, which is why they were hospitalized. The 83-year-old is now being treated in the isolation ward. The 85-year-old husband, who tested negative, was monitored in theAnother 70 confirmed infections on " Diamond Princess "In Japan, 70 new coronavirus cases were found on board the quarantined cruise ship "Diamond Princess". This increases the number of infected people on board to 355, the Japanese health minister Katsunobu Kato said on Sunday at the NHK station. So far, 1219 passengers have been tested, 355 of them positive. 73 of those who tested positive showed no symptoms, said Kato.
The US wants to get its citizens to safety from the giant cruise ship today,which has been held in quarantine in the port of Yokohama since early February. According to the US Embassy, US citizens are to be taken to the United States by plane, where they will be quarantined for two weeks. Hong Kong also wants to fly its 330 citizens out on board the ship. (AFP)
The cruise ship is in the port of Yokohama in Japan. Image: imago images / Kyodo News
