Xi's early involvement in virus outbreak raises questions

BEIJING (AP) — A recent speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping that has been published by state media indicates for the first time that he was leading the response to a new virus outbreak from early on in the crisis. The publication of the Feb. 3 speech was an apparent attempt to demonstrate that the...

Home quarantine for travelers buys time as new virus spreads

On his return from China last week, Dr. Ian Lipkin quarantined himself in his basement. His wife now puts his food on the stairs. He’s run out of things to watch on Netflix. At odd hours, he walks in New York's Central Park, keeping 10 feet away from others. Lipkin is among hundreds of people in the U.S....

Americans in Japan to trade one quarantine for another

TOKYO (AP) — Americans Cheryl and Paul Molesky are trading one coronavirus quarantine for another. The couple from Syracuse, New York, are cutting short a 14-day quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, to be flown back to the United States. But they will have to...

'Parasite' director Bong greeted by applause in South Korea

INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — Director Bong Joon-ho smiled and waved at a waiting crowd on Sunday as he arrived home in South Korea, his first trip back since he won four Oscars for his movie “Parasite,” including the award for Best Picture. The crowd clapped and cheered as Bong walked out of...

New virus has infected more than 69,000 people globally

A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 69,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. The latest figures reported by each government's health authority as of Sunday in Beijing:...

No handshakes: Viral outbreak spooks Asian places of worship

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — In a popular Catholic church in the Philippines, nearly half of the pews were empty for Sunday Mass. The few hundred worshippers who showed up were asked to refrain from shaking others' hands or holding them during prayers to prevent the spread of the virus that started in China....

Quarantine ends for Germans; Italy to fly citizens from ship

BERLIN (AP) — More than 100 Germans evacuated from the hard-hit Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of a new coronavirus outbreak, were set to end their prescribed 14-day quarantine period on Sunday. They have been kept isolated at a military base in the southern town of Germersheim. None of them have...

Cost of China's anti-virus fight rises with workers idle

BEIJING (AP) — Real estate agent Du Xuekun’s sales usually jump after the Lunar New Year holiday. But this year, Du has been at home for a month with no income after vast swathes of China’s economy were shut down in a sweeping effort to contain a virus outbreak. Du, who lives in Jiaozhuo,...

Silver: NBA, USA Basketball still may play in China in 2020

CHICAGO (AP) — The NBA and USA Basketball are still considering playing in China later this year, though the complexities of both the political rift caused by a tweet last fall and the ongoing health concerns in the world’s most populous country are making those plans seem decidedly uncertain. NBA...

For third day, mainland China reports fall in new virus cases to 2,009; total deaths rise by 142 to 1,665