(Bloomberg) -- A Chinese doctor who was one of the first to warn about a mysterious new respiratory disease has died, according to the hospital where he worked, and the number of deaths from the coronavirus in China climbed to at least 632.
Meanwhile, the city of Wuhan told residents to begin reporting their body temperature daily and the large port city of Tianjin said it would restrict residents’ movement, part of steps across the country to stop the outbreak from spreading.
Ramifications were felt in industries around the globe. U.S. electric-car maker Tesla temporarily closed its stores in China, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV warned that a China-related parts shortage could force it to idle a European plant, according to a report.
Bloomberg is tracking the outbreak on the terminal and online.
Key Developments
- China death toll at least 632; Hubei province adds 69 fatalities and 2,447 new cases
- What You Need to Know About the Spreading Coronavirus: QuickTake
- Man vs. Microbe: We’re Not Ready for Next Global Virus Outbreak
- Terminal subscribers: Replay the TOPLive Q&A on risks to the economy
Chinese Doctor Has Died, Hospital Says (3 p.m. NY)
Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who was one of the first to warn about the coronavirus in Wuhan, has died, according to the hospital where he worked.
The doctor’s status had been subject to hours of confusion after earlier reports of his death on Chinese social media were deleted and replaced by messages saying he was being treated.
“Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at our hospital had unfortunately been infected when he worked on fighting against the coronavirus outbreak,” Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on the Chinese social platform Weibo.
The hospital said he died at 2:58 a.m. in China “after all efforts to save him failed.”
Li was in his 30s, according to a report by the Chinese media outlet Caixin.
Canadian Evacuation From Wuhan Begins (2 p.m. NY)
Canada’s first evacuation of citizens from Wuhan is underway.
A plane with 194 people on board was stationed at a Wuhan airport and set to depart as soon as passengers go through the screening and boarding process. A separate U.S. plane will take a smaller number of Canadians; the two planes combined will account for two-thirds of the 347 Canadians who requested assistance evacuating.
Another Canadian plane will depart Feb. 10 with the remaining passengers, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne said at a press briefing.
Canada has reported five cases of coronavirus infection; three in Ontario and two in British Columbia.
American Airlines Extends Flight Cancelations (12:11 p.m. NY)
American Airlines Holdings Inc. extended the suspension of flights to Hong Kong from Los Angeles through March 27, citing reduced demand. Service previously had been scheduled to resume Feb. 21. Flights to Hong Kong from Dallas-Fort Worth remain scheduled to resume Feb. 21.
The airline is one of the major U.S. carriers serving China.
Economic Impact Will Be Limited, Envoy Says (9:45 a.m. NY)
The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the Chinese economy will be limited and short-term, the country’s envoy to the European Union, Zhang Ming, said in an interview. Smart investors shouldn’t lose confidence on the country’s prospects, the ambassador told Bloomberg TV.
The priority of the Chinese government is to contain the virus and save lives, Zhang said. Asked about any fallout from the outbreak to the China-U.S trade deal, he reiterated that any impact will be limited, though he did acknowledge that the virus will affect both the Chinese and the global economy.
To contact the reporter on this story: Michelle Fay Cortez in Minneapolis at mcortez@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Drew Armstrong at darmstrong17@bloomberg.net, Jeff Sutherland
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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