（中央社台北26日電）針對美國關閉駐武漢總領事館，並撤離當地美國公民，中國外交部發言人華春瑩今天表示，中方會根據國際慣例，依照中方有關防疫規定作出相應安排，提供必要協助和便利。
中國外交部今天以華春瑩答記者問的名義，透過官網作上述表示。
華春瑩重申中國官方立場說，武漢新型冠狀病毒感染的肺炎疫情發生以來，中方及時向世界衛生組織（WTO）及有關國家通報疫情訊息，並保持密切溝通。
華爾街日報報導，知情人士透露，目前據信約有1000名美國公民在武漢。美國政府正在安排一架包機飛往武漢，撤離當地的美國公民、家屬和外交官，送回美國。而經美國政府與中國外交部和其他機關協商後，已獲得同意。
這名人士說，包機上將有美國醫療人員，以確保若有人感染武漢肺炎將能獲得妥善照顧，不會散播病毒。
除美國外，法國外交部24日發表聲明，法國駐武漢總領事館在協調中國相關機關後，已通知在武漢的法國人，考慮用巴士讓想離開的法國人及配偶、子女離開武漢。其中，在武漢設廠的法國車廠寶獅雪鐵龍集團（PSA）已表示，將撤離在武漢的38名法籍員工及眷屬。
俄國駐中國大使館25日也表示，俄方正與中國協商可能自武漢和湖北省撤離俄國公民的行動。（編輯：邱國強/翟思嘉）
（中央社上海25日綜合外電報導）「華爾街日報」報導，了解內情的人士透露，美國政府正在安排一架撤僑包機前往武漢，撤離當地的美國公民和外交官，送回美國。新型冠狀病毒引發肺炎疫情，武漢情況最為嚴重。
2019新型冠狀病毒（2019-nCoV）肺炎於去年12月在湖北省首府武漢爆發，疫情逐漸蔓延，武漢自昨天起封城，機場、火車站等離開當地的通道暫時關閉。
中國境內的武漢肺炎確診病例已上升到1356例，其中41例死亡。在各省區中，疫情起源地的湖北省確診病例已增加到729例，其中39例死亡。
這位人士表示，目前據信有大約1000名美國公民在武漢，當地的美國總領事館正和他們聯絡，安排他們的機位。
他又說，美國政府近日與中國外交部和其他政府機關協商後，獲同意採取這項行動，這架包機可運送約230人，將包括美國外交人員以及美國公民和家屬。
他表示，機上將有美國醫療人員，以確保若有人感染新型冠狀病毒，將能獲得妥善照顧，不會散播病毒。
這位人士也表示，美國計畫暫時關閉駐武漢總領事館。他又說，若是還有多的機位，也可能提供非美國公民搭乘，包括其他國家的外交人員。
華爾街日報報導，其他國家的政府也在與中國當局協商，希望仿照美中同意的這項作法，安排飛機接運僑民。
法國外交部稍早發布聲明表示，法國駐武漢總領事館已通知在武漢的法國人，在與當地官方機關聯繫下，考慮提供巴士服務，讓想離開的法國人及配偶、子女離開武漢市。（譯者：林治平）
截至1月25日17时，北京市新增5例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎病例，目前全市共有39名患者在定点医疗机构治疗。这5名新增患者为3男2女，年龄在36岁-45岁之间，其中3人有湖北接触史，2人有其他省份接触史。这是北京首次报告确诊无湖北接触史的患者。确诊患者均已送定点医疗机构救治。北京市卫生健康委员会的统计显示，新确诊的5名患者分别在1月10日-22日发病，1月18日-23日初次就诊，发病与初次就诊之间分别相隔0-13天。截至1月25日17时，北京市累计确诊新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎病例41例，其中西城区4例、朝阳区6例、海淀区8例、丰台区2例、石景山区1例、通州区3例、顺义区1例、大兴区2例、昌平区3例，外地来京人员11例，其中2例治愈出院。(记者白杰戈)
（中央社北京25日綜合外電報導）中國海南省三亞市政府今天表示，已關閉所有的旅遊景點，以防止引發武漢肺炎疫情的新型冠狀病毒散播。
三亞市是中國農曆春節期間最受歡迎的旅遊景點之一。中國年假為期一週，從1月24日除夕開始到1月30日初六結束。
海南省省會海口市則在今天早上宣布，將對來自疫情中心湖北省的旅客進行14天的集中醫學觀察，尤其是對來自武漢市的旅客。
2019新型冠狀病毒（2019-nCoV）去年底在武漢市引爆肺炎疫情，迄今在全球有逾1300人感染，在中國導致41人死亡。（譯者：陳正健/核稿：林治平）
中新网海口1月25日电 (记者 张茜翼)海南省卫健委25日上午发布消息称，1月24日0时-25日9时，海南新增报告新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例9例(三亚市3例、儋州市3例、万宁市3例)，无重症和死亡病例。25日，海南省政府决定启动突发公共卫生事件Ⅰ级应急响应。
截至1月25日9时，海南5个市县累计报告新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例17例(海口市3例、三亚市5例、儋州市3例、万宁市5例、临高县1例)，无重症和死亡病例。截至1月25日9时，追踪到密切接触者374人，已解除医学观察0人，尚有374人正在接受居家医学观察。
海口25日发布公告称，自2020年1月25日12时起，对来自湖北尤其是武汉的过海登岛旅客进行集中医学观察14天，集中医学观察地点为海口市海秀西路46号海南兵工大酒店，集中医学观察期间旅客只能在酒店范围内活动，严禁离开酒店。
海口市卫健委与广东省湛江市徐闻县卫健局双方实现疫情信息共享，并分别选派医疗卫生相关专业技术人员赴对方辖区港口，加强双方疫情防控工作协调能力，强化疫情防控工作整体部署。
据悉，双方协商实现疫情信息共享，并实行疫情工作日报告制度，及时交流疫情防控实时动态，确保信息对称。同时，两地正各自严格把控好登船关口，对登船的散客、小车、大车进行全面监测，确保人员体温检测全覆盖。
海口市旅游和文化广电体育局24日晚发布通知，海口市旅游文化系统各单位组织或举办的文艺演出、群众性文化活动、新春下基层等各类人员聚集的活动暂停举行。全市文化馆、图书馆、博物馆、剧院等封闭式场馆暂停对外开放；全市歌舞娱乐场所、网吧、游艺场所、演出场所等文化旅游体育经营单位暂停营业。
三亚市旅游和文化广电体育局发布通知要求，暂停全市各类场所的室内大型旅游、文化、体育、表演等各种活动；歌舞娱乐场所、网吧、电影院、剧院等室内文化娱乐场所暂停营业；图书馆、博物馆、美术馆等室内公共服务场所暂停对外开放。各旅行社严禁组团到国家公布的发生疫情的省、市和地区旅游；严禁接待疫情发生地组团来的旅游团队。(完)
People collapsing in the streets of Wuhan, coverups of unreported deaths and travellers “escaping” quarantine in China at risk of spreading the coronavirus.
If you’ve been following the outbreak on social media, you may have seen some, or more, of these types of claims.
But the truth is, they’re completely unverified – and in most cases, flat out untrue.
Social media has completely changed the way in which information about a disease outbreak travels around the world and experts say it’s not for the better.
“When there’s a lack of information and there’s fear, rumours come in to fill that gap,” said Alfred Hermida, professor and director of the journalism program at the University of British Columbia.
“The reason people are sharing this is because they’re trying to make sense of what is a really complicated situation and also something that is potentially worrying. The danger is that it spins out of control, because fear then takes over.”
Hermida began tracking the rate at which information about the coronavirus has been shared on Twitter since coverage of the outbreak began late last month.
What he found was that there was little traffic around hashtags related to the coronavirus until Tuesday, the day the first U.S. case was reported, when the volume of tweets spiked.
Hermida’s data showed about 25,000 tweets on Monday in the U.S., followed by over 80,000 Tuesday, close to 200,000 Wednesday, more than 350,000 Thursday and almost half a million on Friday alone.
“Fear is a very powerful motivator here,” he said. “It’s very easy to weaponize and for most people, it’s very hard to figure out if something you see on social media is true or not.
“It plays to our worst fears.”
‘Please quarantine him’
One incident occurred Thursday morning, with the story of a traveller who reportedly “escaped” Wuhan and was heading to Toronto. The traveller was flagged to Toronto Pearson International Airport on Twitter as someone who should be quarantined.
“This guy who escaped from Wuhan yesterday will be arrived at Toronto from Guangzhou today,” one Twitter user wrote. “Please quarantine him.”
The official account for the airport responded publicly, adding legitimacy to the claim and raising important privacy concerns. The information was also reportedly shared with border officials.
“Thank you for letting us know!!” the response read. “We will share this information with Canada Immigration.”
For York University sociology professor Fuyuki Kurasawa, the tweet from an official source like the airport was troubling.
“I haven’t seen anything like that and it seems to me to be a violation of that traveller’s privacy, basic human rights and their right to be considered for fair treatment upon arriving at the Canadian border,” he said.
“I don’t know if the person who was responsible for the Twitter account at Pearson Airport was aware of the potential violation of that person’s human rights or civil liberties, but it certainly seems to be a case that’s highly problematic.”
In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority said that it’s not uncommon for the airport to receive information that needs to be reviewed to maintain passenger and employee safety.
“The information had been shared widely on social media and blogging platforms before being sent to our account,” Robin Smith said of the tweet.
“The safety of passengers and employees is our top priority, and a response was posted to maintain transparency with concerned members of the public.”
The responses from other Twitter users were indeed concerning.
“For God’s sake keep him away from us!!!!” one Twitter user wrote.
“We need to quarantine everyone on that flight!!” another wrote.
But amid the panic, there was a clear lack of understanding of the nature of this coronavirus and the measures in place to prevent the spread of the illness.
For one, it’s not known how quickly this coronavirus spreads from person to person, or if it does so at a high rate.
Symptoms may also not present initially and, if this person did in fact leave Wuhan, they would have presumably done so before the quarantine of the city or after a comprehensive exit screening at the airport there.
Fear driving misinformation online
Other outlandish claims include reports that China’s 5G wireless network could help spread the illness, or that nicotine could cure it.
“Anything that’s health-related, the challenge online is that it’s so emotional,” said Ramona Pringle, director of the Creative Innovation Studio at Ryerson University.
Pringle said a pattern with misinformation that goes viral is that the verified and accurate information never gets the same traction online.
“It doesn’t have the stuff that makes people want to share it. It doesn’t have that shock and strong emotion,” she said.
“Maybe people end up seeing it, but if they see it, they’re not sharing it. They’re not spreading it, unfortunately.”
False alarm in the Philippines
An example of this was a tweet that had huge engagement on Monday.
“WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THE #CORONAVIRUS AND HOW IT HAS ALREADY CLAIMED 4 LIVES,” a Twitter user wrote.
Cebu, a province in the Philippines, has not had any cases of the illness to date.
Hours later, the same user clarified that the illness may not be the same as the coronavirus outbreak that originated in China, but that tweet was only retweeted five times.
Concerns over racial profiling
Kurasawa, at York University in Toronto, says social media can amplify the fear that people have during an outbreak and decrease their ability to filter inaccurate information.
That can lead to a type of “vigilantism,” where people share personal information online, like in the case of the tweet the airport responded to, or confront them in the real world.
“So you can imagine quickly that there would be targeting of people from specific ethnic or racial groups as a result of this, as potential carriers of a particular in this case of coronavirus,” he said. “And that’s very worrisome.”
“AND THERE’s THIS CHINESE KID IN CEBU WHO HAS THE VIRUS AND HOW THE VIRUS IS CONTAGIOUS BETWEEN HUMANS.”
“It speaks to our primal instincts about survival that people panic, people have an emotional reaction to it.”
Kurasawa said he lived in Toronto during the 2003 SARS epidemic, and saw this type of racial profiling firsthand.
“I was with a friend of mine who is Korean-Canadian and she happened to have a cold. She was coughing, and we were on the subway,” he said.
“And we literally had people who jumped out of their seats, got angry at her for being on the subway, said something and then jumped right out of the subway car as soon as it got to the next stop.”
Former prime ministers Paul Martin and Jean Chrétien publicly ate at restaurants in Toronto’s Chinatown during the height of the SARS epidemic to dissuade Canadians from this type of thinking.
This irrational fear and racist behaviour is nothing recent, but Kurasawa said it could easily happen again with the current outbreak.
“The debate is going to be whether the message of ‘let’s remember the lessons of SARS’ is going to win over the message of fear and panic, where people justified racist behavior because of their concern about their own health,” he said.
“That’s the concern I think that a lot of people are having.”