Coronavirus: Singapore bars all visitors from China

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) - Singapore has restricted entry of all new travelers arriving from mainland China, according to local media.

The foreigners, who visited China in the past 14 days, will not be allowed entry or transit in Singapore to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, the Strait Times daily quoted Singaporean government as saying.

The new restrictions will be effective on Saturday.

The move came after health authorities in Singapore announced on Jan.23 a new type of coronavirus was detected in a Chinese man from Wuhan, China, who came to Singapore with his family on Jan. 20.

Authorities said the 66-year-old male patient was quarantined after having a sore throat, fever and a cough. Results of tests revealed he carries a new strain of the virus.

Those with whom the patient was in close contact and who were sitting on the plane were screened for the virus. The patient's 37-year-old son was under observation as a suspicious case.

The death toll in China from the novel coronavirus outbreak has climbed to 213, the National Health Commission said Friday.

Some 9,692 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, also known as 2019-nCoV, have been reported in China.

The virus has raised alarms globally, with cases reported across Asia, Europe, the U.S., and Canada.