ChinaTravelNews - As of February 6 at 00:25 in Beijing time, the death toll by Wuhan coronavirus has risen to nearly 500 and more than 24,000 people have been infected.
Key developments
* Europe considers US-type travel ban
* Disney expects $175m loss
* Hong Kong to quarantine mainland arrivals
* Airlines staff to take unpaid leave
Worldwide updates on February 5:
>> Europe considers US-style virus travel ban
European governments could consider a US-style ban on foreign visitors who have recently been to China, in a bid to impede the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the health ministers of France and Germany said on Tuesday.
>> Tourists stuck in Bali after flight Ban
An estimated 5,000 Chinese tourists are stranded in popular resort island Bali after Indonesia banned direct flights to and from mainland China to prevent virus spread.
>> Disney sees virus hurting profits
Walt Disney Co. is feeling the impact of the virus after temporarily closing its Shanghai and Hong Kong parks due to the outbreak. Disney expects the Shanghai park closure alone to crimp profits in the current quarter by $135 million, assuming it is shuttered for two months. With Hong Kong closing, Disney expects the virus to reduce profit by another $40 million.
>> Hong Kong to quarantine mainland arrivals
The city will quarantine people arriving from mainland China, including Hong Kong residents and visitors entering via its international airport, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said. The policy will go into effect on Feb. 8 at midnight.
>> Airlines staff to take unpaid leave
Cathay Pacific asked all 27,000 staff to take unpaid leave from March 1 to June 30 as it tries to preserve cash. The airline has said demand dropped following the outbreak and announced deep cuts to flight capacity. South Korean budget carrier Tway Air also asked staff to take unpaid leave.
Separately, Airbus SE shut its plant in Tianjin that builds about six A320-series jets a month, corresponding to almost 10% of the company’s global single-aisle output.
>> Fears on cruises
Royal Caribbean increased the number of cancellations from three cruises as of last week to eight and extended the duration from early February to early March.
Hong Kong authorities are keeping 3,600 passengers and crew members under quarantine on the cruise ship World Dream after three previous travelers were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.
Globally, at least three cruise ships have been denied entry to cruise ports due to virus fears, including Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess which was quarantined in Yokohama, Japan with ten people tested positive for the coronavirus.
Read earlier reports on coronavirus:
>> UK citizens told to leave China, Cathay to cut 90% China flights
>> Infected cases found on cruise ships, 25,000 flights canceled
>> Local, global travel firms join fight against coronavirus outbreak
>> W.H.O. declares global emergency, Singapore bans Chinese visitors
