Coronavirus Bad News Gets Worse For Expats Still Trapped In Wuhan

Expats in the many countries now listing coronavirus infections are fearful the outbreak may last as long as another six months.

It’s not just expats living and working in Wuhan who’re afraid they may catch the newly-identified Chinese virus, as many other popular expatriate destinations are now listing increasing numbers of cases. Scientific research results are now suggesting the fast-spreading infection may last until summer and are predicting the numbers of those infected may top out at over a million.

One expert at Canada’s Toronto University is describing a summer die-down of numbers infected as a best case scenario, as its spread rate to date is expected to result in at least 25,000 more cases. Worse still, other experts are claiming at least that number of infections in China itself by now, and are predicting up to 40,000 more as confirmed cases soar in non-Chinese locations. As regards expatriates already in the Hubei region and Wuhan itself, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK are still attempting to persuade Chinese officials to allow chartered expatriation flights for their citizens.

In total, 17 countries worldwide have identified cases of the virus, with scientists now reporting evidence that the infection can be transferred by those who have no symptoms as yet and no idea they’re ill. At the same time, Hong Kong University researchers have estimated the true number of infections is now over 40,000, adding the swiftly-spreading virus is now unstoppable and recommending drastic action in order to prevent a global epidemic.