WHO chief slams wealthy countries for failing to share virus data

Head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom, accused some wealthy countries of being "well behind" in sharing data on novel coronavirus cases, calling for more global solidarity to combat the virus.

Tedros said he has written to all health ministers to improve data-sharing on coronavirus cases immediately.

"Of the 176 cases reported outside China so far, WHO has received complete case report forms for only 38 percent of cases. Some high-income countries are well behind in sharing this vital data with WHO," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.WHO: 22 nations imposed travel or trade-related measures

WHO said 22 nations have officially reported trade or travel-related measures linked to a new coronavirus outbreak saying they should be short in duration, proportionate and considered regularly.

China's envoy to the UN in Geneva Chen Xu says some restrictions do not comply with WHO advice which urged countries to no overreact.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom reiterated the agency's advice not to impose travel or trade restrictions on China saying such measures can cause "fear and stigma".Hyundai to halt S. Korea output as China virus disrupts parts supply

Hyundai Motor will suspend production in South Korea because the coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the supply of parts, it said, becoming the first major carmaker to do so outside of China.

In China, global automakers have already extended factory closures in line with government guidelines. Those manufacturers include Hyundai, Tesla, Ford, PSA Peugeot Citroen , Nissan and Honda Motor.Hong Kong Hospital Authorityasks medical workers to returnto work

The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) has appealed to public hospital employees to return to work as it said nearly 5,000 staff were absent from duty on Tuesday.

Medical workers went on a strike to pressure the government into instigating a full border closure with mainland China.

According to Dr Deacons Yeung, HA director of cluster services, public hospitals can currently maintain only basic emergency surgery services due to the absence of staff.

Taiwan calls China 'vile' for limiting WHO access during virus outbreak

Taiwan dramatically escalated its war of words with Beijing over the island's exclusion from the World Health Organization, saying "vile" China was preventing Taiwan from getting timely information about the coronavirus outbreak.

Taiwan is not a WHO member because of China's objections. Beijing says the island is a wayward Chinese province and is adequately represented in the organisation by China.

Taiwan says it is not and has never been part of the People's Republic of China.