News in 5: Coronavirus on every continent, Hannah Clarke parliamentary vigil, Sharapova retires.

1. The number of coronavirus cases outside China has exceeded those reported inside.

Coronavirus has now spread to every continent except Antarctica, with more new cases reported outside of China than within.

On Tuesday, 411 new cases of the COVID-19 disease were reported in China, while 427 were reported outside the country, WHO said.

45 countries have now confirmed infections, with a sudden rise of cases in Italy and Iran being called “deeply concerning”. The most cases outside of China are in South Korea, where 1000 infections have been recorded.

Iran has had a total of 19 deaths and 139 infections, including the country’s deputy health minister.

Here in Australia we have 23 recorded cases, but zero deaths.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says we are well-prepared – but not immune to the increasing risk of an outbreak.

“What we’ve done, as you would hope that a government would do, is prepare for all eventualities, but so far in Australia, we have contained the virus on official medical advice. But this plan is about saying, ‘we’re not immune but we are as well-prepared anyone else in the world’,” Hunt said in a press conference.

LISTEN: How worried should we be in Australia? Post continues after podcast.

More than 81,000 people have been infected worldwide, while at least 2770 have died.

Germany says their country is headed for a coronavirus epidemic and can no longer trace all cases.

Coronavirus has been stalling international sporting events, however a spokesman for the Japanese government said the International Olympic Committee and local organisers are going ahead as planned with the Tokyo Olympics despite the threat of the spreading coronavirus.

The virus first started in a seafood market in Wuhan in December.

Australian man Tim McLean has been documenting his time in coronavirus ground zero.

“Takeaway that one lying on the floor,” a doctor can be heard yelling down a phone in the footage obtained by the ABC.

“I can’t wait to get out of here. It’s terrible, I’m absolutely f***ing petrified,” says Tim in the video.

 

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Australian man Tim McLean is quarantined in his apartment right across the road from a hospital treating coronavirus patients. “It’s very dire here. There’s queues outside the hospitals now. There’s people dropping on the footpath, literally,” he said. #coronavirus #covid19 #hubei #china #quarantine #abcnews #news #lockdown #fourcorners

A post shared by ABC News (@abcnews_au) on Feb 24, 2020 at 6:08pm PST

2. “We all want to do better.” Parliamentary vigil held for Hannah Clarke and her children.

A federal Queensland MP has told a vigil for Hannah Clarke and her three children that Australians want to do more to tackle domestic violence.

Terri Butler, who is Ms Clarke’s federal representative, said the country had seen so many deaths as a result of family violence.

“The risk is we become habitualised and then fail to be shocked,” Ms Butler told politicians at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday. “I know that we all want to do better.”

‘Amazing Grace’ was sung as they lit candles for Hannah and her children – Laianah, Aaliyah, and Trey – who were murdered by her estranged husband Rowan Baxter.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was important to remember the victims and who they were.

“All of that was taken from them in a murderous act of violence which none of us here can comprehend,” he said.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese hoped the brutal murder marked a turning point.

"We have all failed, particularly men have failed, the women and children of this country," he said.

Greens co-deputy leader Larissa Waters said words were not enough and parliament needed to take action.

"We here collectively can fix the system and make sure that it doesn't fail anybody else," Ms Waters said.

The vigil comes as some MPs stress the need for domestic violence to be on the agenda constantly, not just in the aftermath of major tragedies.

Earlier on Wednesday, Labor MP Anne Aly, said it was crucial the issue continues being tackled long after Ms Clarke's death.

"I want to make sure that this stays on the agenda - that we don't just talk about this at that critical point where we are mourning lives lost," Dr Aly told reporters.

She said there are a lot of women who will be wondering if they're "going to be beaten black and blue tonight".

"I say to those women, we see you. And we know you," she said.

Parliamentary vigil held for Hannah Clarke and her kids : #auspol #australiapm https://t.co/R8GF7UEJ5V

— PM of Australia News (@AustraliaPM) February 26, 2020

Earlier this week, Dr Aly spoke publicly for the first time about her experience of domestic violence at the hands of her former partner.

3. "Tennis... I'm saying goodbye." Former world No.1 Maria Sharapova retires at 32.

One of the highest-paid sportswomen in the world, Maria Sharapova, has announced the end of her career age 32, after five grand slam wins.

Siberia-born Sharapova, whose Wimbledon victory over Serena Williams in 2004, aged 17, propelled her to superstardom and riches, broke the news in an article for magazine Vanity Fair.

"I'm new to this, so please forgive me. Tennis - I'm saying goodbye," Sharapova, whose rags to riches story captivated the sporting world but turned sour when she was banned for doping, wrote in a farewell article.

Her decision to quit isn't a major surprise. She hasn't been at the top of her game since returning in 2017 from a 15-month ban for taking prohibited heart drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

The former world No.1 has played only two matches this year, losing in the first round of the Australian Open, with her ranking sliding to 373.

"Looking back now, I realise that tennis has been my mountain. My path has been filled with valleys and detours, but the views from its peak were incredible," she said.

"After 28 years and five grand slam titles, though, I'm ready to scale another mountain, to compete on a different type of terrain."

Sharapova, whose trademarks were her ferocious intensity and pounding groundstrokes, completed her career grand slam when she won the French Open in 2012.

She also won at Roland Garros again in 2014, her last major title.

She became the first Russian woman to reach number one in the rankings in 2005 and claimed the US Open title in 2006. She also won the Australian Open in 2008.

"It's a shame, of course, because Maria was a role model for everyone," Shamil Tarpischev, president of Russia's Tennis Federation, told RIA news agency.

"Many girls compared themselves to her. She was number one for the popularisation of Russian tennis. Her image was huge."

Feature image: ABC/AAP.

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