France: Chinese coronavirus appears to be less serious than SARS - health official

M/S Head of France's health department Jerome Salomon arriving , Paris
C/U Banner (French): "CORRUS, Operational centre for the reception and regulation of health and social emergencies; Health Crisis Centre", Paris
SOT, Jerome Salomon, Head of France's health department (French): "Good evening, I first wanted to bring you the news about the three confirmed cases of infection by the new coronavirus in the national territory. The three people are doing very well. The doctors are following them regularly and gave us the news. We are totally reassured on their recovery."
M/S Salomon talking to press *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Jerome Salomon, Head of France's health department (French): "We encourage people who return from China, who have returned within 14 days after a stay in China and who have symptoms suggestive of respiratory infection to report it directly to 'Centre 15', without going through a medical office, without going through by emergency, but while waiting quietly at home, to have this contact with the centre to assess their condition and see whether or not they are a possible case.
In this case, they are taken care of and hospitalised in a specialised service."
C/U Salomon talking to press *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Jerome Salomon, Head of France's health department (French): "A reception medical team, in particular at Charles de Gaulle [airport] because you know that it is the main French platform connected with direct flights to China, so tomorrow a medical reception team will be established there to answer questions, to take care of any worried person and in particular to have medical care for a person who presents symptoms."
C/U Reporters holding microphones *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Jerome Salomon, Head of France's health department (French): "Its virulence, its dangerousness, is evaluated by the number of deaths compared to the number of cases. And indeed we see that this number of deaths certainly progresses, but slower than the number of cases. We have a maximum of 3 percent of mortality [rate], but we think that there are many more cases than the confirmed cases, which means that the mortality [rate] is automatically lower, and that it is already significantly lower than that which had been observed with SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome], which is rather good news. But we still need to have a lot of information, you know, the incubation period, the number of secondary cases for a primary case, the source which is still not known. And so to have specific information of the virulence, contagiousness, on the source. We are at the beginning of the epidemic and we are very attentive to this very progressive epidemic."
C/U Sign (French): "Ministry of solidarity and of health"
M/S Salomon leaving
SCRIPT
Head of France's health department Jerome Salomon said that the new coronavirus appeared to be less serious than the SARS virus that hit China in 2002. Salomon confirmed three patients who were diagnosed with the new disease were doing well during a statement in Paris on Saturday.
"It [the mortality rate] is already significantly lower than that which had been observed with SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome], which is rather a good news," said Salomon.
He added that the health officials were reassured on the recovery of the three patients who are regularly checked by doctors.
Salomon urged French nationals with the virus' symptoms to report to a specialised medical centre.
There are over 1,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, which has killed at least 41 people, with in China and other countries.