Washington(ANN)-Coronavirus The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Covid-19 outbreak as a global public health emergency. The US also declared the outbreak as a public health emergency on 1 February, followed by many other countries, as coronavirus numbers continue to rise. The WHO raised the risk assessment for the outbreak to very high on 28 February.

Airports across the world are deploying screening measures to isolate passengers with symptoms related to the disease to contain the spread of the disease. Covid-19 currently has no cure but researchers in China and pharmaceutical companies including Abbvie, Inovio, and Gilead Sciences are working on developing treatments.


See the top vaccines/drugs in the pipeline for coronavirus treatment here

Below is the list of coronavirus affected countries and the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus by country.

Coronavirus-affected countries: Middle East South Korea Japan Singapore Malaysia China USA UK Thailand  Philippines  India

South Africa

South Africa joined the countries with coronavirus on 05 March, when a 38-year-old male with a recent travel history to Italy tested positive for Covid-19 nCoV along with a group of nine others.

The infected consulted a doctor on 03 February with coronavirus symptoms. The doctor and the patient have been isolated.

Greece

The coronavirus cases in Greece reached 31, with the cases leaping by 21 on 05 March.

The first confirmed coronavirus infection in Greece was announced on 26 February in Thessaloniki. The person is a 38-year-old Greek woman who recently travelled to Italy. The other two cases include the child of the first confirmed case and a woman with a travel history to Italy who is being treated in Athens.

A 60-year-old man suspected of contracting the coronavirus infection has tested negative for the disease, reported the Greek City Times. The man was placed under quarantine at the AHEPA University General Hospital.

The outbreak has affected the tourism industry in the country, with 70% of Chinese tourists cancelling their vacations.

Belgium

Coronavirus cases in Belgium more than doubled from the earlier 23 to 50 on 05 March, when 27 news cases were confirmed.

New cases were announced in Flanders (16), Wallonia (nine) and Brussels (two).

Belgium confirmed its first coronavirus case on 04 February when one of those repatriated tested positive for the virus in Brussels. The case refers to a person who returned from Wuhan recently. The patient has recovered and has been discharged.

Russia

Russia has four confirmed coronavirus cases till date, the latest being an Italian citizen who entered Russia on 29 February, according to RIA News. Two cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed on 31 January in Chinese citizens, in Zabaikalsky and Tyumen regions.

Russia’s first coronavirus suspect was reported on 30 January, according to Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency. The case was of a Russian citizen who returned from Moscow and found to have symptoms associated with the infection.

To prevent spread, Russia has already closed its border with China and restricted rail services to the affected Chinese regions.

Austria

A total of 37 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Austria as of 05 March. Regions with coronavirus in Austria include Vienna, Lower Austria, Tyrol, Salzburg and Styria.

The first two confirmed-coronavirus cases in Austria were reported on 25 February. The two people, a man and a woman aged 24-years, have been quarantined in a hospital in Innsbruck, in the Tyrol province. One of the confirmed cases had recently travelled to the Lombardy region of Italy, which has witnessed a spike in new cases.

Austria had previously placed seven of its citizens who arrived from China under quarantine at the Hygiene Centre Vienna for suspected coronavirus infection. They later tested negative for the infection on 04 February.

Iran

As of 05 March, Iran has reported 3,513 confirmed cases and 107 deaths. Among the infected are 23 Iranian MPs, reported The Guardian on 03 March. The cities where confirmed cases have been reported include Tehran, Qom and Gilan.

The country reported two coronavirus-related deaths on 20 February in the city of Qom, near Tehran. Iran is the first to report deaths in the Middle East region. The first two deaths were of elderly people who tested positive for the virus and developed acute lung infections, soon after. An Iranian member of parliament is among the persons who have died from the disease.

Suspected cases of coronavirus were previously reported, although the number was not officially announced. Iran has made available digital thermometers at 36 borders and is observing the suspected at hospitals.

The sanctions imposed by the US are making it difficult for Iran to handle the outbreak as it struggles to find access to coronavirus diagnostic kits and treatments.

India

A total of 30 confirmed cases have been reported in India as of 05 March, the latest being a person from Ghaziabad as reported by the Economic Times. An employee working at DSM, Mindspace, Madhapur, Hyderabad, was tested positive, while another in Gurugram, Haryana, is reported to have contracted coronavirus during a recent trip to Italy.

The latest cases in India also include tourists from Italy who were quarantined at the ITBP Camp in Chhawla in New Delhi on arrival, as reported by India Today.

A couple from Italy who arrived in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is among the latest cases reported. The husband initially tested negative for the virus but a second test yielded a positive result. He has been placed in an isolation ward at a hospital in Jaipur. The wife too tested positive after a few hours.

As a preventive measure, 24 people including 21 Italian tourists that had contact with the other Italian who was tested positive for Covid-19 along with three Indians who travelled with them have been isolated and will be tested for coronavirus.

Two new cases were reported on 02 March in New Delhi and Hyderabad. The confirmed case in Delhi has a travel history to Italy, while the Hyderabadi returned from Dubai. The Air India crew that carried the confirmed case in New Delhi has been asked to remain in isolation at their homes for two weeks.

Sample testing in Agra for six suspected cases who came in contact with the previously confirmed case in New Delhi detected a high viral load and have tested positive for coronavirus.

Further, samples from a total of 88 people who came in contact with the confirmed case in Hyderabad have been sent for testing. Out of the 88 people, 45 have been admitted to a government hospital in Hyderabad.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of India confirmed the first case of coronavirus on 30 January 2020, followed by the second on 02 February. The first to be found infected was a student who arrived in Kerala from Wuhan. All the three confirmed in Kerala have recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

Coronavirus-suspected cases have been reported in Maharashtra, Bengaluru and Madhya Pradesh.

India temporarily suspended the e-visa issue to those in thailaChina and cancelled the ones already issued, on 02 February. On 03 March, India further suspended visas already granted to citizens of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan who have not yet entered the country. Universal screening has been initiated at Indian airports starting from 04 March.

Apart from the confirmed cases in Kerala, five passengers onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the coronavirus infection, as of 17 February.

The Indian government evacuated 119 Indians who were onboard the cruise ship on 27 February. Five foreign nationals, from Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru were evacuated along with the Indians. A total of 138 passengers and crew members from India were onboard the ship.

Poland

Poland reported its first confirmed coronavirus infection on 04 March.

The Polish government earlier announced that no coronavirus cases exist in the country, after the test for coronavirus for 125 suspects came up negative. Tests on 30 citizens evacuated from Wuhan earlier were also negative.

The suspected among those evacuated from Wuhan were admitted to a hospital in Wroclaw and tested. The evacuees were discharged from the hospital after being quarantined for two weeks on 19 February.

Hungary

Hungary reported the first confirmed coronavirus cases in the country on 04 March in two Iranian students who returned to Hungary after new year celebrations in Iran.

Contact tracing is currently in progress.

Slovenia

Slovenia, which neighbours Italy, confirmed its first coronavirus infection case on 04 March in a person who returned from Morocco through Italy.

The person is suspected to have contracted nCoV in Morocco and is currently isolated, while contact tracing is in progress since it has been a few days since the person has returned to Slovenia, reported Reuters.

Iraq

As of 05 March, 35 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death have been reported in Iraq. The country’s first death was reported on 04 March of a 70-year-old Muslim cleric in Sulaimaniyah city.

The regions where coronavirus cases have been confirmed include Kirkuk, Baghdad, and Babel.

The country confirmed its first case of coronavirus on 24 February. The patient is an Iranian student living in Najaf city.

Iraq has since banned the entry of foreign nationals and closed its borders to Iran, Bahrain and Kuwait. It has also banned travel to and from a total of nine affected countries.

Republic of Korea (South Korea)

As of 05 March, a total of 6,088 confirmed coronavirus cases and 37 deaths have been reported in Korea. The regions where the highest number of cases have been reported include Daegu-city, Gyeongbuk, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Seoul, and Busan regions.

Majority of the fresh cases are linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu and Cheongdo Daenam Hospital in Gyengbuk province. A total of 9,300 members of the Shincheonji group are planned to be tested for the virus. All the members have been directed to self-isolate to contain the spread of the virus.

The government has raised the warning level for coronavirus from Border to Severe, following the spike in new cases. People in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas have been advised to avoid public gatherings, and seek medical attention if they have any symptoms of coronavirus.

The first coronavirus case was reported in a 35-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan who travelled to Korea on 20 January 2020.

Canada

A total of 33 confirmed cases have been reported in Canada. The regions with confirmed cases include British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

A total of 352 Canadians were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, out of who 43 tested positive. The Canadian government evacuated 129 Canadian nationals and their family members through a chartered plane, which arrived at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) in Trenton on 21 February.

The first case of coronavirus infection was reported on 25 January 2020 by the Government of Ontario in a man who visited Wuhan. The second case was that of the patient’s wife and confirmed of having the infection on 27 January 2020.

On 28 January 2020, a third case was confirmed by the Government of British Columbia in a patient who visited the city of Wuhan.

Italy

Coronavirus cases in Italy have raised sharply to 3,089 as of 05 March. The country also reported the first death on 22 February, followed by another a day later and five more on 24 February. The death toll increased sharply to 107.

Majority of the new cases are being reported in Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Veneto, and Liguria regions. The government has implemented various measures to control the spread of virus including a ban on public events in ten municipalities, limited transport, and closure of public buildings. The Venice Carnival, an annual event, has been closed as part of the measures.

The first two coronavirus cases in Italy were reported on 30 January 2020. The patients are Chinese tourists who arrived in Rome and are currently placed under isolation in Spallanzani institute.

As an immediate measure, Italy has cancelled all direct flights to China and made quarantine mandatory to those traced to have contact with the infected. Educational institutes have been closed from 05 March to 15 March, as a precautionary measure.

Hundreds of the infected Italians are in intensive care currently. Aged population makes the current coronavirus situation worse for Italy.

Singapore

A total of 117 confirmed cases have been reported by the Ministry of Health in Singapore, as of 05 March. The places with confirmed cases include Rivervale, Jalan Jurong Kechil, Serangoon Avenue, Bukit Batok Street, Bishan Street, Hougang Street and Woodlands Avenue.

Some of the recent cases confirmed by the government are linked to a cluster at two churches including Grace Assembly of God and The Life Church and Missions. Other cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases. Health authorities are currently tracing persons who may have come in contact with the latest cases.

A two-year-old female Singapore citizen, who was evacuated from Wuhan on 30 January, is also one of the confirmed cases.

The first confirmed coronavirus case in Singapore was reported on 23 January 2020 in a 53-year-old female Chinese national from Wuhan. The initial cases were related to a 56-year-old male from China who arrived in Singapore with his family. Another case was of a 35-year-old male also from Wuhan, China, who arrived with friends and family.

Sweden

A total of 60 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Sweden as of 05 March. The regions where confirmed cases have been reported include Västra Götaland, Stockholm, Jönköping and Uppsala.

As cases in the country increased, Sweden’s Public Health Agency raised the risk assessment for the disease from Low to Moderate.

The government has implemented various steps to control the spread of the disease including the temporary suspension of flights operated by Iran Air. All direct flights between Iran and Sweden have been suspended by Sweden’s Transport Agency.

The Swedish Public Health Authority confirmed the first coronavirus case in Jonkoping on 31 January. The infected is a woman who arrived in Sweden from Wuhan on 24 January but didn’t have associated symptoms at that time. She is isolated at the Ryhov county hospital.

Norway

Norway reported 72 confirmed coronavirus cases as of 05 March. The regions with confirmed cases include Vestland, Agder, Rogaland and Tromsø. The latest cases include five healthcare workers from Oslo University Hospital.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) confirmed the country’s first coronavirus case on 26 February.  The person lives in Northern Norway and did not show any symptoms of the disease. The NIPH conducted tests as the person had recently returned from China.

The test results have shown a weak positive result and traces of coronavirus. The infected person is reported to be in a healthy condition. Health officials are carrying out contact tracing to ensure there was no transmission.

Spain

Spain has reported a total of 222 coronavirus cases as of 05 March. Coronavirus cases in the country have been reported in the Canary Islands, Mallorca, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Villarreal and Tenerife.

The first confirmed novel coronavirus infection in Spain was reported on 01 February by the country’s National Centre for Microbiology. The infected male patient was part of a group of five other people who came in contact with a German national diagnosed with the infection. The patient, along with the other people in the group, has been placed under isolation in the La Gomera island.

The second case is one among four family members of British origin who came in contact with a person in France who was diagnosed with coronavirus. He is currently placed under observation in Mallorca. The remaining family members have tested negative for the virus.

The organisers of World Mobile Congress to be held in Barcelona, Spain, cancelled the event considering the coronavirus risks and the ongoing outbreak.

US

The US has reported 159 confirmed coronavirus cases as of 05 March. Among the total cases, 48 are reported from evacuees from China and the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The US earlier reported a case of community spread where the infected person had no travel history to the affected areas and did not come in contact with any infected persons.


The first case of coronavirus in the US was reported in Washington on 21 January 2020 in a person who travelled to Wuhan and returned to the US. The second case was reported in Illinois in another person who travelled to Wuhan.

Some of the states with confirmed novel coronavirus infection in the US are Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Texas and Washington.


Coronavirus in the US: Outbreak, measures and impact


Germany

A total of 262 confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported in Germany as of 05 March. The cities where confirmed cases have been reported include North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Germersheim, Hesse and Hamburg.

The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety disclosed the first confirmed case of coronavirus infection on 28 January 2020. The male patient residing in Starnberg near Munich did not travel to China, but had a meeting with a Chinese national and is in stable condition.


Three new cases of coronavirus infection were reported on 29 January 2020. The patients are employees of the same company where the first confirmed case was reported. They are currently being treated in isolation at a hospital in Munich. All the three are reported to have contracted the disease from the Chinese national who visited their company but did not know that she was infected.

France

A total of 285 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in France as of 05 March including two deaths. The regions with confirmed cases include Paris, Amiens, Bordeaux, and Eastern Haute-Savoie.

The first coronavirus-related death occurred in France on 15 February, making it the first death in Europe. The second death was reported on 26 February of a 60-year-old French national in Paris.

The latest cases reported are of five British nationals who came in contact with another British national who recently returned from Singapore, as reported by the BBC. The British nationals were staying at the Contamines-Montjoie ski resort, in Haute-Savoie in Southeastern France.

France was the first European country to report two coronavirus cases on 24 January 2020. A third case, confirmed on 25 January 2020, was that of a relative of one of the confirmed cases. The three patients contracted the virus during their stay in China according to France’s Ministry of Solidarity and Health. Two of the patients are being treated in Paris while the other is undergoing treatment in Bordeaux.

The fourth case was confirmed on 29 January 2020. The case is an elderly Chinese tourist from the Hubei Province. The daughter of the fourth patient has been identified as the fifth confirmed case in France.

The Netherlands

A total of 38 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been announced in the Netherlands. The latest cases are reported from Amsterdam, Drenthe, Tilburg, Gorinchem, and Delft.

The first confirmed case of coronavirus infection in the Netherlands was reported in the country on 27 February. The patient who is currently placed under isolation in a hospital in Tilburg had recently visited the Lombardy region of Italy.

One of the confirmed cases includes an employee from Nike’s European headquarters. The company announced that the headquarters would remain closed temporarily to carry out deep cleaning.

Switzerland

Switzerland has reported 90 coronavirus-positive cases as of 05 March. Some of the major Swiss cities with coronavirus include Geneva, Graubünden, Ticino, Zurich, Vaud, and Basel. The first death due to coronavirus in Switzerland happened on 05 March, the deceased being a 74-year-old woman from Vaud.

Swiss health authorities are testing more suspected cases of coronavirus infection from the regions of Ticino, Berne and Basel. The first confirmed coronavirus infection in Switzerland was reported on 25 February in Ticino. The infected is a 70-year-old man who recently visited Milan in Italy.

The country earlier reported two suspected cases of coronavirus infection, which tested negative on 28 January. The two cases were first reported on 27 January and placed in isolation at the Triemli hospital in Zurich. The persons had recently visited China and returned with symptoms of the infection.

United Kingdom (UK)

A total of 85 cases have been reported in the UK, as of 05 March. The UK Department of Health and Social Care confirmed two new cases on 27 February and another two on 28 February. The regions with confirmed cases include England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The UK Secretary of State also announced new regulations to deal with the prevention of coronavirus infection, which has now been categorised as a serious and imminent threat to public health. Further, the Arrowe Park Hospital and Kents Hill Park have been designated as isolation facilities and Wuhan city and Hubei province have been classified as infected areas.

The first two coronavirus cases in the UK were confirmed on 31 January. The two patients are members of the same family and currently undergoing specialist care by the National Health Service.

A third case was confirmed on 06 February by the Department of Health and Social Care. The UK has so far tested 7,132 suspected cases of the Wuhan coronavirus.

More than 70 UK citizens were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. The UK government evacuated 30 citizens along with two Irish citizens on the cruise ship on 22 February.

Japan

Japan has reported a total of 331 confirmed cases as of 05 March, excluding 706 cases confirmed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Majority of the cases have been reported in Osaka, Hokkaido, Chiba Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Tokyo, Aichi Prefecture, and Nagoya City.

Japan has recorded a total of 12 deaths in the country including six deaths on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. First coronavirus death in Japan was reported on 13 February. The death was of a woman in her 80s in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo. A third death was reported on 26 February and a fourth of 27 February.

Japan was the second country to report a Covid-19 infection outside China, on 16 January 2020 in a man who travelled to Wuhan.

Increasing cases are being reported from a group of tourists aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been quarantined off Yokohama. A total of 3,711 passengers and crew were onboard the cruise ship. Two elderly people including an 87-year-old man and an 84-year-old woman out of the confirmed cases died on 20 February. The third death of an 80-year-old man was reported on 23 February.

The Japanese health officials allowed passengers who did not exhibit any symptoms of the disease since the beginning of the quarantine period and tested negative for the virus to disembark the ship on 19 February.

According to WorldPop data, Japan receives the second-highest number of travellers from the high-risk Chinese cities affected by the COVID-19. Japan has evacuated more than 800 citizens from Wuhan city and Hubei province in five evacuation flights, as of 17 February.

Portugal

A total of eight conronavirus-confirmed cases have been reported in Portugal. The country reported the first two cases of Covid-19 on 02 March. The two infected persons include a 60-year-old man who returned from Italy and a 33-year-old man who returned from Valencia in Spain.

Both the patients have been placed in a hospital in Porto for treatment and are reported to be in a stable condition.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has reported eight coronavirus cases. The first confirmed cases were announced on 02 March. The patients including two Czechs nationals and an American are students studying in  Italy. They are reported to be showing mild symptoms of the disease.

Two of the patients were admitted to the Na Bulovce Hospital in Prague for treatment, while the third was admitted at the Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem.

Family members of the infected persons have been placed under quarantine at their homes.

The Czech Republic previously screened more than 40 individuals for the novel coronavirus and all of them tested negative, reported the Czech Ministry of Health.

Respilon Group, a nanofibre technology company based in the Czech Republic, announced that it developed a new face mask that could limit the coronavirus spread.

The government sent more than four tonnes of relief material to China on 14 February to help the country fight the outbreak. The relief material includes respiratory masks, protective clothing, gloves, masks, and disinfectants.

Ireland

Ireland has six confirmed coronavirus cases, following the first case confirmed on 29 February. The first infected person is a male with a travel history to Italy.

Ireland reported the first suspected case in a person who came from Wuhan and admitted him to the Royal Victoria Hospital, but the tests were confirmed to be negative by the Department of Health on 25 January.

Six Irish citizens were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, out of who two have tested positive for the virus.

Malaysia

Coronavirus cases in Malaysia are at 55 as of 05 March. Majority of the cases are reported in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Sungai Buloh, while a new coronavirus cluster has been identified hinting possible increase in cases in the days to come.

The first case in the country was reported on 25 January 2020. A 40-year-old man from Wuhan who was travelling to Johor with a group 17 Chinese nationals was one of the first cases reported.

Three new cases of the infection were reported on 29 January 2020. These cases included a close contact case who is the daughter-in-law of the one first patients who tested positive for the infection. The other two cases were of a four-year-old girl and a 52-year old man.

Oman

A total of 15 confirmed cases have been reported in Oman. The first two confirmed coronavirus cases were reported on 24 February. The patients are two women who entered the country from Iran.

The country has suspended all civilian flights to Iran after the cases were confirmed.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein announced on 03 March that a suspected case has tested positive for Covid-19. A second test is being conducted to confirm the test results. The person came in contact with a sick person in Switzerland and hence went to the hospital for a check-up.

The country has reported 14 suspected cases of coronavirus infection, out of which 13 have tested negative.

Chile

Chilean coronavirus cases reached three by 05 March. Chile announced the first confirmed case of coronavirus infection on 03 March. The person is a 33-year-old male doctor from Talca city near Santiago, who recently returned from a trip to several countries in South Asia including Singapore.

The patient has been quarantined at his home and will be placed under epidemiological surveillance for the next few days.

Argentina

The first case of coronavirus infection was confirmed in Argentina on 03 March in a 33-year-old man who returned from Italy. The person is reported to be suffering from mild symptoms and is currently being treated at a private clinic in Buenos Aires.

Ukraine

Ukraine reported the country’s first coronavirus case on 03 March. The infected man is one of the four suspected cases reported earlier and had returned to the country after visiting Italy. He is reported to be in a stable condition, while his wife has been placed under self-isolation at home.

Ukraine received coronavirus test kits earlier on 05 February and is performing tests on the suspected where deemed necessary.

Further, 25 Ukrainian citizens were on the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess in Japan, as crew. Two of them including a 25-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were tested positive for coronavirus and transferred to a Japanese hospital for treatment and medical observation.

Ukrainians evacuated from Wuhan are placed in quarantine for 14 days, upon arrival.

Bahrain

A total of 52 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection were reported in Bahrain on 04 March. The country is witnessing imports from Iran.

Bahrain announced preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus including monitoring of passengers arriving from infected countries, suspension of all Umrah trips and cancellation of flights to and from Iraq and Lebanon.

The country has advised citizens experiencing symptoms of the disease to self-isolate and seek immediate medical attention.

Kuwait

Kuwait has reported 58 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, as of 05 March.

The first confirmed patients announced on 28 February included a 53-year-old Kuwaiti national, a 61 year old Saudi national, and another 21-year-old man of unknown nationality. They are part of 700 people evacuated from the Mashhad city in Iran.

Kuwait is evacuating its citizens from the affected countries. A total of 35 passengers were evacuated from Iraq and another 52 from Italy.

The country has set up checkpoints at all border entry points to detect the coronavirus and suspended visa on arrival for passengers from Egypt. Further, citizens have been asked to avoid travelling to affected regions.

Lebanon

A total of 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Lebanon.

The country reported the first confirmed case of coronavirus infection on 22 February. The patient is a 45-year-old woman who arrived in the country from the city of Qom in Iran, reported Anadolu Agency. The health authorities have contacted all passengers on the flight taken by the confirmed case.

Australia

Australia has reported 52 confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection. The number of confirmed cases in various regions is nine in Queensland, six in New South Wales, nine in Victoria, three in South Australia, and two in Western Australia. Ten of the confirmed cases are evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Two of the patients tested negative in previous diagnoses in Japan.

Health authorities are currently testing suspected cases who have shown symptoms of the virus.

The first coronavirus infection in Australia was confirmed on 25 January 2020 in a man who travelled from Guangzhou to Melbourne. On 29 January 2020, two new cases of the infection were reported including one in Queensland and another in Victoria.

Australia has evacuated its citizens from Wuhan since the outbreak. The citizens who were placed under quarantine in Christmas Island for a period of 14 days were allowed to travel to their homes on 17 February.

Iceland

A total of 26 coronavirus-confirmed cases have been reported in Iceland. The first case was confirmed on 28 February of a man in his 40s who visited northern Italy but avoided the affected areas in the country.

Qatar

Eight coronavirus-confirmed cases have been reported in Qatar. The first case was reported on 29 February of a 36-year-old Qatari man who recently travelled to Iran.

Two additional cases were reported on 02 March among Qatari nationals who were evacuated from Iran on 27 February.

The MotoGP season that was scheduled to commence in Doha on 08 March has been cancelled due to the travel restrictions imposed on passengers from Italy.

The country has also issued a temporary ban on the entry of Egyptian nationals into the country as a precautionary measure.

Morocco

Morocco has two coronavirus cases as of 05 March. The first coronavirus infection in Morocco was confirmed on 02 March. Samples tested at the Institut Pasteur-Maroc in Casablanca of a Moroccon national who returned from Italy were found positive.

The infected person has been placed in quarantine at the Moulay Youssef Hospital in Casablanca.

Latvia

Latvia’s Center for Disease Prevention and Control reported the country’s first Covid-19 infection case on 02 March. The individual is a woman who returned from Italy along with her child. She is currently quarantined at the Center of Infectious Diseases at Riga Eastern Hospital.

The woman is showing mild symptoms of the disease, while her child has tested negative for the virus and placed under quarantine at the same hospital.

Health officials have collected the list of all 145 passengers who were aboard the flight taken by the infected woman. A total of 24 passengers are reported to have close contact with the woman, out of who eight are Latvian nationals.

Jordan

Jordan became the latest country in the Middle East region to report the first confirmed case of coronavirus infection on 02 March. One of two Jordanian nationals who recently returned from Italy has tested positive for the virus. The other person has tested negative and has been placed under quarantine.

Senegal

Four confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Senegal. The first coronavirus-confirmed case was announced on 02 March in a French national living in Senegal. He recently returned from a ski trip in France and passed a temperature check at the airport in Dakar, on arrival.

He later developed a fever and went for treatment to a private clinic, which reported the case to health authorities. The patient is currently quarantined at Fann Hospital in Dakar.

The infected is reported to be in contact with his wife and two children. Health authorities are also tracing all the passengers on the Air Senegal flight taken by the person.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia reported a confirmed case of coronavirus infection on 02 March. The individual is a Saudi national who returned from Iran through Bahrain but failed to declare his travel history, on arrival.

Tunisia

Tunisia is the latest country in Africa to report a coronavirus case on 02 March. The person is a 40-year-old Tunisian national who returned from Italy.

Tunisia has suspended temporarily ferry service to Northern Italy, from where infected cases are being imported to other countries such as India through tourists.

Andorra

The government of Andorra announced the first case of coronavirus infection on 02 March. The patient is a 20-year-old man who arrived from Milan, Italy. He is showing mild symptoms of the disease and has been hospitalised.

Indonesia

Indonesia confirmed two cases of coronavirus infection on 02 March. The infected persons include a 64-year-old woman and her 31-year-old daughter. The two are suspected to have contracted the infection from a Japanese national who returned to Malaysia and later tested positive for the virus.

A total of 50 suspected cases of coronavirus infection were previously reported across the country. Two cases were reported in Bandung, West Java, one in Sorong, West Papua, one in Sidoarjo, East Java and four in Central Java. Samples of the suspected cases have tested negative.

The government has implemented various measures to contain the spread of the virus. It has installed thermal screening at all airports and ports and cancelled visa-on-arrival for all Chinese nationals. It has also halted all flights to and from China, in addition, to temporarily banning imports of live animals.

On 09 February, 200 Indonesians evacuated from Wuhan arrived in the country. They have been placed under a 14-day quarantine in the Natuna Islands, in the Riau province.

A total of 78 Indonesians were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The Indonesian government evacuated 69 citizens who tested negative for the virus on 01 March. The evacuees have been placed under quarantine for two weeks in Sebaru Island.

Azerbaijan

A total of three confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Azerbaijan. The first case was reported on 28 February of a Russian national who recently travelled to Iran. The other two cases are Azeri nationals who also returned from Iran.

The country has since closed its borders with Iran for 14 days.

Ecuador

Ecuador has reported a total of ten coronavirus cases following the first case on 29 February. The first confirmed was an elderly woman who returned from Spain. Five cases are relatives to the woman.

Ecuador was one of the first countries outside Mainland China to have reported a coronavirus suspected case on 26 January. The 49-year-old Chinese citizen arrived from Hong Kong and displayed symptoms of the infection. On 05 February, the Ecuador Ministry of Health announced the suspected coronavirus case tested negative.

Armenia

Armenia reported the first confirmed case of coronavirus infection on 29 February. The person is a 29-year-old Armenian national who returned from Tehran in Iran. He is reported to be in a stable condition.

A total of 32 individuals who were in contact with the infected person have been placed under quarantine in a disused hotel in Tsaghkadzor.

The Armenian government has announced the partial closure of its border with Iran and cancelled all flights to the country for two weeks. Schools and universities have also been suspended for a week.

Luxembourg

On 29 February, Luxembourg reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus infection. The patient a male in his 40s who recently arrived from Italy.

Monaco

Monaco confirmed the first case of coronavirus infection on 28 February. The person is currently being treated at the Princess Grace Hospital.

Mexico

Mexico has reported a total of five cases of coronavirus infection. The first case was confirmed on 28 February in a 38-year-old person from Mexico City, who returned from Italy.

Mexico previously reported seven suspected cases of the coronavirus infection, all of which tested negative on 27 January. The suspected cases included a 42-year-old man who recently visited Wuhan, and a 37-year-old woman and a two-year-old girl who came in contact with the man. They are currently receiving medical treatment for other respiratory illnesses. Another three cases were reported in Jalisco 20 January.

Dominican Republic

The first case in the Dominican Republic was confirmed on 29 February in a 62-year-old male tourist from Italy.

Another suspected case of a 56-year-old male tourist from France was reported. He has been placed under observation and test results for the infection are awaited.

The Dominican government has since ordered the cancellation of all flights from Milan for one month.

Thailand

A total of 47 confirmed cases and one death have been reported in Thailand, as of 05 March. Majority of the cases are reported in Bangkok and Nakhon Pathum. The latest cases include two Thai nationals who recently returned from Japan and came in contact with the third.

The first imported case of the coronavirus was confirmed in a 61-year woman by the Thailand Ministry of Public Health on 13 January 2020. The woman travelled to Wuhan, along with five members and a tour group of 16 people.

The second MotoGP race in the country has been cancelled over health concerns related to coronavirus.

Thailand receives the highest number of travellers from the high-risk cities in Mainland China, according to WorldPop data.

New Zealand

Three coronavirus cases have been confirmed so far in New Zealand, which witnessed the first Covid-19 case on 28 February. The first detected was in a man in his 60s who returned from Iran on 26 February. He is currently being treated at the Auckland City Hospital. Family members and close contacts of the person have been placed under isolation as a precautionary measure.

New Zealand’s first coronavirus suspected case was announced on 31 January but the tests turned out to be negative on 1 February, as announced by Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the Director General of Health. The person was suspected of contracting the disease and held in isolation at the Auckland City Hospital.

Eight New Zealand citizens were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, out of who two tested positive for the virus. The six citizens who tested negative for the virus have been allowed to board an evacuation flight arranged by the Australian government. The remaining two passengers who tested positive for the virus were admitted for treatment in Japan.

Belarus

The first coronavirus-confirmed case in Belarus was announced in Minsk on 28 February, in a student from Iran.

Samples taken from the student tested positive at the Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.

Lithuania

Lithuania confirmed the first case of coronavirus infection on 28 February. The confirmed case is a woman who recently returned from the Verona region of Italy. She has been placed under isolation in a hospital in Siauliai.

Lithuania declared a state of emergency in the country on 27 February, as cases in Italy continued to increase. The move will help the country in taking preventative measures and utilise medical reserves to fight the spread of the disease.

The country also announced the provision of humanitarian aid of €1m (1.1m) to China on 26 February to help the country fight the disease.

China

As of 04 March, a total of 80,380‬ confirmed cases have been reported in Mainland China. The number of new cases reported in China declined for the first time since the outbreak on 18 February. More than 1,800 patients were discharged on 18 February.

The highest number of confirmed cases continue to be reported from the Hubei province, where the virus originated. The number of coronavirus deaths and cured cases is also the highest in the province.

The province reported 14,840 new confirmed cases on a single day, on 12 February. The spike in coronavirus numbers in Hubei occurred after healthcare workers began using a new methodology of CT scans for faster diagnosis of the disease. Nucleic acid tests were used earlier to evaluate suspected cases. China has started reporting cases confirmed using the new methodology under the clinically diagnosed category.

China reported the first confirmed case of the coronavirus infection originating in Wuhan in December 2019. The special administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong reported the first confirmed cases on 22 January and 23 January, respectively. As of 04 March, ten confirmed cases have been reported in Macau.

Hong Kong reported a total of 105 confirmed cases. The second death in the country reported on 19 February was of a 70-year-old man, who was being treated at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

A total of 364 Hong Kong nationals were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. More than 200 nationals have been evacuated and placed under quarantine.

Some of the coronavirus confirmed cases in Hong Kong were reported to have spread through open vent pipes within a residential building named Hong Mei House. Two confirmed cases were reported from among 100 residents living in 30 apartments in the building. The remaining residents have been shifted to quarantine centres. Health authorities decided to perform a thorough cleaning and disinfection in the building.

Nigeria

Nigeria reported the first coronavirus-confirmed case on 27 February in the state of Lagos. The infected individual is a man who arrived in the country on 25th February from Milan, Italy and showed symptoms of the virus.

He was quarantined at the Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities and samples were taken for testing. The case was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. He is currently being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

San Marino

A total of 16 coronavirus infection cases including one death have been reported in San Marino. The country’s first coronavirus infection case was reported on 27 February of an 88-year-old man. The patient died on 01 March following complications from the disease.

He has no history of travel to the affected areas. Health officials are currently performing contact tracing to identify the origin of the infection.

Estonia

A total of two cases have been reported in Estonia. The first coronavirus-confirmed case was reported on 27 February. The infected person is reported to be a citizen of Iran.

Denmark

A total of 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Denmark, including one in Faroe Islands. The country reported the first confirmed Covid-19 coronavirus case on 27 February in a man who recently returned from a ski trip to Italy. He has been placed under isolation at home.

Danish health authorities have commenced tracing for all persons who have come in contact with the infected.

The country previously announced that all those tested of suspected coronavirus have turned out to be negative. The most recent tests were on those that arrived at Roskilde Airport from Wuhan. Earlier, a Danish who returned from Wuhan with nCoV symptoms was isolated and tested at Aarhus University Hospital. The test was confirmed to be negative.

Denmark has been aiding the WHO in fighting the spread of the disease. It has contributed DKK8m ($1.15m) to the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies, which is used to quickly respond to disease outbreaks and other emergencies.

United Arab Emirates

A total of 27 confirmed cases have been reported by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The latest case is an Indian national who came in contact with an infected person.

The first coronavirus case was confirmed on 29 January 2020 in a family, which arrived from Wuhan. The remaining three members of the family were later confirmed to have contracted the infection.

The Dubai and Abu Dhabi International airports in the UAE are ranked as some of the world’s busiest airports in the world. UAE is carrying out screening procedures for all passengers arriving from China as a precautionary measure to control the spread of the virus.

Taiwan

Taiwan became the third Asian country to report a death from coronavirus infection on 17 February. A total of 1,913 cases were suspected in the country, out of who 1,812 have tested negative and results are awaited for the remaining. Taiwan currently has 42 confirmed coronavirus cases.

Taiwan reported the first case of nCoV infection on 21 January 2020. The initial confirmed cases included two 70-year-old Chinese women who worked in Wuhan.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia confirmed its first coronavirus case on 26 February. The infected is a 49-year-old woman who recently visited Italy and had been sick for two weeks. She is being treated at the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Skopje.

Health officials have noted that the patient is no longer contagious as the incubation period for the virus has ended.

Georgia

A total of three confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Georgia. Georgia’s health officials reported the country’s first confirmed coronavirus infection on 26 February. The infected is a Georgian national who recently visited Iran and returned to the country along with 12 other passengers.

The remaining passengers have negative for the virus and placed under quarantine.

Georgia suspended travel between the country and Iran for two weeks, following the confirmation.

Romania

Four confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Romania, till date. The country reported its first coronavirus-confirmed case on 26 February. The patient is a 20-year-old man who had direct contact with an Italian national that recently visited Romania.

The other seven members of his family have tested negative for the virus and have been placed under quarantine at home.

Romania reported one coronavirus suspected case in Suceava, who was hospitalised at Sfânta Parascheva hospital and later tested negative, on 08 February.

Nine passengers and eight crew members were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, out of who one tested positive for Covid-19. The affected person was transferred to a medical facility in Japan.

Pakistan

A total of five confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Pakistan. The latest infected is a 45-year-old woman who returned from Iran. She is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Gilgit.

Pakistan confirmed two Covid-19 cases on 26 February. The first case was a 22-year-old male from Karachi, while the second case was reported in Islamabad. Both cases had a travel history to Iran.

Six Pakistani students in China who tested positive for the virus have since recovered and discharged from the hospital. Many Pakistani students are stuck in China and requesting evacuation. The government has, however, decided not to evacuate them to avoid import of the virus to the country.

Pakistan has temporarily closed its border to Iran, following a spike in cases in Iran.

Brazil

Four confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in Brazil, where the first nCoV case was confirmed on 26 February in Sao Paolo, in a man who returned from Italy.

Brazil earlier also reported suspected coronavirus cases in Sao Paulo, Parana, and the Rio Grande do Sul.

The government repatriated Brazilians from Wuhan in two Brazilian Airforce planes, which arrived at a military base in Annapolis, Goias, on 09 February, the New York Times reported. The passengers have been placed under quarantine for a period of 18 days.

Croatia

Croatia has ten Covid-19 nCoV cases, after having reported its first confirmed case on 25 February. The first infected was reported to be a young man who stayed in Milan for a few days. He is currently being treated at the Zagreb University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb.

Croatia earlier reported a suspected case on 02 February after the person was revealed to have recently visited China. The person later tested negative for coronavirus, on 03 February.

Algeria

A total of 12 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in Algeria. The first confirmed COVID-19 case was announced on 25 February. The patient is an Italian national who arrived in Algeria on 17 February along with another person. Both persons have been shifted to the Pasteur Hospital in Algiers.

Algeria was identified as one of the 13 countries being at risk of coronavirus by the WHO. The country has implemented various precautionary measures at airports, ports and land borders including the installation of temperature cameras to control the spread of the virus.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s first confirmed Covid-19 infection was reported on 24 February in the Herat province, which borders Iran. Three suspected coronavirus cases have been announced in the country till date.

The Afghan government has temporarily suspended air and land travel to and from Iran as well as the import of meat and eggs from Iran.

Israel

Israel has 15 Covid-19 coronavirus cases till date. The first nCoV case in Israel was reported among 11 evacuees who were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The infected was transferred to the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. The remaining evacuees are placed under quarantine for two weeks.

Four more Israelis who were onboard the cruise ship in Japan tested positive for the nCoV. The patients have been transferred to a medical center in Japan and are reported to have mild infection.

The government is also implementing various measures to fight the coronavirus spread, including the closure of hotel tourist sites, setting up of isolation units, and restrictions on large gatherings.

Egypt

Two confirmed Covid-19 cases have been reported in Egypt. The first coronavirus infection was confirmed on 14 February in a Chinese national who arrived in the country but did not show any symptoms of the disease at that time.

The case was confirmed through active follow-up by the government with people arriving from countries affected by coronavirus. The patient has been placed under isolation in the Matrouh governorate in northwestern Egypt.

Vietnam

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Vietnam has increased to 16. The major regions with coronavirus cases in Vietnam include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Vinh Phuc.

Among the confirmed cases are two Chinese citizens (recovered and discharged), six Vietnamese citizens from Wuhan (four recovered and discharged), six Vietnamese citizens (one recovered and discharged) and one America citizen who transited through China. The 15th case was reported to be of a three-month-old baby girl.

Some of the cases were in close contact with previously infected patients. The 16th case is a 50-year-old male who is the father of a previously confirmed case in the Son Loi commune in Vinh Phuc province.

The Vietnam government has placed the Son Loi commune under lockdown, as the number of confirmed cases reported in the commune increased. Residents are not allowed to leave the commune for a period of 20 days to prevent the spread of the disease, in the first such lockdown issued outside of China.

The government is also implementing various steps to control the spread of the disease including postponing the reopening of schools. Further, a field hospital with 300 beds has been prepared in Vinh Phuc province to quarantine and treating COVID-19 patients. A quarantine area with 200 beds has also been set up in Vinh Yen city.

Vietnam joined the list of coronavirus countries when the first confirmed case was reported on 23 January 2020 in a Chinese national who returned from Wuhan. His son later contracted the infection but is reported to have been cured although the father is still on oxygen support due to a lung injury. The Vietnam cases confirmed that Covid-19 can spread from person to person.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is planning to stop the flow of tourists from China in order to contain the spread of the virus.

Philippines


Coronavirus in the Philippines: Covid-19 measures and impact


A total of three confirmed cases have been reported in the country. The country also reported the first death due to coronavirus outside China when a 44-year old male died on 01 February.

More than half the crew onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship were Filippinos, apart from seven passengers. The government approved the repatriation of the citizens in a special charter flight, which arrived in the country on 25 February. The evacuees are quarantined at New Clark City in Capas for 14 days.

The first coronavirus infection in the Philippines was confirmed on 30 January 2020. A 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan tested positive for the virus and was admitted for treatment at a government hospital. She is a close contact of the person who died due to the infection.

The Philippines earlier reported 133 suspected cases in the country. Japanese experts initially helped the country in testing potential cases. The RNA primer required for conducting the testing was made available to the country to perform tests on its own.

Finland

Seven coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Helsinki and Rovaniemi in Finland, which confirmed its first case on 29 January 2020 in a 32-year old female Chinese tourist from Wuhan. She was treated at the Lapland Central Hospital in northern Finland and has since recovered.

More people may have been exposed to the infection, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

Sri Lanka

One confirmed case of coronavirus infection was reported in Sri Lanka on 27 January 2020. The patient, a 40-year-old Chinese woman, tested positive for the virus and has since recovered.

Sri Lanka has taken preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus including suspension of granting of on-arrival visa for Chinese travellers.

Sri Lanka has emerged as a major tourist destination for Chinese nationals in the recent past and also has several Chinese workers employed in various infrastructure projects. Students from Sri Lanka are also studying at various universities in China. The government has evacuated more than 30 students from Wuhan.

Cambodia

Cambodia reported its coronavirus case on 27 January 2020 in Sihanoukville. The patient is a 60-year-old man from Wuhan who travelled to Cambodia’s Preah Sihanouk province. He arrived in the country along with three family members who have tested negative for the virus. The patient has reportedly recovered and left the country.

Aviation authorities have, meanwhile, cancelled all flights between Cambodia and Wuhan City to contain the coronavirus spread.

Nepal

The first coronavirus infection in Nepal was confirmed by Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population on 25 January 2020 in a male student studying in China. The person has since recovered and discharged from the hospital in Kathmandu.

Two more suspected cases have been reported in a man and woman who are currently being tested for the virus. Both the patients have been placed under isolation at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Kathmandu.

The Nepalese government evacuated 175 Nepali citizens from various parts of the Hubei province on 16 February. A chartered Airbus A330 aircraft flew the citizens, including students and visitors, back to the country. The evacuees are placed under quarantine for two weeks.

Source: Reported by pharmaceutical-technology.com