On 16 February, the cruise ship Westerdam, which had been shunned at ports across Asia amid fears of coronavirus infections, was welcomed in Cambodia amid assurances that the ship was disease free. More than a thousand passengers were allowed to disembark and fly home. An American tested positive for COVID-19 after triggering thermal scanners at Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia. Tracing possible secondary infections will test health authorities in all destination countries.
On 13 Feb, Chinese health authorities announced a jump in COVID-19 cases from nearly 45,000 to almost 60,000 total cases in mainland China. This spike is primarily the result of a change in diagnosis classification. Previously, only laboratory-tested positive cases were counted. Now, clinically diagnosed cases are being counted among the total, accounting for the large jump. While this number is likely more accurate, the spike in cases is not indicative of rapid new spread of the virus. Shortages of lab testing materials contributed to the decision to move to this new diagnosis classification.
Total cases in mainland China continue to rise, but at a steadily declining rate. There are now 44,685 confirmed cases in mainland China, but the number of new cases reported each day has steadily declined over the last week. This is a positive development and indicates that quarantine measures are working. The next two-three weeks will be critical to assessing if the situation is truly trending positive.
Total cases in mainland China continue to rise, with more than 40,000 reported across the country, a significant increase in the last 24-hours. Deaths from coronavirus are over 900, with the vast majority in still in Hubei province.
Total cases in mainland China continue to rise, with more than 31,200 reported across the country, a significant increase in the last 24-hours. Deaths from coronavirus are over 630, with the vast majority in Hubei province.
The last 24-hours has seen the largest single day increase in cases since the outbreak began. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing $9 million from its own contingency fund and asking the international community to raise $675 million to fund their Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to support countries in preventing, detecting, and diagnosing onward transmission.
Multiple countries and airlines imposed travel bans to/from China following the updated U.S. State Dept. travel advisory for China to LEVEL 4 - DO NOT TRAVEL in light of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China. This follows the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring a public health emergency of international concern due to the outbreak.
Late on 30 January, the U.S. State Dept. issued an updated travel advisory for China, raising their rating to LEVEL 4 - DO NOT TRAVEL in light of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China. This follows the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring a public health emergency of international concern due to the outbreak.
On 30 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened an emergency committee meeting and declared a public health emergency of international concern due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Their primary concern is the spread of the virus in less developed nations with weaker health institutions that are unable to adequately deal with the coronavirus outbreak. The WHO indicated that there is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade.
As of 28 January, both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. State Department had issued "Level 3: Reconsider Travel" advisories for China based on the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) throughout the country. This is an escalation from previous warnings, which advised only against travel to the city of Wuhan and all of Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak.
