The 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak is an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), that has spread to multiple world regions. It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. As of 29 February 2020, more than 85,000 cases have been confirmed in 60 territories, of which 8,000 were classified as serious. At least 2,900 deaths have been attributed to the disease and more than 39,000 people have recovered. The risk of it spreading further is very high.


Disease:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Virus strain:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
First case:
1 December 2019
Origin:
Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
Confirmed cases:
85,000+
Recovered:
39,000+
Deaths:
2,900+
The virus primarily passes from one person to others via respiratory droplets produced from the airways during coughing or sneezing. The time between exposure and symptom onset is typically between two and fourteen days. Symptoms may include fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment (although research is ongoing); efforts aim at managing symptoms and supportive therapy. Hand washing, maintaining distance from people who are coughing, and avoiding touching one's face are recommended to prevent the disease. Anyone who is suspected of carrying the virus is advised to monitor their health for two weeks, self-isolate, wear a surgical mask, and seek medical advice by calling a doctor before visiting a clinic.

The outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Public health responses in China and around the world have included travel restrictions, quarantines, and curfews. These have included the lockdown of Hubei and various curfew measures in China; a voluntary curfew in Daegu, South Korea; as well as lockdowns in Italian Airports and train stations have performed various screening methods. Several countries have issued warnings with regards to travel.

Wider concerns about consequences of the outbreak include political and economic instability. They have also included xenophobia and racism against people of Chinese and East Asian descent and the spread of misinformation and disinformation about the virus, primarily online.

Epidemiology
2019–20 coronavirus outbreak by country and territory
Country or territory Confirmed Deaths Recoveries
China (mainland) 79,251 2,835 39,104
South Korea 3,150 17 28
Italy 889 21 46
International conveyance 705 6 10
Iran 593 43 123
Japan 240 5 41
Singapore 98 0 69
Hong Kong 94 2 30
Germany 75 0 16
United States 66 0 7
France 57 2 12
Kuwait 45 0 –
Spain 45 0 2
Thailand 42 0 28
Taiwan 39 1 9
Bahrain 38 0 –
Australia 25 0 15
Malaysia 25 0 22
United Kingdom 20 0 8
United Arab Emirates 19 0 5
Canada 16 0 8
Vietnam 16 0 16
Sweden 11 0 –
Macau 10 0 8
Iraq 8 0 –
Switzerland 8 0 1
Israel 7 0 –
Austria 6 0 –
Norway 6 0 –
Oman 6 0 –
Croatia 5 0 –
Greece 4 0 –
Lebanon 4 0 –
Mexico 3 0 –
Romania 3 0 –
Finland 3 0 1
Philippines 3 1 2
India 3 0 3
Denmark 2 0 –
Georgia 2 0 –
Netherlands 2 0 –
Pakistan 2 0 –
Russia 2 0 2
Afghanistan 1 0 –
Algeria 1 0 –
Azerbaijan 1 0 –
Belarus 1 0 –
Brazil 1 0 –
Estonia 1 0 –
Iceland 1 0 –
Lithuania 1 0 –
Monaco 1 0 –
New Zealand 1 0 –
Nigeria 1 0 –
North Macedonia 1 0 –
San Marino 1 0 –
Belgium 1 0 1
Cambodia 1 0 1
Egypt 1 0 1
Nepal 1 0 1
Sri Lanka 1 0 1
60 territories 85,666 2,933 39,621