A Timeline of COVID-19 Around the World, From News Resources, For February 2020

And so we begin the second month of 2020 - the novel coronavirus is spreading like wildfire; it hasn't yet received it's new name; hasn't yet been declared a pandemic.
   The 45th President of the United States made a statement about the novel coronavirus on 22 January, say, "We have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China."  45 made this comment on the CNBC show "Squawk Box" during an interview with Joe Kernen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  At the time, there were 500 cases reported in China, and only the one in Washington state.
   Again, a lot of this information is from the World Health Organization (WHO), the medical component of the United Nations.

1 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Australia confirms a total of 12 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 20 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 18 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 12 cases.
Vietnam confirms a total of 6 cases.
The United States confirms a total of 8 cases.
Spain confirms its first case on La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

2 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
First death outside China is recorded in the Philippines, a 44-year-old man.
India confirms its 2nd case.
South Korea confirms a total of 15 cases.
UAE reports 5 confirmed cases.
Vietnam reports a total of 7 confirmed cases.
Germany confirms a total of 12 cases.
The United States  confirms 3 more cases in California, bringing their total to 11.
 -  From Fox News:  Quote from the 45th President on 2 February: "We pretty much shut it down coming in from China. It's going to be fine."  This comment was made on the Fox News program "Hannity." A few days prior to this interview, 45's administration suspended entry to the United States of foreign nationals who had recently visited China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau.  -

Wuhan, China  city of 11 million+ people

3 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  No new countries reported confirmed cases.
India confirms a total of 3 cases.
Vietnam reports an 8th confirmed case.
The number of deaths in Hubei province, China (outside of Wuhan) reached 101.

4 February 2020  -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirmed its first death from the novel coronavirus, a 39-year-old, who was their 13th confirmed case.
Malaysia confirms a total of 10 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 24 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 16 cases.
Thailand confirms a total of 25 cases.
Vietnam confirms a total of 10 cases.
Belgium confirms its first case  -  which bring the European Union total number to 24.

5 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
China reports 10,117 confirmed cases in total.  Tianjin province reports its first death.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 21 cases.
Malaysia reports confirmed cases at 12.
The Philippines reports its 3rd confirmed case.
Singapore confirms a total of 28 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 18 cases.
The United States confirms a new case in Wisconsin, bringing its total to 12.
* Japan confirmed 10 new cases from the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, anchored near Yokohama. More than 3,500 on board the cruise ship need to be tested.  - This brings japan's total of cases to 35. *
  -  From the ABC News timeline:  "More than 3,600 passengers are quarantined on a cruise ship off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, while passengers and crew undergo health screenings.  The number of confirmed cases on board the ship [Diamond Princess] would eventually swell to more than 700, making it one of the largest outbreaks outside of China."  -

Diamond Princess, run by Princess Cruises, owned by Carnival Corp. & PLC

6 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
In Zhejiang province, China over 1,000 cases were confirmed.  Dr. Li Wenliang, a whistleblower who notified the public on social media about the novel coronavirus, died from the disease.
Germany confirmed a total of 13 cases, and Italy 4; bringing EU totals to 32.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 24 cases.
Malaysia confirms a total of 14 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 30 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 16 cases.
Vietnam confirms a total of 12 cases.
The United Kingdom confirmed  3 cases total.
Canada announced 2 presumptive cases in British Columbia.
Japan confirmed another 10 cases from the Diamond Princess, bringing their total to 45.

7 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
In China - Wuhan reports a total of 545 deaths so far, with deaths in other areas of Hubei province reaching 154.
   Guangdong province confirms more than 1,000 cases in total; it also records its first death.
   Gansu province records its first death.
Japan reports 41 positive tests from the Diamond Princess, bringing the Japan total of cases to 86.
Germany confirms a total of 14 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 26 cases.
Malaysia reports a total of 15 cases.
Vietnam confirms a total of 13 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 33 cases.

8 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
In China:  Aerosol was confirmed as a medium of transmission for the first time.
      Two patients in different provinces, tested negative in 3 to 4 tests, then tested positive in the last.
      Wuhan death toll reaches 608 - including an American citizen and a Japanese citizen.
      Henan province became the third to report over 1,000 confirmed cases.
      Nationally, the number of confirmed Chinese cases outside of Hubei province exceeds 10,000.
France confirms a total of 11 cases.
Malaysia confirms a total of 16 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 40 cases.
Thailand confirms a total of 32 cases.
UAE confirms a total of 7 cases.
Japan confirms 3 more cases from Diamond Princess, making their total of cases 89.

9 February 2020 -   From The Business Insider:   Death toll in China surpasses that of the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, with 811 deaths recorded.   -
From the WHO Situation Report:
Mainland China confirms a total of 40,213 cases.  Death toll from the novel coronavirus in China rose to 811, surpassing the toll from the SARS epidemic in 2002-03.
Hong Kong confirms 36 cases in total.
Malaysia confirms a total of 17 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 43 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 27 cases.
Spain confirms a 2nd case.
Taiwan confirms its 18th case.
The United Kingdom confirms a total of 4 cases.
Vietnam confirms a total of 14 cases.
Japan confirms 6 more cases aboard Diamond Princess, giving Japan a total of 96 cases.

10 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirms a total of 42 cases.
Japan confirms 65 more cases on Diamond Princess, bringing the cruise ship's total to 135.
Malaysia confirms a total of 18 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 45 cases.
The United Kingdom confirms a total of 8 cases
UAE confirms a total of 8 cases.
The United States confirms  a total of 13 cases, the latest a patient evacuated from Wuhan, China.
   -  From multiple news outlets, including Fox News: On February 10, he [the 45th President] repeatedly said - in a speech to governors, at a campaign rally, and in an interview with Trish Regan of Fox Business - that warm weather would kill the [novel coronavirus] virus. "Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away," he told the rally.  -

11 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Germany confirms a total of 16 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 49 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 28 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 47 cases.
Vietnam confirms a total of 15 cases.
Thailand confirms a total of 33 cases.
 WHO gives the disease a new name: COVID-19.  The virus itself is named SARS-CoV-2.
 -  From ABC News:  The World Health Organization announces that novel coronavirus' formal new name is COVID-19.  "Co" stands for coronavirus, "Vi" is for virus and "D" is for disease.  Health officials purposely avoid naming COVID-19 after a geographical location, animal, or group of people, so as not to stigmatize people or places. -

12 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirms a total of 50 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 50 cases.
Japan confirmed 39 more cases on Diamond Princess, giving the cruise ship a total of 174.
Japan itself confirms a new case, making their land total 29.
The United Kingdom confirms a total of 9 cases, a new one located in London.
The United States confirms a total of 14 cases.

The Huanan Food Market in Wuhan, where the virus originated

13 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Vietnam confirms a total of 16 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 33 cases, and reports its first death.
Japan also confirms 44 new cases on Diamond Princess, giving the cruise ship a total of 218 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 53 cases.
Malaysia confirms a total of 19 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 58 cases. A school in the National University of Singapore will conduct e-classes from 14 to 21 February as a precaution after one of the cases involved a professor.
The United States confirms a total of 15 cases, the newest a Wuhan evacuee in Texas.

14 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Canada confirms a 5th presumptive case in British Columbia, making a total of 8 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 56 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 37 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 67 cases.
Egypt confirms it's first case.  This is the first case on the African continent.

15 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
France confirms a total of 12 cases.  France also reported the first death from COVID-19 outside of Asia.
Malaysia confirms a total of 22 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 72 cases.
Thailand confirms a total  of 34 cases.
Japan confirms 76 addition cases on Diamond Princess, making the cruise ship's total 285 cases.

16 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirms a total of 57 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 59 cases.
Japan also confirms 70 more cases on Diamond Princess, giving the cruise ship a total of 355 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 75 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 29 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 20 cases.  Taiwan also reports their first death from COVID-19.
UAE confirms a total of 9 cases.

17 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirms a total of 60 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 66 cases.
Japan confirms 99 new cases on Diamond Princess, making the ship's total 454 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 77 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 30 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 22 cases.
Thailand confirms a total of 35 cases.

18 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirms a total of 62 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 81 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 31 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 74 cases.
Japan also confirms 88 more cases on Diamond Princess, bringing the ship's cases to 542.

19 February 2020 -  From The New York Times - "On Feb. 19, he [the 45th President] told a Phoenix television station, "I think the numbers are going to get progressively better as we go along." [when asked about COVID-19 in the US]  -
From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirms a total of 65 cases.  It also reports its second death from COVID-19.
Iran confirms 2 cases, both resulting in death.
Singapore confirms a total of 84 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 51 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 23 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 84 cases.
Japan confirms 79 new cases on Diamond Princess, bringing the cruise ship's total cases to 621.
  Passengers started to disembark from Diamond Princess, one of the cruise ships in the outbreak.  The sheer number of passengers infected has led to questions over the effectiveness of quarantine measures.

20 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Hong Kong confirms a total of 69 cases.
Iran confirms a total of 5 cases.
Japan confirms a total of 94 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 85 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 104 cases.  It also reports its first death from COVID-19.
Taiwan confirms a total of 24 cases.
The United States confirms a total of 16 cases, the new one in California.
On the Diamond Princess, 13 more cases makes a total of 634.  Two deaths from COVID-19 are also reported.

21 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Australia confirms a total of 19 cases, including 4 evacuees from Diamond Princess.
Canada confirms a total of 9 cases.
Israel confirms its first case, a Diamond Princess evacuee.
Italy confirms a total of 20 cases.  It also reports its first death from COVID-19.
Iran confirms a total of 18 cases.  It also confirms two more deaths, making 4 total.
Japan confirms a total of 109 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 86 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 204 cases.  It also reports its second death from the virus.
Taiwan confirms a total of 26 cases.
United Arab Emirates confirms a total of 11 cases.
Lebanon reports it's first case of COVID-19.
The United States confirms a total of 35 cases.  Furthermore, the Association of Public Health Laboratories announced that only three states were capable of testing for the novel coronavirus: California, Nebraska, and Illinois.

Iran Deputy Minister of Health Iraj Haririchi has COVID-19

22 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Australia confirms a total  of 22 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 70 cases.
Iran confirms a total of 28 cases.  It also confirms a fifth death.
Italy confirms a total of 79 cases. A second COVID-19 death was reported. With 79 confirmed cases, Italy has the largest number of infectious cases in Europe.
Japan confirms a total of 135 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 89 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 433 cases.  Concerns are raised that 9 tourists from South Korea may have caused widespread exposure when visiting Israel.
UAE confirms a total of 13 cases.
 *  The urine sample of a patient tested positive for COVID-19.
 * A genome analysis indicated that the virus in the Huanan Seafood Market originated from outside.

23 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Canada confirms a total of 10 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 74 cases.
Iran confirms a total of 43 cases.  They also confirm a total of 8 deaths.
Israel confirms a second case, also from Diamond Princess.
Italy confirms a total of 152 cases.  It also reports a third death.
South Korea confirms a total of 602 cases. It also reports a total of 6 deaths.
Taiwan confirms a total of 28 cases.
The United Kingdom confirms a total of 13 cases, including 4 evacuees from Diamond Princess.
Diamond Princess confirms a total of 691 cases.  They also report a third death.
  -  From The New York Times:  "Four days later [Feb. 23], he pronounced the situation "very much under control," and added: "We had 12, at one point. And now they've gotten very much better. Many of them are fully recovered."  (On 21 February we had 35 people diagnosed with COVID-19.)  ..."On Feb. 23, the world Health Organization announced that the virus was in 30 countries, with 78,811 confirmed cases, a more than five-fold increase over the previous three weeks."

24 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Afghanistan confirmed its first case, involving a person who had traveled to Iran.
Bahrain confirmed its first case, involving a person who had traveled to Iran.
Canada confirmed a total of 11 cases.
Hong Kong confirmed a total of 81 cases.
Iran confirmed a total of 61 cases.  It also confirmed a total of 12 deaths.
Iraq confirmed its first case, involving an Iranian student.
Italy confirms a total of 229 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Kuwait confirms a total of 5 cases, involving travelers from Iran.
Oman confirms its first 2 cases, involving residents who visited Iran.
Singapore confirms a total of 90 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 833 cases.  It also confirms a total of 7 deaths.
Spain confirms a total of 3 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 30 cases.
The United States confirms a total of 53 cases.
  * A COVID-19 patient in Sichuan province in China tested positive only on her 9th test.
** On this day, @realDonaldTrump Tweeted: "The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock market starting to look very good to me!"   From Snopes:  On the same day, the White House asked Congress for $1.25 billion to help fund the government's response to COVID-19, and stocks plummeted.

25 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Algeria reports its first confirmed case, a visitor from Italy.
Austria reports its first 2 cases.  They are Italians living in Tyrol and one was a receptionist at a hotel. The hotel in Innsbruck was sealed off in an effort to contain the outbreak.
Bahrain confirms a total of 23 cases, all having traveled from Iran.
Brazil reports the first positive case in South America, a man who traveled to Italy.
Croatia reports its first case, someone who had visited Italy.
France confirms a total of 14 cases.
Germany confirms a total of 18 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 84 cases.
Iran confirms a total of 95 cases.  It also reported a total of 16 deaths.  A Member of Parliament, Mahmoud Sadeghi, and Iraj Harirchi, the Deputy Minister for Health, both confirmed they tested positive for COVID-19.
Iraq confirms a total of 6 cases.
Italy confirms a total of 323 cases.  They also confirm a total of 11 deaths.
Kuwait confirms a total of 9 cases.
Oman confirms a total of 4 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 91 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 944 cases.  They also confirm a total of 11 deaths.
Spain confirms a total of 7 cases.  - On the island of Tenerife, 2 Italian hotel guests tested positive for the virus. This resulted in hundreds of guests at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel being isolated to facilitate further testing and to halt the spread of the disease.  -  The first case on mainland Spain was also reported.
Switzerland confirms its first case of COVID-19.
Taiwan confirms a total of 31 cases.
Thailand reports a total of 37 cases.
Diamond Princess confirms a fourth death from COVID-19.
  ** On this day, @realDonaldTrump made a two-part Tweet, starting at 8:29 pm: "CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus, including the early closing of our borders to certain areas of the world. It was opposed by the Dems, "too soon", but turned out to be the correct decision. No matter how well we do, however, the....."  ".... Democrats talking point is that we are doing badly. If the virus disappeared tomorrow, they would say we did a really poor, and even incompetent, job. Not fair, but it is what it is. So far, by the way, we have not had one death. Let's keep it that way!"

26 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros, noted that "...14 countries that have had cases have not reported a new case for more than a week, and even more importantly, 9 countries have not reported a new case for more than 2 weeks: Belgium, Cambodia, Finland, India, Nepal, Philippines, the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, and Sweden."
 Australia confirms a total of 23 cases.
Bahrain confirms a total of 33 cases.
Canada confirms a total of 12 cases.
Croatia confirms a total of 3 cases.
Finland confirms a second case.
France confirms a total of 18 cases. It also confirms a second death from COVID-19.
Georgia reports its first case.
Germany confirms a total of 27 cases.
Greece reports its first case.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 91 cases, including 2 from Diamond Princess.
Italy confirms a total of 453 cases.  It also confirms a total of 12 deaths.
Iran confirms a total of 139 cases.  It also confirms a total of 19 deaths.
Japan confirms a total of 140 cases.  It also confirms 3 deaths in total.
Kuwait confirms a total of 25 cases.
Lebanon confirms 2 cases.
North Macedonia confirms its first case.
Norway confirms its first case.
Pakistan reports its first 2 cases.
Russia confirms a total of 5 cases, adding 3 from Diamond Princess.
Singapore confirms a total of 93 cases.
Spain confirms a total of 13 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 1,261 cases.  It also confirms a total of 12 deaths.
Sweden confirms a total of 2 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 32 cases
Thailand confirms a total of 40 cases.
The United States confirms a total of 60 cases; with 2 from Diamond Princess, and a third being a domestic case in California with the patient having no travel history.
Diamond Princess confirmed 14 new cases, making a total of 705 aboard the cruise ship.  It is estimated that more passengers on the ship could be infected than was previously thought.
  * For the first time, a case was re-imported back to China from another country; the patient traveled to China from Iran.
  -  From ABC News:  "1st case of suspected local transmission in United States - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm the first case of COVID-19 in a patient in California with no travel history to an outbreak area, nor contact with anyone diagnosed with the virus. It's suspected to be the first instance of local transmission in the United States.  Oregon, Washington and New York soon report their own cases of possible community transmission."
   -  On this day, in the White House's James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, during a press conference, 45 was asked if schools should be preparing for an outbreak of COVID-19.  He said, " I would think so, yes. I mean, I haven't spoken specifically about that with the various doctors, but I would think so, yes.  I think every aspect of our society should be prepared.  I don't think it's going to come to that, especially with the fact that we're going down, not up.  We're going substantially down, not up."

27 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Austria confirms a total of 3 cases.
Canada confirms a total of 14 cases.  They also confirmed the first human-to-human transmission in Toronto.
China reported through the National Health Commission 433 new confirmed cases and 29 deaths across mainland China.  Of those, 409 new cases and 26 deaths were in Hubei province, where Wuhan is located.
Denmark reports its first case.
Estonia reports its first case.
France confirms a total of 38 cases.
Germany confirms a total of 45 cases.
Greece confirms a total of 3 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 93 cases.
Iran confirms a total of 245 cases.  It also confirms 26 deaths.
Iraq confirms a total of 7 cases.
Israel confirms a total of 3 cases.
Italy confirms a total of 655 cases.  It also confirms a total of 17 deaths.
Japan confirms a total of 186, including a recovered patient who was re-infected.  It confirms a total of 8 deaths.  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked that all elementary, middle and high schools shall be closed until late March to restrict the spread of the disease.
Kuwait confirms a total of 43 cases.
Lebanon confirms a total of 3 cases.
Malaysia confirms a total of 23 cases, the newest case imported from Japan by a traveler.
The Netherlands reports its first case.
Nigeria reports its first case.  This is the first COVID-19 case in sub-Saharan Africa.
Norway confirms a total of 4 cases.
Oman confirms a total of 6 cases.
San Marino reports its first case.
Singapore confirms a total of 96 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 1,766 cases.
Spain confirms a total of 28 cases.
Sweden confirms a total of 7 cases.
Switzerland confirms a total of 8 cases.
UAE confirms a total of 19 cases.  It also saw 2 suspected cases attached to the UAE Tour, a cycling event, which resulted in the cancellation of the event.
The United Kingdom confirms a total of 16 cases.
   -  Source: The White House and The New York Times -  On this day, 45 made the following comment to attendees at an African-American History Month reception at the White House, when asked about COVID-19, he predicted, "It's going to disappear.  One day - it's like a miracle - it will disappear."  - At the the time, the CDC was warning that COVID -19 would spread across the United States. -

28 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:
Australia confirms a total of 24 cases.
Azerbaijan reports its first case
Bahrain confirms a total of 38 cases.
Belarus reports its first case.
Canada confirms a total of 16 cases.
China confirms 327 new cases.  They also confirm 44 more deaths.
Croatia confirms a total of 5 cases.
Denmark confirm a total of 2 cases.
Finland confirms a total of 3 cases.
France confirms a total of 57 cases.
Georgia confirms a total of 2 cases; but reports more than 18 people in quarantine.
Germany confirms cases totaling "almost 60,"  according to a Health Ministry official.
Greece confirms a total of 4 cases.
Hong Kong confirms a total of 94 cases.
Iceland reports its first case.
Iran confirms a total of 388 cases.  It also confirms 32 deaths.
Iraq confirms a total of 8 cases.
Israel confirms a total of 7 cases, one a woman who recovered from the virus in Japan but was re-infected.
Italy confirms a total of 888 cases.  It also confirms a total of  21 deaths.
Japan confirms a total of 198 cases.  It also confirms a total of 5 deaths.
Diamond Princess reports a fifth death, a British native.
Kuwait confirms a total of 45 cases.
Lebanon confirms a total of 4 cases.
Lithuania reports its first case.
Malaysia confirms a total of 25 cases.
Mexico reports its first 2 cases.
Monaco reports its first case.
New Zealand reports its first case.
The Netherlands confirms a total of 2 cases.
Norway confirms a total of 6 cases. - A person working at Ullevaal Hospital in Oslo tested positive.  According to standard recommendation he was told to go to work, since he had no symptoms, and he had worked with a significant number of patients for a couple of days before testing positive...
Romania reports its first 2 cases.
Singapore confirms a total of 98 cases.
Spain confirms a total of 32 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 2,337 cases.  It also confirms a total of 16 deaths.
Sweden confirms a total of 11 cases.
Switzerland confirms a total of 15 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 34 cases.
Thailand confirms a total of 41 cases.
The United Kingdom confirms a total of 20 cases.
The United States confirms a total of 66 cases.
  * SARS-CoV-2 (aka COVID-19) was detected for the first time in tears and conjunctival secretions (pink eye) of a patient.  Thirty patients were used in the small case study, with only one producing viral RNA. *
  -  From CNN:  Andy Rupar of Vox, was recording 45 on the White House lawn, answering questions from reporters.  On this day, 45 was asked how the White House was preparing for COVID-19, he responded, "We're ordering a lot of supplies.  We're ordering a lot of, uh, elements that frankly we wouldn't be ordering unless it was something like this.  But we're ordering a lot of different elements of medical."  -

29 February 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  Today there are 85,403 confirmed cases in 55 countries around the world.
 Australia confirms a total of 25 cases.
Austria confirms a total of 10 cases.
Azerbaijan confirms a total of 3 cases.
Bahrain confirms a total of 41 cases.
Brazil confirms a total of 2 cases.
Canada confirms a total of 20 cases.
China confirms a total of 79,251 cases.  It also confirms 2, 835 deaths.
Croatia confirms a total of 6 cases.
Denmark confirms a total of 3 cases.
Ecuador reports its first case.
France confirms a total of 100 cases.
Georgia confirms a total of 3 cases.
Germany confirms a total of 66 cases.
Greece confirms a total of 7 cases.
Iran confirms a total of 593 cases.  It also confirms a total of 43 deaths.
Iraq confirms a total of 13 cases.
Ireland reports its first case.
Italy confirms a total of 1,128 cases.  It also confirms 29 deaths.
Lebanon confirms a total of 7 cases.
Luxembourg reports its first case.
Mexico confirms a total of 4 cases.
The Netherlands confirms a total of 7 cases.
Norway confirms a total of 15 cases.
Pakistan confirms a total of 4 cases.
Qatar reports its first case.
Singapore confirms a total of 102 cases.
South Korea confirms a total of 3,150 cases.  It also confirms a total of 17 deaths.  The first re-infection case there was also confirmed.
Spain confirms a total of 58 cases.
Sweden confirms a total of 13 cases.
Switzerland confirms a total of 18 cases.
Taiwan confirms a total of 39 cases.
Thailand confirms a total of 42 cases.
The United Kingdom confirms a total of 23 cases.
The United States confirms a total of 68 patients.  It also confirms is first death.
  -  From ABC News: "1st Death Reported in United States -  The first COVID-19 death is reported in Washington state, after a man with no travel history to China dies on Feb. 28 at Evergreen Health Medical Center in Kirkland, Washington.  Two deaths that occurred Feb. 26 at a nearby nursing home would later be recorded as the first COVID-19 deaths to occur in the United States."  -
   -  From The New York Times:  Asked by the press corps, on the White House lawn about COVID-19,  "On Feb. 29, he [the 45th President] said a vaccine would be available "very quickly" and "very rapidly" and praised his administration's actions as "the most aggressive taken by any country."  None of these claims were true." -

A Timeline of COVID-19 Around the World, From News Sources, For January 2020

The previous blog was followed the reports and information from the United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO).  These reports are from various news organizations around the world, but most of January's are from WHO, as they were the only group issuing daily information.


   31 December 2019 -  Health authorities in China report to WHO that dozens of people in Wuhan, China are being treated for pneumonia from an unknown source.  Many of those who are ill visited a live animal market in Wuhan, but authorities say there is no evidence of the virus spreading from person to person.

   5 January 2020 -  In Wuhan, China the number of suspected cases reached 59, with 7 in critical condition.  All were quarantined and local medical officials began monitoring 163 of their contacts. At this time, there were still no reported cases of human-to-human transmission or presentations in healthcare workers.

   11 January 2020 -  China reports the first death from the novel coronavirus (which was identified on 8 January), a 61-year-old man who had visited the live animal market at Wuhan.

   13 January 2020 -  Thailand witnessed the first confirmed case outside of China. A 61-year-old resident of Wuhan female, who arrived in Bangkok on 8 January, had visited several outdoor markets in Wuhan, but not the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where others had been.

   15 January 2020 -  A second death occurred - a 69-year-old man in China.
The WHO published a protocol on diagnostic testing for the novel coronavirus developed by a virology team from Charite Hospital.

   17 January 2020 -  Thailand's second confirmed case was reported in a 74-year-old woman who had arrived in Bangkok on a flight from Wuhan, China.
The number of laboratory-confirmed cases rose to 45 in China.
In China, Yang Xiabo, head of the Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, died of pneumonia caused by the virus; however, he is not included in the death count.

   18 January 2020 -  Following the first 41 laboratory-confirmed cases were confirmed on 2 January, no new cases occurred for 16 days. China then reported 17 additional confirmed cases, 3 in critical condition.  This brought the number of laboratory-confirmed cases in China to 62.  The patients' ages ranged between 30 and 79 years.  Nineteen patients were discharged and 8 remain critical.

   19 January 2020 -  Three confirmed cases were reported outside of Wuhan, in China; 2 in Beijing, and 1 in southern Guangdong province.
Wuhan reported an additional 136 confirmed cases, bringing the total to 201 cases.
A new death was reported in Wuhan from the novel coronavirus, bringing the death total to 3.

   20 January 2020 - Scientists from the Chinese CDC identified three different strains of the novel coronavirus, confirming that the original Wuhan virus had mutated into 2 additional strains.
The first confirmed case of the virus was found in South Korea, as well as in Japan.

   21 January 2020 -  A total of 300 cases have been reported across China, including Beijing and Shanghai.  Most cases, however, are sited in Wuhan, the heart of the outbreak.  With 300 confirmed cases and 6 deaths, Chinese state media warned lower-level officials not to cover up the spread of the new coronavirus.
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission reported at least 15 healthcare workers in Wuhan have also been infected with the virus, with 1 in critical condition.
Taiwan announces that it has one confirmed case of the novel coronavirus.
First confirmed case in the United States is announced - a man in his 30s, from Washington state, who had traveled to Wuhan.

   22 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  the total number of confirmed cases in China increased to 571, and the death toll to 17.
New data shows indications of the current rapid spread of the disease and an increase in the rate of transmission.
Officials announce a quarantine of the greater Wuhan, China area (11 million people) to commence 23 January at 10:00 am local time. No traffic will be allowed in, or out, of the city.

   23 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report: The total number of confirmed cases in China increased to 628, with no new deaths.
First confirmed case reported in Singapore; and two confirmed cases in Vietnam.

   24 January 2020 -  With 46 more confirmed cases  from various provinces across China, the total number of confirmed cases rose to 674.
  Cases in other countries were also reported: Japan, South Korea and the United States confirmed their second cases.  Singapore's number became 3; Thailand's number became 5, as did Hong Kong's. Nepal reported its first case, a student who had returned from Wuhan, China.  And France reported three confirmed cases at once, the first reported from the European Union.

   25 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  Australia confirmed its first 4 cases.  Malaysia reported its first 4 cases. Japan confirmed it's 3rd case. Canada confirmed its first case in Toronto.  Thailand added two more cases, for a total of 7.  Singapore confirmed their 4th case.
Liang Wudong, a 62-year-old doctor, reportedly died in Hubei province (where Wuhan is located) from the novel coronavirus.

   26 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  The United States confirmed 3 more cases, making 5 - two in California and one in Arizona.  Hong Kong confirms 3 cases, bringing their number to 8.  Thailand confirms its 8th case, with another 39 suspected and pending test results.
The Health Ministry of the Ivory Coast announces it is dealing with a suspected case of the novel coronavirus.

   27 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report: Canada reported its first confirmed case and another presumptive case.  Australia has confirmed its 5th case, with another 5 suspected.  Sri Lanka confirms its first case, as does Cambodia.  Singapore confirms its 5th case.  Germany reports its first confirmed case in Bavaria, a case of domestic transmission.  Taiwan reports its first case of  domestic transmission.
Beijing reports its first death from the novel coronavirus.
In Germany, the first specific, global case of novel coronavirus being transmitted by a person with no symptoms has been reported.  The originally-infected individual is from Shanghai.

   28 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  Thailand confirms 6 more cases, bring their total to 14.  Singapore confirms 2 more cases, bringing their total to 7.  Japan confirms 3 additional cases, bringing their total to 7.  (Japan's total includes a man who never visited Wuhan, but works as a tour bus driver.  He had driven a group of people from Wuhan in early January.)
Germany's first confirmed case (reported yesterday) occurred in a German citizen who had not traveled to China.  However, he had close contact with a visiting Chinese colleague who reported starting to feel ill during her return flight to Shanghai.  She was tested upon arrival and confirmed positive.  Germany confirmed 3 new cases, all of whom were co-workers of the first confirmed case.
France confirmed its 4th case, an elderly Chinese tourist who is in critical condition.
The Brazilian Ministry of Health reports 3 suspected cases in 3 different locations.
Canada reports a new presumptive case in British Columbia.
  * A UK-Chinese medical research paper reports a statistical model finding that "estimates suggest the actual number of infected cases could be much higher than reported, with an estimated 26,701 cases (as of 28 January 2020)." *

   29 January  2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:   The UAE confirms its first case; then confirms four members of a Chinese family are infected.
Finland reports its first case of the virus in Lapland, brought by a tourist from Wuhan before the quarantine.
Singapore confirms 3 more cases, bringing their total to 10.  Malaysia confirms 3 more cases, making their total 7. Japan reports 4 additional cases, making 11.  France confirmed a 5th case, the daughter of the 4th case.  Brazil reports a total of 9 suspected cases in 6 states.
Two Chinese nationals were placed in isolation wards in Armenia, amid the first suspected cases of novel coronavirus there. The Chinese were tourists traveling in Armenia from neighboring Georgia. As Armenia does not have the capacity to test for the new virus, Liana Torosyan, the head of the Department of Infectious Diseases stated that samples from the patients will be sent to European labs for testing.
  * Air Canada is halting all direct flights to China following the federal government's advisory to avoid non-essential travel to the mainland due to the coronavirus epidemic. *

   30 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  Tibet confirms its first case.  Cases have now been confirmed in all 31 provinces of mainland China.
India confirms its first case.  The Philippines confirms its first case.  Japan confirms 3 more cases, bring its total to 14.  Malaysia confirms another case, making 8.  Singapore confirms 3 more cases, making 13 in total.  South Korea confirms 2 more cases.  Vietnam confirm 3 more cases, making 5.  France confirms its 6th case.  Italy confirms its first two cases.  Germany confirms its 5th case.
The United States confirmed its 6th case, the spouse of another patient in Chicago.  This is the first confirmed case of human to human transmission within the US.

   31 January 2020 -  From the WHO Situation Report:  The United Kingdom and Russia confirmed their first novel coronavirus infections.  The first cases in Spain and Sweden were also confirmed. Thailand confirmed 5 more cases, bringing their total to 19.  Singapore confirmed 3 more cases, making 16 in total.
The 7th case in the United States was confirmed in Santa Clara County, California. The 4th case of the virus has been confirmed in London, Ontario, Canada.
 * Chinese health experts warn the public that coronavirus patients can become re-infected.


I will continue with this overview of the COVID-19 timeline for the month of February tomorrow...

The Beginnings of COVID-19 - The Novel Coronavirus - A World Health Organization Timeline

The coronavirus has been in existence almost as long as humans, if not before. There are many different types of the coronavirus - one causes the common cold, one has been designated as SARS and one as MERS.  This new strain is now being called COVID-19.

   Before I go on, let me back up a bit and talk about our Center for Disease Control Pandemic Team.  After 45 was elected, during the Transition co-working time, the incoming team worked with President Obama's out-going team practicing several scenarios (as each Transition team has done for the past century).  One of the scenarios that was acted upon was a pandemic caused by a flu-like virus that originated in Asia and swept across Europe.  The CDC and WHO specialists covered all available actions that the US government could perform, use, or draw upon.  Thirty members of 45's incoming team participated in this exercise.  Less than ten of those people remain in the current administration, according to one of the men who participated. And they apparently don't remember anything they learned in that exercise.
   In May 2018, the top White House official in charge of the US response to pandemics left the current administration.  Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer was the senior director of global health and bio-defense on the National Security Council and oversaw global health security issues, a specialty that had been bolstered under President Obama.
  After Ziemer's departure, the global health team was reorganized as part of an effort by then National Security Adviser John Bolton.  Meanwhile, Tom Bossert, a homeland security adviser who recommended strong defenses against disease and biological warfare, was reportedly pushed out of the administration by Bolton in 2018.  Neither White House official, nor their teams, which were responsible for coordinating the US to pandemics across governmental agencies, have been replaced.
   In November 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and experts formally recommended that health security leadership on the NSC should be restored.  And on 18 February 2020, a group of 27 Senators sent a letter to current National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien to ask him to appoint a new global health security expert to the NSC.
   "The fact that they explicitly dismantled the office in the White House that was tasked with preparing for exactly this kind of a risk is hugely concerning," said Jeremy Konyndyk, who ran foreign disaster assistance during the Obama administration. "Both the structure and all the institutional memory are now gone."
   As of this morning, 19 March 2020, the United States does not have a CDC Pandemic Response Team in place.

I'm going to be referencing the World Health Organization a lot after this; so if you are not aware of WHO, what they are and what they do, read this.  WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for international public health.  It is a part of the UN Sustainable Development Group.  The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states it's main objective as ensuring "the attainment by all peoples of the highest level  of health." It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland; and has six semi-autonomous regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide.

*********

   On 31 December 2019, a case of pneumonia with an unknown cause was reported to the World Health Organization in China.  From the WHO report: "At the close of 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed of a pneumonia of unknown cause, detected in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, China.  According to the authorities, some patients were operating dealers or vendors in the Huanan Seafood market."  Staying in close contact with national authorities, WHO began monitoring the situation and requested further information on the laboratory tests performed and the different diagnoses considered.

   4 January 2020 -  WHO announced a cluster of pneumonia cases - with no deaths - in Wuhan, China.  They said they were actively investigating the cause.  WHO announced it would work across all three of its levels - country office, regional office, and Headquarters - to track the situation and share details as they emerged.

   5 January 2020 -  WHO published its risk assessment and advice, and reported on the status of patients and the public health response by national authorities to the cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China.

   10 January 2020 -  WHO issues its first guidance regarding the novel coronavirus.  Developed with reference to other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, WHO issued a tool for countries to check their ability to detect and respond to this novel coronavirus.  This information was/is to help with identifying main gaps, assessing risks and planning for additional investigations, response, and control actions.

   12 January 2020 -  China shares the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus, which will be very important for other countries as they develop specific diagnostic kits and testing.

   13 January 2020 -  Officials confirmed a case of the novel coronavirus in Thailand.  It was not unexpected that cases of the novel coronavirus would emerge outside of China and reinforces why WHO calls for active monitoring and preparedness in other countries.

   21 January 2020 -  WHO made a field trip to Wuhan, China.  The delegation observed and discussed active surveillance processes, temperature screening at Wuhan Tianhe airport, laboratory facilities, infection prevention and control measures at Zhongnan hospital and its associated fever clinics, and the deployment of a test kit to detect the virus.  The delegation also discussed public communication efforts and China's plan to expand the case definition for the novel coronavirus, which will build a clearer picture of the spectrum of severity of the virus.
   At the end of the visit, the Chinese Government released the primers and probes used in the test kit for the novel coronavirus to help other countries detect it.  Chinese experts also shared a range of protocols that will be used in developing international guidelines, including case definitions, clinical management protocols, and infection control.

   22 & 23 January 2020 -  The WHO Director General convened the Emergency Committee to consider the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China, with cases also now reported in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore.
   Several Committee members considered it still too early to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), given its restrictive and binary nature.  Among other recommendations, the Committee advised that it be recalled in approximately 10 days to again view the spread of the outbreak, if any.

   25 January 2020 -  WHO launches a free introductory "course" about the novel coronavirus on-line. Available in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese, this introduction covers topics such as why the novel coronavirus is a global threat to human health, and how to effectively engage communities in response to it.

   28 January 2020 -  WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China about the coronavirus outbreak.  Dr. Tedros was joined by WHO Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai and Executive Director of the WHO Emergencies Program Dr. Mike Ryan, and also met State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Minister of Health Ma Xiaowei.
   The discussions focused on continued collaboration on containment measures in Wuhan, public health measures in other cities and provinces, conducting further studies on the severity and transmissibilty of the virus, continuing to share data, and for China to share biological material with WHO.  These measures will advance the development of medical countermeasures such as vaccines and treatments.
   The two sides agreed that WHO would send international experts to visit China as soon as possible to work with Chinese counterparts on increasing understanding of the outbreak to guide global response efforts.

   30 January 2020 -  A Public Health Emergency of International Concern was declared by WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus following a second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened under the International Health Regulations.  Acknowledging that 2019-nCoV cases have been reported in five WHO regions in month, the Committee noted that early detection, isolating and treating cases, contact tracing, and social distancing measures - in line with the level of risk - can all work to interrupt virus spread.

   5 February 2020 -  With the 2019-nCoV outbreak set to test the resilience of countries around the world, WHO invokes the $675 million (United States $) Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, that aims to protect states with weaker health systems.
   Covering areas ranging from international coordination to country readiness to research and innovation, the SPRP aims to limit transmission, provide early care, communicate key information, and minimize social and economic impacts.

   11 February 2020 -  The novel coronavirus is named COVID-19.  Guidelines mandated that the name of the disease could not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual, or group of people.  It also needed to relate to the disease and be pronounceable.  This choice will help guard against the use of  other names that might be inaccurate or stigmatizing.  This is how the name came about: COronaVirus Infectious Disease; and since it was first reported in 2019, the -19.

   12 February 2020 -  More than 400 experts and funding partners met at WHO's Geneva Headquarters to accelerate research to stop the COVID-19 outbreak.  Featuring updates from the front lines of the response in China, the meeting addressed issues such as: developing easy-to-apply diagnostics, accelerating existing vaccine candidates and preventing infection.
   Also on this day, WHO activated the Crisis Management Team (CMT), which brings together WHO, OCHA, IMO, UNICEF, ICAO, WFP, FAO, the World Bank, and several UN Secretariat departments.  The CMT will be managed by the Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Program, Dr. Mike Ryan.  It will help WHO focus on the health response while the other agencies will bring their expertise to bear on the wider social, economic, and developmental implications of the outbreak.

   15 February 2020 -  "We must be guided by solidarity, not stigma.  The greatest enemy we face is not the virus itself, it's the stigma that turns us against each other.  We must stop stigma and hate."  WHO Director General Dr. Tedros called on the international community to use the window of opportunity to prepare for COVID-19 at the Munich Security Conference, a leading global forum on preeminent crises and future security challenges.

   17 February 2020 -  Based on lessons from the H1N1 flu and Ebola, WHO has outlined planning considerations for organizers of mass gatherings, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.  It has also issued advice on how to detect and take care of ill travelers, who are suspected COVID-19 cases.

   18 February 2020 -  WHO and other countries are engaged in acts of outbreak preparedness.  WHO has shipped supplies of personal protective equipment to 21 countries.  By the end of this week, 40 countries in Africa and 29 in the Americas are due to have the ability to detect COVID-19.

   21 February 2020 -  WHO Director General Dr. Tedros emphasized that the window of opportunity to contain the COVID-19 outbreak is "narrowing" and that the international community needs to act quickly, including through financing.   His Tweet: "Countries with weaker health systems nedd the world's focus & support now, due to the potential for #COVID19 to spread to those locations.  We must take advantage of the window of opportunity we have to contain the outbreak.  We don't want to look back later & regret failing to act."
   Also on this day, Dr. Tedros appointed six special envoys on COVID-19, to provide strategic advice and high-level political advocacy and engagement in different parts of the world.  They are:
 Professor Dr. Maha El Rabbat, former Minister of Health of Egypt
 Dr. Davis Nabarro, former special adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on the 2030  Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change
 Dr. John Nkengasong, Director for the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 Dr. Mirta Roses, former Director of the WHO Region of the Americas
 Dr. Shin Young-soo, former Regional Director of the WHO Region of the Western Pacific
 Professor Samba Sow, Director-General of the Center for Vaccine Development in Mali

   22 February 2020 -  WHO's Director General and the Regional Director for Africa addressed an emergency meeting of ministers of health to agree on a continental strategy for Africa to strengthen preparedness and responses to the COVID-19 outbreak.  During the past month about 11,000 African health workers have been trained using WHO's on-line courses regarding COVID-19.

   24 February 2020 -  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with the WHO Director General and other WHO leaders, receiving a briefing on COVID-19, Ebola, and polio.  He expressed great admiration for health workers, including in China, who are working tirelessly to save lives.  The UN Secretary-General also stressed that there is no space for stigma and discrimination and said  we must be guided by science and human rights-based interventions.
   A team of experts from WHO and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will focus on:  understanding how events developed, learning from the Italian experience, and supporting control and prevention efforts by the authorities.
   To limit further human transmission, WHO experts will provide support in the areas of clinical management, infection prevention and control, surveillance, and risk communication.

   25 February 2020 -  A WHO team of 25 international and Chinese experts traveled to several different provinces in China, with a small group going to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.  Among the team's findings was that the epidemic peaked and plateaued between the 23rd of January and the 2nd of February, and has been steadily declining since then.  The team also estimates that the measures taken in China have averted a significant number of cases.  In a press conference in Geneva, Dr. Bruce Aylward, the mission's lead, reported back on what China has done, its impact, and implications.
   The WHO Director General has repeatedly called for "solidarity, not stigma" to address COVID-19.  WHO has worked with UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on a guide to preventing and addressing the social stigma associated with the disease.  It's vital to fight stigma because it can drive people to hide the illness, not seek health care immediately, and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviors.  This guide includes some tips and messages, as well as do's and don't's on language when talking about COVID-19.

   26 February 2020 -  WHO has issued new COVID_19 guidance for businesses and employers, which outlines simple ways to prevent the spread of the virus, things to consider when employees travel, and how to get your business ready in case COVID-19 arrives in your community.
   There is also a new video - Watch Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical leader on the new coronavirus, answer questions from the public about COVID-19.  She begins by explaining how the virus spreads and how to protect yourself from it.  Dr. Van Kerkhove was a member of the recent joint mission of experts to China to learn more about the outbreak.

   27 February 2020 -  In discussing preparedness for COVID-19, the WHO Director General listed questions every health minister (or the head of Health & Human Services in the US) should be able to answer.  The questions are:
  1.  Are we ready for the first case?
  2.  Do we have enough medical oxygen, ventilators and other vital equipment?
  3.  How will we know if there are cases in other areas of the country?
  4.  Do our health workers have the training and equipment they need to stay safe?
  5.  Do we have the right measures at airports and border crossings to test people who are sick?
  6.  Do our labs have the right chemicals that allow them to test samples?
  7.  Are we ready to treat patients with severe or critical disease?
  8.  Do our hospitals and clinics have the right procedures to prevent and control infections?
  9.  Do our people have the right information?  Do they know what the disease looks like?

   28 February 2020 -  In a daily COVID-19 press briefing the WHO Director General said that more than 20 vaccines are in development globally, and several therapeutics are in clinical trials.  But we don't need to wit for vaccines and therapeutics.  There are things that every individual can do to protect themselves and others.  Wash your hands.  Don't touch others. Use social distancing.  Do not congregate in large numbers.

   1 March 2020 -  United Nations Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock released $15 million (US $) from the Central Emergency Response Fund to WHO and UNICEF to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.  This grant will help countries with fragile health systems boost their detection and response operations.  It will fund essential activities including monitoring the spread of the virus, investigating cases, and the operation of national laboratories.

   2 March 2020 -  A WHO team visits Iran, landing in Tehran.  The experts aim to identify transmission dynamics and at-risk populations, as well as provide guidance on strengthening and scaling up the response and readiness efforts.  The mission arrived along with a shipment containing medical supplies and protective equipment to support over 15,000 health care workers and enough laboratory kits to test and diagnose nearly 100,000 people.  The mission will build on COVID-19 preparedness and response work already underway by WHO's country office in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
   Dr. Tedros, the Secretary General of WHO said, "There is no choice but to act now."  Speaking at the COVID-19 media briefing, Dr. Tedros emphasized that the virus is capable of community transmission, but can be contained with the right measures.  He Tweeted: "Containment of #COVID19 is feasible and must remain the top priority for all countries.  There is no one-size fits all approach.  @WHO is advising countries on actions they can take for each of the scenarios - first case, first cluster, first evidence of community transmission."

   3 March 2020 -  WHO has shipped nearly half a million sets of personal protective equipment to 47 countries, but the global supply is rapidly depleting.  Shortages are leaving doctors, nurses, and other front line workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns and aprons.  To meet rising global demand, WHO estimates that the industry must increase manufacturing by 40 %.
  Each month, front line health responders around the world need - at the very least - these supplies to protect themselves and others from infectious diseases - including COVID-19:
  Face masks   -  89 million
  Gowns       -    30 million
  Goggles     -  1.59 million
  Pairs of gloves  -  76 million
  Hand sanitizer   -  2.9 million liters   (766,099 gallons)

   4 March 2020 -   "This is unprecedented," says Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical leader for COVID-19.  She Tweeted: " We are eight weeks into this #COVID19 outbreak: yet we have identified the virus, we have the genetic sequence, PCR & serological assay in use.  This wealth of knowledge is unprecedented  for a new disease."

   5 March 2020 -  Speaking at the COVID-19 media briefing, the WHO Secretary General, Dr. Tedros, emphasized that the epidemic "can be pushed back, but only with a collective coordinated and comprehensive approach that engages the entire machinery of government."  In three Tweets, he said: "The #COVID19 epidemic is a threat for every country, rich & poor.  We are calling on every country to act with speed, scale & clear-minded determination.  We call on countries to activate their emergency plans through the whole-government approach.  -   We are concerned that in some countries the level of political commitment and the actions that demonstrate that commitment do not match the level of the threat we all face.  -  Leadership from the top:  We call on country leaders to mobilize their plans, coordinating every part of government, not just the health ministry - security, diplomacy, finance, commerce, transport, trade, information and more - the whole government should be involved."
   Also today, WHO launches a new social media campaign called Be Ready for COVID-19, which urges people to be safe, smart, and kind.  "Be Ready" was launched because everyone can prepare for COVID-19, including individuals, governments, and businesses.
  We're calling on people to Be Safe by remembering tried & tested public health measures, like regular hand washing & staying at least 3 feet away from anyone coughing or sneezing.  These ordinary measures are extraordinarily effective at fighting COVID-19.
  We're asking people to Be Smart about COVID-19 by rejecting rumors & taking care to only share information from trusted sources.  Everyone should keep informed about what is happening in their area and follow the recommendations of local authorities.
  We're reminding people toBe Kind through addressing stigma and looking out for one another -especially the most vulnerable and those in isolation.  Compassion can combat COVID-19.

   6 March 2020 -  "Research  -  implemented as policy and practice  -  can save lives and needs to be integrated into the response from the start."   A Research & Development road map for COVID-19 outlines research priorities in 9 key areas.  These include the natural history of the virus, epidemiology, diagnostics, clinical management, ethical considerations, and social sciences, as well as longer-term goals for therapeutics and vaccines.

   7 March 2020 -  Tweet from Dr. Tedros, WHO Secretary General:  "Today for the first time 100 countries are reporting #COVID19 cases.  This comes after the world reached 100,000 cases yesterday.  While very serious, this should not discourage us.  There are many things everyone, everywhere, can and should do now.   #coronavirusbit.ly/3azVPDK  "
   Marking this somber moment, WHO reminded all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities.
   Every effort to contain the virus and slow the spread saves lives. These efforts give health systems and all of society much needed time to prepare, and researchers more time to identify effective treatments and develop vaccines.
   Allowing uncontrolled spread should not be a choice of any government, as it will harm not only the citizens of that country, but affect other countries as well.
   We must stop, contain, control, delay and reduce the impact of this virus at every opportunity.  Every person has the capacity to contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace, or the transport system.

   8 March 2020 -  Every country should urgently take all necessary measures to slow further spread and to protect health systems from becoming overwhelmed with patients seriously ill with COVID-19.
   Interim Guidance is issued from WHO:  Drawing on existing materials, this guidance describes the preparedness, readiness, and response actions for four different transmission scenarios:
 1.  No cases
 2.  Sporadic cases:  1 or more cases, imported or locally detected
 3.  Clusters of cases in time, geographic location and/or common exposure
 4.  Community transmission: larger outbreaks of local transmission

   9 March 2020 -  Tweet from Dr. Tedros of WHO:  "Now that the #coronavirus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real.  But it would be the first pandemic in history that could be controlled.  The bottom line is:  We are not at the mercy of this virus."
   Dr. Tedros also said the above in his daily media briefing.  All countries must aim to stop transmission and prevent the spread of COVID-19, whether they face no cases, sporadic cases, clusters, or community transmission.  "Let hope be an antidote to fear.  Let solidarity be the antidote to blame.  Let our shared humanity be the antidote to our shared threat."

   10 March 2020 -  WHO, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies outline critical considerations and practical check lists to keep schools safe, with helpful tips for parents and caregivers, as well as children and students.

   11 March 2020 -  Speaking at the daily COVID-19 media briefing, Dr. Tedros, of WHO, said:
"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.  We have, therefore, made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.
   Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly.  It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.
   Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by this virus.  It doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do.
   We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus.  This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus.
   And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time."

   12 March 2020 -   Reports from 5-day missions to Azerbaijan and Iran were given.
  During it's 5-day mission to Azerbaijan, a team of WHO experts worked with the national response committee on developing a national preparedness and response plan for COVID-19.  The government of Azerbaijan is contributing to global efforts to address the virus, coordinating with neighboring countries, and has pledged $5 million (US $) to WHO's strategic preparedness and response plan.
  A 5-day expert mission to Iran with experts from WHO, GOARN partners, Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, and the Chinese Center for Disease Control has concluded.  "Everybody in the country is engaged in this response.  The right and timely public health measures implemented on an adequate scale will make a difference," said Dr. Richard Brennan, WHO Regional Emergency Director of the Eastern Mediterranean Region and mission team lead.  Looking forward, Dr. Brennan said more work needs to be done to protect health workers.  The mission also held constructive discussions on ways to advance epidemiological data collection and analysis.

   13 March 2020 -  A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Solidarity Response Fund will raise money from a wide range of donors to support the work of the World Health Organization and partners to help countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The fund, the first of its kind, enables private individuals, corporations, and institutions anywhere in the world to come together to directly contribute to global response efforts, and has been created by the United Nations Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, together with WHO.
  *Europe now has more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China.
    More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic. *
  WHO launched a #SafeHands Challenge to promote the power of clean hands to fight the coronavirus.  To support the challenge to encourage people to clean their hands with soap or an alcohol-based hand rub, Twitter created a new hand-washing emoji.  Heads of state, footballers, singers, and more have already taken part, with more people nominated to join the challenge every day.

   15 March 2020 -  A WHO mission in Iraq, which comprised of experts from the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and from WHO headquarters in Geneva, held a series of meetings with national health authorities to identify the disease detection dynamics and at-risk populations, in addition to providing guidance on strengthening response and control measures.
   The mission also reviewed the Ministry's overall readiness to deal with a potential increase in case reporting and the priority of establishing an Emergency Operation Center to speed up action now that the disease has been announced as a global pandemic.

   16 March 2020 -  "You cannot fight a fire blindfolded."   -   Countries should test every suspected case of COVID-19.  If people test positive, they should be isolated, and the people they have been in close contact with up to 2 days before they developed symptoms should be sought out, and those people should also be tested if they show any symptoms of COVID-19.
   WHO also advises that all confirmed cases, even mild cases, should be isolated in health facilities, to prevent transmission and provide adequate care.
   But we recognize that many countries have already exceeded their capacity to care for mild cases in dedicated health facilities.  In that situation, countries should prioritize older patients and those with underlying conditions.
      Chris Martin played a mini-gig at home to kick off #TogetherAtHome, a virtual no-contact concert series that aims to promote physical distancing and taking action for global health, presented by WHO and Global Citizen.  More Solidarity Sessions are being planned to promote health, to show support for people who are staying at home to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, and to encourage donations to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

   17 March 2020 -  The World Health Organization today called on member states in the South-East Asia Region to urgently scale-up aggressive measures to combat COVID-19, as confirmed cases cross 480, and the disease claims 8 lives.

   18 March 2020 -   Take real-time training during our current pandemic.   Real-time training during global emergencies is critical for effective preparedness and response.
   The OpenWHO (at OpenWHO.org) Massive Online OPen Courses for COVID-19 provide learning resources for health professionals, decision-makers, and the public.  More than 320,000 people have already enrolled.
   As the pandemic continues to evolve, new resources will be added, additional language versions will continue to be rolled out, and existing courses will be updated to best reflect the changing context.
      Courses include:
 1.  Operational Planning Guidelines to Support Country Preparedness and Response
 2.  Infection Prevention and Control
 3.  Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) and basic hygiene measures to protect against infection
 4.  Clinical Care Severe Acute Respiratory Infection
 5.  Emerging Respiratory Viruses, including COVID-19; Methods for detection, prevention, response and control