Here’s the timeline of how the Coronavirus outbreak evolved from Wuhan city in China and spreading its tentacles across the world.

Update: DBS evacuates 300 after one is infected

– Singapore’s DBS bank has evacuated 300 employees after one employee was confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus.

Japan cruise cases increase to 174

– The total confirmed cases on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, quarantined in Japan, have surged to 174.

Death toll reaches 1,115; recoveries rise

– Deaths from the new coronavirus have reached 1,115, while the total number of cases exceeded 45,100, including 44,653 reported in mainland China by authorities as of the end of 11 February.

– According to NHC official Mi Feng, the proportion of recovered patients in China increased to 8.2% as of 10 February, from 1.3% on 27 January.

WHO gives name to new coronavirus disease

– The WHO has officially named the disease caused by the new coronavirus as ‘Covid-19’.

– Ukraine is screening five of its citizens for the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Zoriana Skaletska said at a press briefing on 11 February.

– According to Skaletska, three of the five suspected patients returned from China while the remaining two were in contact with them.

– The Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong has reported seven new coronavirus infection cases, taking the toal to 49.

– After two cases were confirmed in the same building, Hong Kong government evacuated all of its more than 100 residents to control the spread of the infection. The confirmed cases were residing on different floors of the building.

– Vietnam’s health ministry confirmed a new case, who is a three-month-old baby thought to be infected by her grandparent. The total number of cases in the country stand at 15.

– With 108 new deaths in China, the total toll has reached 1,018. NHC report shows 42,638 confirmed coronavirus cases in mainland China, as of the end of 10 February, which takes the number of global cases to around 43,000.

UAE, US report new cases; Infections on cruise nearly double

– Eighth case has been confirmed in the UAE, an Indian national who had contact with a recently diagnosed person.

– The US CDC reported a new case in California, who was one of the evacuees from Wuhan. This rises the total cases in the country to 13.

– The number of cases on the Diamond Princess cruise quarantined in Japan have nearly doubled, with 135 total cases on board. As of 9 February, 70 cases were confirmed on the Diamond Princess.

UK declares imminent threat as four more cases confirmed

– The UK government has declared the coronavirus outbreak a ‘serious and imminent threat to public health’.

– Four new cases have been diagnosed in the UK, doubling the total confirmed cases to eight.

– WHO has noted that cases of the new coronavirus among people who have not travelled to China could be the ‘tip of the iceberg’. The agency has sent members of its international expert mission team to help China deal with the outbreak.

Death toll surges to 910; Malaysia confirms sixth citizen case

– Death toll from the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic has surged to 910, as of the end of 09 February, including 97 new deaths from the day before.

– The total number of cases stands at ‭40,547 globally, of which 40,171 are in mainland China. NHC report shows a total of 3,281 recoveries in the region.

– Malaysia health director confirmed the sixth citizen case of coronavirus infection, a 31-year-old man who worked in Macau, China and returned to Malaysia on  1 February. This takes the total coronavirus cases in the country to 18.

UK reports fourth coronavirus case

– UK has reported its fourth coronavirus case on Sunday.

– England’s chief medical officer professor Chris Whitty said in a statement that the new patient is a known contact of one of UK’s existing cases and has reportedly contracted virus in France.

– The patient has now been moved to NHS centre at The Royal Free Hospital, and being treated using robust infection control measures to contain further spread of the virus.

Death toll passes 800 in China; Overtakes SARS

– The number of coronavirus deaths reached 813 globally as of the end of 8 February, overtaking the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2002-2003 that claimed 774 lives.

– Of the total fatalities, 811 were reported in mainland China and one each in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

– New cases have now touched 37,549 worldwide, of which 37,198 represent mainland China.

– China’s National Health Commission reported 2,656 new confirmed cases, 3,916 new suspected cases, 87 serious cases, and 89 deaths on Saturday alone.

– NHC also reported 600 new recovered cases on Saturday, taking the overall cured cases in mainland China to 2,649 as of Saturday.

France reports five new cases; UAE confirms two

– France and UAE have confirmed two new cases today, taking their respective totals to 11 and seven.

– France health minister said Saturday that five British nationals in the country have been tested positive for coronavirus. The new cases, including a child, were staying in the same ski chalet and reportedly contracted virus after coming into contact with a Brit, who recently travelled to Singapore.

– The United Arab Emirates too reported two new cases on Saturday. The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention added that the two patients, a Chinese and a Filipino national, are under observation.

– China has opened a second prefabricated hospital  with 1,600 beds in Wuhan to treat patients infected with coronavirus.

US and Japanese citizens die in Wuhan

– US embassy has confirmed that an American citizen diagnosed with coronavirus died in Wuhan on 06 February. This is the first known death of a US national due to the new coronavirus.

– A 60-year-old Japanese man with suspected coronavirus infection also died in Wuhan today.

Death toll passes 700; Hong Kong enforces quarantine

– Coronavirus deaths have gone past 700 as of the end of 07 February, with China reporting 86 new deaths. Death toll now stands at 724, while a total of 34,881 cases have been confirmed. Of the 34,546 cases in mainland China, 6,101 are serious.

– Hong Kong began imposing a two-week quarantine for anyone arriving from mainland China. Visitors must quarantine themselves in hotel rooms or government-run centres, while returning nationals must stay inside their homes. 

Death toll hits 638; Chinese whistleblower doctor dies

– Death toll from the new coronavirus stands at 638, as of the end of 06 February. A total of ‭31,428‬ infection cases have been confirmed, including 31,161 in mainland China.

– The Chinese doctor who had reportedly tried to issue an early warning about the coronavirus outbreak has died after contracting the virus while working at a hospital in Wuhan.

– Japan reported 41 new cases of coronavirus infection on a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama harbour. This raises the total positive cases on the ship to 61.

– The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in Taiwan has confirmed three new imported cornavirus cases, taking the nation’s total to 16.

Third case confirmed in the UK; India evacuees test negative

– England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Witty has confirmed a third case of coronavirus in the UK.

– As of the end of 05 February, the coronavirus has led to 565 deaths, including 73 new deaths compared to 4 February in mainland China. The total number of confirmed cases is 28,275. Of the 28,049 confirmed cases in China, 3,859 are reported to be severe cases. So far, 1,153 patients have recovered in mainland China.

– Indian authorities confirmed that all 645 of the country’s evacuees from Wuhan tested negative for the coronavirus.

– Japanese health officials said ten more passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

– Two new cases on Vietnam increase its total to 12, while the number of cases in Singapore reached 30.

Death toll reaches 492; Japan confirms ten cases on cruise

– With 65 new deaths in China, the toll has reached 492, while the number of infected cases has surged to nearly 24,527, as of the end of 04 February, said Chinese authorities. Of the 24,324 confirmed cases in mainland China, 3,219 cases are in serious condition.

– After screening passengers on a cruise ship, named Diamond Princess, the Japanese authorities confirmed ten positive cases. These patients include three Japanese, two Australians, three from Hong Kong, one from the US and a Filipino crewmember.

– Health authorities confirmed that two Malaysian evacuees, a 45-year-old man and his nine-year-old son, from Wuhan have tested positive for the new coronavirus. This increases the number of cases in the country to 12 – nine Chinese nationals and three Malaysians.

– US confirmed a new case in Wisconsin, an adult who travelled to Beijing, China. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 12.

Malaysia reports first citizen infected; Belgium confirms first case

– A 41-year-old man, who travelled to Singapore for a conference, has become the first Malaysian to be infected by coronavirus. The Malaysian is one of the two new cases confirmed while the other being a Chinese national aged 61. This brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to ten, including nine Chinese nationals.

– Belgium has confirmed its first coronavirus case after one of the nine individuals repatriated from Wuhan tested positive for the virus.

– Deaths from the Wuhan coronavirus have surged to 427, as of the end of 03 February. The number of confirmed cases reached 20,623, while 646 infected patients have recovered.

– Hong Kong has reported its first death case, marking the second one outside mainland China, following the Philippines. A 39-year-old man who travelled from Wuhan died on Tuesday in Hong Kong.

– Medical staff strike in Hong Kong continues, while the city closed more cross-boundary control points to China and left two only points open.

Australia brings back 243 citizens; Hong Kong medical staff on strike

– A Qantas aircraft carrying 243 Australian citizens and permanent residents, including 89 individuals aged under 16, from Wuhan has landed at RAAF base Learmonth in Western Australia.

– Hundreds of hopsital workers in Hong Kong have gone on strike, demanding the closure of the city’s border with China to minimise the risk of coronavirus spreading.

– The 1000-bed Huoshenshan hospital built within ten days for coronavirus patients in Wuhan is now ready.

– Novel coronavirus has claimed 362 lives so far, including one in the Philippines, as of the end of 02 February. A total of 17,386 cases have been recorded globally. Of the 17,238 cases reported in China, 2,296 are severe.

– India reported a new coronavirus case on Monday, taking the total confirmed cases in the country to three – all from the southern state of Kerala.

– US confirmed two new cases late on 2 February, rising the nation’s total to 11.

Death toll soars to 305; First coronavirus patient outside China dies in Philippines

– Coronavirus deaths have gone past 300 as of the end of 01 February, with China reporting 304 deaths and the Philippines confirming its first death of a 44-year old  Chinese man from Wuhan city.

– The Philippines case also marked the first death outside China, since it first broke out in Wuhan city on 31 December 2019.

– Coronavirus infected cases have soared on Saturday with over 3,000 new cases, taking the total to an alarming 14,413, according to Chinese health authorities.

– Suspected cases are nearing 20,000 mark, standing at 19,544 as of 01 February.

– Chinese government called for culling of chickens in Shaoyang city following an H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Hunan province.

Death toll hits 259; Coronavirus reaches Russia, Spain, Sweden

– With 46 new deaths in China, the toll has reached 259, while the number of infected cases has touched 11,374 across a total of 26 countries.

– Spreading its roots further, coronavirus reached three more countries as of 01 February. Russia reported two first cases while Spain and Sweden reported one each.

– US denies entry to foreign nationals who have visited China in the last two weeks.

– No deaths are reported outside mainland China.

– Australia on Saturday announced that it would bar entry to non-citizens coming from China.

– In a sigh of relief, Chinese health authorities announced on 01 February that 243 coronavirus had been discharged from hospitals after recovery by the end of Friday. 

Death toll hits 213; WHO declares global emergency; UK confirms first cases

– Death toll from the virus has touched 213 and the number of infected cases increased to 9,776, as of the end of Thursday.

– First coronavirus suspect in New Zealand announced.

– NHS England chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty confirmed the first two cases of coronavirus in the UK.

– Thailand reported its first case of domestic transmission, while China sent flights to bring back Wuhan citizens from Thailand and Malaysia.

– Mongolia and Singapore closed their borders to China to contain the virus.

– WHO emergency committee has declared the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

Russia closes 2,700 mile border; US reports first domestic case

– Russia has reported first suspected case, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed an order to immediately close 2,700 mile border with China.

– The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has confirmed its first case of person-to-person transmission.

– The number of deaths from the virus have reached 170 as of late 29 January, with a total of 7,783 people infected, of which 7,678 are in mainland China.

– India and the Philippines have confirmed their first cases, while Italy confirmed two cases.

– The number of affected countries so far is 23, including China.

– A plane has taken off from Portugal to evacuate people from various European countries from Wuhan. The UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab confirmed UK citizens will be evacuated tomorrow morning – Spanish nationals will also be simultaneously repatriated as part of a joint operation between the two countries. 

Death toll touches 132; UAE and Germany confirm four cases

– As of the end of Tuesday, China has confirmed 132 deaths and a total of 5,974 infected cases, including 1,459 new cases. At least 86 cases are reported in other countries.

– Finland has confirmed its first case.

– Four members of the same Chinese family in the UAE have been infected with coronavirus, while Germany confirms three more cases taking its total to four.

– US evacuates nationals from Wuhan, India to send plane tonight to airlift 250 citizens from Wuhan.

– Australia has confirmed a second case in Victoria and a first in Queensland bringing the confirmed Australian cases to seven.

– New Zealand will join Australia to evacuate their nationals from Wuhan in China.

– Australian researchers have become the first to recreate new coronavirus outside of China.

– UK plans to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan. British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China. 

Japan, Taiwan and Germany report first domestic transmission

– Japan, Taiwan and Germany confirm their first cases of domestic transmission of coronavirus.

– Japan sends a chartered flight to Wuhan to evacuate its citizens.

– Germany and Cambodia have reported their first cases late Monday, marking a further spread of the deadly virus to newer regions.

–  China has issued the latest coronavirus update, confirming 107 deaths so far, followed by 4,515 confirmed and 6,973 suspected cases.

– In an attempt to limit the spread of virus, Hong Kong plans to limit the transport with mainland China from 30 January.

– Chinese researchers are exploring the use of natural products and their traditional medicines to combat coronavirus.

– China has suspended trading on its two major stock exchanges, Shanghai and Shenzhen, until next Monday to prevent panic selling as coronavirus fears grow. 

– Air Canada and Finnair have cancelled some flights to China.

– White House may suspend flights to China.

– Sri Lanka suspends visa on arrival for Chinese nationals.

Sri Lanka reports first coronavirus case; More countries look to evacuate nationals

– Sri Lanka has reported its first coronavirus case of a 40-year old woman tourist from Hubei province in China, a senior Sri Lankan health official confirmed on Monday.

– Spain and Portugal are the two new countries after the US and France that are looking to evacuate their nationals from Wuhan city.

– US, Taiwan and Singapore have announced their respective fifth cases of the deadly coronavirus, while South Korea reported its fourth.

– Malaysia has imposed a temporary ban on Chinese visitors from the city of Wuhan and its surrounding Hubei province.

– The death toll has increased to 81 and the confirmed cases in China to 2,744, with about half of them from Hubei province.

US, France to evacuate nationals from Wuhan; WHO changes risk to ‘high; Mexico confirms first case

– The US government has announced a special flight between Wuhan and San Francisco to evacuate all American citizens from the stricken city on 28 Jan.

– The US has also confirmed its third case in Orange county, California, while Shanghai reported its first death of an 88-year old man from the deadly virus.

– Mexico reports its first confirmed case, while Ivory Coast is dealing with a suspected case of coronavirus.

– France is preparing to evacuate hundreds of its citizens from Wuhan by air, as the country already reported three confirmed coronavirus cases.

– Hong Kong and Taiwan have tightened restrictions against visitors from Hubei province.

– The World Health Organization revised its previous report on China virus saying that the global risk from the virus is “high” and not “moderate”.

– China’s National Health Commission said on Sunday morning that the country has reported 15 more fatalities on 25-Jan, taking the toll to 56 and reported cases to 1975 thereby raising alarm across the globe.

Hong Kong announces health emergency; Canada, Nepal report first cases

-Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam has declared a health emergency in the city over coronavirus and announced the extension of school break until 17 Feb. Hong Kong cancelled all official visits to China, as the city reported five confirmed cases as of Saturday.

– Canada has reported its first “presumptive” coronavirus case of a 50-year old man who returned from Wuhan, China on 22 Jan, while a Nepali student returned from China tested positive for the new coronavirus.

– Death toll rose to 41 while confirmed cases touched 1320 globally, according to WHO. Of these, 1297 cases were reported in Greater China and 23 were reported outside China.

-China  bans wild animal trade until the coronavirus outbreak eases.

-Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) increased the preventive measures at the railway stations and train compartments.

-Airports Council International (ACI) World issued guidelines ‘Advisory Bulletin: Transmission of Communicable Diseases’ for airports to adopt necessary measures against the virus.

-Cruise operators including Royal Caribbean and MSC, have suspended cruises to China. 

China implements further travel restrictions; Starts building temporary hospital

-China has imposed travel restrictions on some more cities such as Chibi, Zhijiang, Huangshi, Xiantao, Enshi, Qianjiang and Xianning, according to the People’s Daily newspaper.

-Chinese authorities have initiated construction on a new temporary 1000-bed hospital in Wuhan’s Caidian district with a plan to complete it in a record time of just six days. With high level of safety and protection in place, the new hospital will treat patients of the deadly virus in isolation.

-Toll has increased to 830 confirmed cases in China with 95 patients remaining in critical condition. 

Restaurant chains Starbucks and McDonald’s have announced shut down their stores in China’s Hubei province.

Airports in Malaysia, Canada, Thailand and Uganda implemented different measures to screen passengers who may be infected

Thailand has suspended flights from Chiang Mai Airport to Wuhan until 4 February.

Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority has started temperature screening at all checkpoints on 24 January.

China implements travel bans; Singapore confirms first case

–China has suspended travel to and from Wuhan city.  Hours later, authorities have put two more cities, Huanggang and Ezhou, under a travel ban.

-Doctors used a robot to treat the first US coronavirus patient.

-WHO met again and postponed decision on international health emergency declaration of the deadly virus.

–Several US companies have announced plans to develop drugs and vaccines to combat the virus.

-Beijing cancelled Chinese New Year celebrations. 

WHO hold on declaring international health emergency

-The virus has infected over 500 people and led to the deaths of 17 people.

-Airports across the world step up screening of passengers coming from Wuhan.

-WHO officials met in Geneva to discuss the need for declaring coronavirus as an international health emergency and decided to wait further.

-Central China’s Henan Province imposed a ban on sale of live poultry to prevent the coronavirus outbreak from spreading. The virus was first identified at Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, the capital of neighbouring Hubei province. 

US confirms first coronavirus case

–US has confirmed its first coronavirus case. The victim, said to be in his 30s, has been admitted at a hospital in Washington upon his return from China.

-China has increased the number of coronavirus infected people to 300 people.

-The virus reached Australia, which announced its coronavirus case. The victim, living in Brisbane, was tested positive with coronavirus after returning from Wuhan city.

-Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US have already started working towards a vaccine against the new, deadly coronavirus. 

First case detected in South Korea

-Airports in several countries across the world have begun screening of patients showing symptoms of coronavirus.

-China has announced the third death from the deadly virus and over 100 new cases, raising concerns ahead of the Chinese (Lunar) New Year holiday, which begins on 25 January.

-A total of more than 200 cases have been reported in various cities of China.

-A Chinese person who arrived by plane from Wuhan to South Korea was detected with the virus.

-Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that the virus has to be contained.

-Chinese health experts have confirmed that human-to-human transmission is affirmative.

-One British tourist in Thailand is feared to be infected with coronavirus. 

China reports second coronavirus death

-China has reported the second fatality, with the virus claiming the life of a 69-year-old man in Wuhan.

-US has initiated screening of passengers arriving from Wuhan at San Francisco, JFK and Los Angeles airports. 

First confirmed coronavirus case in Japan

Japan has confirmed its first case of the coronavirus in a person who stayed in Wuhan.

First confirmed coronavirus case in Thailand

Coronavirus has spread beyond China, with Thailand reporting the first case of a Chinese woman, returning from a visit to Wuhan, and diagnosed with flu-like symptoms. 

First coronavirus death reported

A 61-year-old man, who was admitted to hospital on December 27 with suspected fever, dies from the virus in Wuhan. China revises the number of people infected with the virus down to 41. 

Coronavirus genome sequence released 

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 2019-nCoV is the agent and made the genome sequence available to the world. The new virus is associated to the SARS-CoV group. 

First suspected coronavirus cases in Thailand

Four suspected flu-like cases have been detected at Chiang Mai International Airport. 

Virus identified as coronavirus 2019n-CoV

Chinese authorities have identified the virus, called Coronavirus, which is a family of viruses including the common cold, SARS and MERS. Temporarily, this new virus is named as 2019-nCoV. 

SARS, MERS and bird flu ruled out

Initial investigations into the outbreak ruled out bird flu, seasonal flu, SARS and MERS. The Chinese authorities have reported that the number of suspected cases touched nearly 60 with seven being in critical condition. Human-to-human transmission has not been confirmed yet by the health officials. 

WHO advises against travel restrictions

WHO has issued a statement that advised against applying any restrictions of travel or trade with China based on the information available. 

Passengers screened at Wuhan Airport

Passengers arriving from Wuhan airport to Changi airport were put through temperature screening following the flu-like outbreak. 

Wuhan market identified as outbreak hub

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a seafood market in Wuhan as the suspected hub of the outbreak and the market remained closed since then. 

First cases detected

China has alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) of several flu-like cases in Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province with 11 million population. Patients have been quarantined and health authorities commenced work on tracing the source of the flu.