Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in March 2020

See also: 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

Main article: Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

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Animated map showing confirmed COVID-19 cases spreading from 22 January (high resolution)

Date when first case in each first-level administration was reported

This article documents the chronology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 during March 2020. This is the virus responsible for the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It may not include all contemporary major responses and measures. Furthermore, some developments may become known or fully understood only in retrospect. (Reporting on this outbreak began in December 2019.)

Case statistics

COVID-19 cases in mainland China  ()      Deaths        Recoveries        Tested        Clinically diagnosed (C.D.)        Tested or C.D. Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar Last 15 days Last 15 days
Date			# of cases (excluding C.D.)	# of cases (including C.D.)
2020-01-16		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	45(n.a.)
2020-01-17		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	62(+38%)
2020-01-18		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	121(+95%)
2020-01-19		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	198(+64%)
2020-01-20		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	291(+47%)
2020-01-21		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	440(+51%)
2020-01-22		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	571(+30%)
2020-01-23		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	830(+45%)
2020-01-24		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	1,287(+55%)
2020-01-25		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	1,975(+53%)
2020-01-26		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	2,744(+39%)
2020-01-27		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	4,515(+64%)
2020-01-28		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	5,974(+32%)
2020-01-29		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	7,711(+29%)
2020-01-30		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	9,692(+26%)
2020-01-31		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	11,791(+22%)
2020-02-01		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	14,380(+22%)
2020-02-02		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	17,205(+20%)
2020-02-03		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	20,438(+19%)
2020-02-04		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	24,324(+19%)
2020-02-05		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	28,018(+15%)
2020-02-06		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	31,161(+11%)
2020-02-07		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	34,546(+11%)
2020-02-08		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	37,198(+7.7%)
2020-02-09		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	40,171(+8.0%)
2020-02-10		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	42,638(+6.1%)	48,315(n.a.)
2020-02-11		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	44,653(+4.7%)	55,220(+14%)
2020-02-12		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	46,472(+4.1%)	58,761(+6.4%)
2020-02-13		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	48,467(+4.3%)	63,851(+8.7%)
2020-02-14		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	49,970(+3.1%)	66,492(+4.1%)
2020-02-15		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	51,091(+2.2%)	68,500(+3.0%)
2020-02-16		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		70,548(+3.0%)
2020-02-17		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		72,436(+2.7%)
2020-02-18		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		74,185(+2.4%)
2020-02-19		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		75,002(+1.1%)
2020-02-20		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		75,891(+1.2%)
2020-02-21		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		76,288(+0.52%)
2020-02-22		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		76,936(+0.85%)
2020-02-23		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		77,150(+0.28%)
2020-02-24		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		77,658(+0.66%)
2020-02-25		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		78,064(+0.52%)
2020-02-26		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		78,497(+0.55%)
2020-02-27		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		78,824(+0.42%)
2020-02-28		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		79,251(+0.54%)
2020-02-29		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		79,824(+0.72%)
2020-03-01		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,026(+0.25%)
2020-03-02		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,151(+0.16%)
2020-03-03		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,270(+0.15%)
2020-03-04		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,409(+0.17%)
2020-03-05		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,552(+0.18%)
2020-03-06		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,651(+0.12%)
2020-03-07		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,695(+0.05%)
2020-03-08		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,735(+0.05%)
2020-03-09		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,754(+0.02%)
2020-03-10		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,778(+0.03%)
2020-03-11		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,793(+0.02%)
2020-03-12		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,813(+0.02%)
2020-03-13		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,824(+0.01%)
2020-03-14		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,844(+0.02%)
2020-03-15		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,860(+0.02%)
2020-03-16		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,881(+0.02%)
2020-03-17		​ ​ ​ ​ ​		80,894(+0.02%)
From 10 February 2020 onwards, the data includes the cases in Hubei that were not tested for the virus but clinically diagnosed based on medical imaging showing signs of pneumonia. The lab-tested data was also separately available for 10–15 February 2020. Data from 16 February 2020 onwards did not include a separate number of lab-tested cases. From 19 February 2020 onwards, only new lab-tested cases were counted towards the total (but clinically diagnosed cases counted earlier were not discarded). Data sourced from NHC daily reports.

Further information: Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic § Case statistics

Pandemic chronology

1 March

WHO Situation Report 41:

• Armenia confirmed its first case, a 29-year-old man returning from Iran.
• Australia confirmed the first death in the country, a 78-year-old man from the cruise ship Diamond Princess. One additional case was confirmed, bringing the total number to 26.
• Austria confirmed four more cases, bringing the total number to 14.
• Bahrain confirmed six more cases, bringing the total number to 47.
• Canada confirmed four new cases in Ontario, bringing the total number to 24. All four patients have travel history to Iran or Egypt.
• China confirmed 573 new cases; 570 of which were in Hubei province, bringing the total number to 79,824. Deaths increased by 35 to a total of 2,870.
• Czech Republic confirmed the first three cases in the country, individuals that have travelled from Northern Italy.
• Dominican Republic confirmed its first case, a 62-year-old Italian tourist.
• Ecuador confirmed five more cases, bringing the total to six.
• Egypt confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 2.
• Finland confirmed two more cases related to woman diagnosed on 27 February, bringing the total number to 6.
• France confirmed 30 more cases, bringing the total number to 130.
• Germany confirmed 63 more cases, bringing the total number to 129.
• Hong Kong confirmed three more cases, bringing the total number to 98.
• Iran confirmed 385 new cases with 11 more deaths, bringing the total number to 978 and 54 respectively. A total of 23 members of Parliament of Iran, about 8%, have tested positive for the virus.
• Iraq confirmed six more cases, bringing the total number to 19.
• Israel confirmed three more cases, bringing the total number to 10.
• Italy confirmed 566 new cases and five deaths, bringing the total number to 1,694 and 34 respectively.
• Japan confirmed another death from the coronavirus, bringing the total to 6.
• Malaysia confirmed four more cases, bringing the total number to 29.
• Mexico confirmed one additional case, bringing the total number to 5.
• The Netherlands confirmed three more cases, bringing the total number to 10.
• Saint Barthélemy confirmed its first case.
• Saint Martin confirmed its first case.
• San Marino confirmed seven more cases, bringing the total number to 8. The first death was also confirmed.
• Scotland confirmed its first case.
• Singapore confirmed four more cases, bringing the total number to 106.
• South Korea confirmed 376 more cases, bringing the total number to 3,526. Another 210 cases were later confirmed with the 18th death reported, bringing the total number to 3,736.
• Spain confirmed 26 more cases, bringing the total number to 84. Spain also confirmed its first death due to the outbreak, in Valencia.
• Sweden confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 14.
• Thailand confirmed its first death from the coronavirus, a 35-year-old retail worker who also had dengue fever.
• The United Kingdom confirmed an additional thirteen cases of the virus, including one person from Essex who had not travelled to any country previously affected by the virus, bringing the total in the country to 35.
• The United States reported the second confirmed death in Washington state. The first cases in Rhode Island, Florida, and New York were confirmed. The authorities confirmed 21 more cases in total, bringing the number to 89.

2 March

WHO Situation Report 42:

• Andorra confirmed its first case.
• Australia confirmed four new cases, bringing the total number to 30, including its first human-to-human transmission.
• Bahrain confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to 49.
• Canada confirmed three more cases, all in Ontario, bringing the total number to 27.
• China confirmed 202 new cases, bringing the total number to 80,026. Deaths increased by 42 to a total of 2,912.
• France confirmed 61 more cases, bringing the total number to 191. The third death was also reported.
• Germany confirmed 21 more cases, bringing the total number to 150.
• India reported its first cases since the initial outbreak. One case was detected in New Delhi, while the other is from Telangana. Another confirmed case was later detected in Jaipur, bringing the total number to 6.
• Indonesian president Joko Widodo announced the first two confirmed cases in the country. The two patients contracted the virus from a Japanese in Depok, who later tested positive in Malaysia. The mother and daughter are now hospitalized in North Jakarta.
• Iran's total cases rose to 1,501 with 66 deaths.
• Iraq confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to 21.
• Israel confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to 12.
• Italy confirmed 342 new cases and 18 deaths, bringing the total number to 2,064 and 52, respectively.
• Jordan confirmed its first case.
• Kuwait confirmed ten more cases, bringing the total number to 56.
• Latvia confirmed its first case.
• Morocco saw its first case confirmed.
• The Netherlands confirmed eight new cases, bringing the total number to 18.
• Portugal confirmed its first two cases, one of whom had returned from Italy, the other from Spain.
• Qatar confirmed four new cases, taking their total to 7.
• Russia confirmed one additional case, bringing the total to 6 cases.
• Saudi Arabia confirmed their first case in a citizen who had travelled to Iran and returned to Saudi Arabia via Bahrain.
• Senegal confirmed its first case, where the person had recently travelled from France.
• Singapore confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to 108.
• South Korea confirmed 476 more cases, bringing the total number to 4,212. Four more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 22. Another 123 cases were later confirmed, bringing the total number to 4,335.
• Spain confirmed 36 more cases, bringing the total number to 120.
• Sweden confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 15.
• Taiwan confirmed one additional case, bringing the total to 41 cases.
• Thailand confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 43.
• Tunisia confirmed its first case.
• The United Kingdom confirmed three additional cases, taking the total to 39. An original fourth diagnosis of positive of a patient was confirmed later as negative.
• The United States confirmed 13 more cases, bringing the total number to 102. Five more deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total number to 6.

3 March

WHO Situation Report 43:

• Argentina confirmed its first case, a patient who had recently returned from Italy.
• Australia confirmed eight more cases, bringing the total number to 38.
• Canada confirmed six more cases, two in Ontario and four in British Columbia, bringing the total to 33.
• Chile confirmed its first case.
• China confirmed 125 new cases, the lowest number of new cases since January, bringing the total number to 80,151. 31 new deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 2,943.
• Ecuador confirmed three more cases, bringing the total number to 10.
• France confirmed 21 more cases, bringing the total number to 212. The fourth death was also reported.
• Germany confirmed 38 more cases, bringing the total number to 188.
• Gibraltar confirmed its first case, a person who had travelled back from Northern Italy via Malaga airport.
• Iran confirmed that 23 MPs were diagnosed with the virus. The country confirmed 835 more cases with 11 more deaths, bringing the total number to 2,336 and 77, respectively.
• Ireland confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 2.
• Italy confirmed 466 new cases and 28 deaths, bringing the total number to 2,502 and 80, respectively.
• Liechtenstein confirmed its first case.
• Malaysia confirmed seven more cases, bringing the total number to 36.
• San Marino confirmed two new cases, bringing the total number to 10.
• Singapore confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to 110.
• South Korea confirmed 600 more cases, bringing the total number to 4,812. 12 more deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 34. 377 more cases were confirmed in the afternoon, along with two more deaths, taking total to 5,186 cases and 36 deaths.
• Spain confirmed the first death in the country, a patient who died on 13 February, making him the earliest recorded death in Europe. The country reported 31 more cases, bringing the total number to 151.
• Sweden confirmed 15 more cases, bringing the total number to 30.
• Ukraine confirmed its first case, a person having travelled from Italy via Romania.
• The United Kingdom confirmed 12 new cases, bringing the total number to 51.
• The United States confirmed three more deaths, bringing the total to 9. The first case of coronavirus in North Carolina was reported, coming from the nursing home in Washington state responsible for the first deaths from the virus. Another case in Florida was presumptively confirmed positive, bringing the total number of Floridian cases to three. The number of cases stood at 126, increasing by 24 from 102.

4 March

WHO Situation Report 44:

• Brazil confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to 4.
• Canada confirmed one more case in British Columbia, bringing the total number to 34.
• China confirmed 119 new cases, bringing the total number to 80,270. 38 new deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 2,981.
• Faroe Islands confirmed its first case.
• France confirmed 73 more cases, bringing the total number to 285.
• Germany confirmed 52 more cases, bringing the total number to 240.
• Hong Kong confirmed a case of human-to-animal transmission involving a pet dog.
• Hungary confirmed its first cases, two Iranian students who are asymptomatic.
• India confirmed 23 more cases, including 15 Italian tourists, bringing the total number to 29.
• Iraq confirmed its first death from the coronavirus.
• Italy confirmed 28 more deaths, bringing the total to 107. This made it the highest jump in a single day. The country confirmed 587 new cases, bringing the total number to 3,089.
• Cases in Japan have topped the 1,000 mark (including 706 cases on the cruise ship Diamond Princess which the World Health Organization classifies as being located "on an international conveyance" and not in Japan) with the first confirmed case in Yamaguchi prefecture.
• Malaysia confirmed 14 more cases, bringing the total number to 50.
• New Zealand confirmed its second case of the coronavirus. The infected individual had returned the previous week from Italy with her family on an Air New Zealand flight from Singapore to Auckland.
• Poland confirmed its first case.
• San Marino confirmed five more cases, bringing the total number to 15.
• Singapore confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to 112.
• Slovenia confirmed its first case. A patient travelled through Italy.
• South Korea confirmed 516 more cases, bringing the total number to 5,328. Another 293 cases were confirmed in the afternoon, bringing the total number to 5,621.
• Sweden confirmed 22 more cases, bringing the total number to 52.
• The United Kingdom confirmed 34 new cases, then Northern Ireland confirmed an additional two, bringing the total number to 87.
• The United States confirmed 11 total deaths, with the first death outside of Washington state in California. California's total of infections has jumped to 51. The country confirmed 33 new cases, bringing the total number to 159.

5 March

WHO Situation Report 45:

• Algeria confirmed nine additional cases, bringing the total number to 17.
• Belgium confirmed 27 new cases, bringing the total number to 50.
• Brazil confirmed three new cases, bringing the total to 8.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed the first two cases in the country.
• Canada confirmed 11 new cases in Ontario, and the first one in Alberta, bringing the total to 45.
• China confirmed 139 new cases, bringing the total number to 80,409. 31 new deaths were also confirmed (all in Hubei), bringing the total to 3,012.
• Ecuador confirmed three more cases, bringing the total number to 13.
• Egypt confirmed the first case in an Egyptian national, who had recently travelled from Serbia via France.
• France registered 92 new confirmed cases, taking the total number of cases to 377. It also saw deaths rise from 4 to 6. This then rose to 423 total cases and 7 deaths. Jean-Luc Reitzer, was the first Assembly member to be diagnosed with the virus.
• Georgia confirmed five new cases, all of whom had recently returned from Italy.
• Germany confirmed 87 new cases, taking it to a total of 349.
• Greece confirmed its tenth case. It later confirmed an additional 21 cases, taking it to a total of 31.
• India confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 30.
• Iran saw its largest daily increase in cases, with 591 new cases, taking it to a total of 3,513 confirmed cases. It also saw 15 new deaths, increasing its total to 107. Hossein Sheikholeslam, a diplomat and a former member of parliament and Iran's former ambassador to Syria died from the virus.
• Ireland confirmed six new cases, bringing the total number to 13.
• Israel confirmed two new cases, bringing the total to 17. And of these is a bus driver from East Jerusalem who drove a group of Greek tourists in Israel and the West Bank, the other having recently returned from Italy.
• Italy reported 769 new cases and 41 new deaths, bringing the total number to 3,850 and 148 respectively.
• Martinique confirmed its first two cases.
• The Netherlands confirmed 44 new cases, bringing the total number to 82.
• New Zealand confirmed its third case, an Auckland man who had contracted the virus after family members had returned from a trip to Iran. Relatives of the man at two Auckland schools, Auckland Grammar School and Ormiston Junior College, had also been placed into isolation.
• Norway confirmed six new cases, bringing the total number to 66.
• Pakistan confirmed a sixth case, a 69-year-old man in Karachi.
• Palestine reported its first cases in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Seven staff at a hotel were reported to be infected by visiting tourists from Greece. These tourists were the same ones who the Israeli bus driver was infected from.
• Russia confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 7.
• Saudi Arabia confirmed three additional cases, bringing the total number to 5.
• Scotland confirmed three more cases, bringing the total to 6.
• Singapore confirmed five more cases, bringing the total number to 117.
• South Africa records its first case in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
• South Korea confirmed 145 more cases, bringing the total number to 5,766. The death toll had reached 35.
• Spain have confirmed that the total amount of cases had risen to 234.
• Sweden confirmed 42 more cases, bringing the total number to 94.
• Switzerland reported its first death from the virus.
• The United Kingdom's total increased to 90. The UK also later confirmed the total number of cases had increased further up to 116, as well as recording the first death in the country, an older patient with underlying health conditions.
• One additional death in Washington State brought the U.S. total to 12. The United States saw a significant increase in cases, with 31 new cases in Washington state. In New York state, cases doubled to 22. Colorado's first two cases were confirmed. In total, the US confirmed 69 more cases, bringing the total number to 228. Three more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 14.

6 March

WHO Situation Report 46:

• Austria announced 13 new cases, taking its total to 55.
• Belgium confirmed 59 new cases, bringing the total to 109.
• Bhutan announced its first case, an American tourist who had recently also travelled to India after leaving the United States on 18 February.
• Brazil confirmed five new cases, bringing the total number to 13.
• Cameroon confirmed its first case, a French citizen.
• Canada confirmed four new cases in Ontario, bringing the total to 51 with 26 from Ontario. A husband and wife returned from the cruise ship Grand Princess in California and two men returned from Iran and Las Vegas.
• China confirmed 143 new cases, bringing the total number to 80,552. 30 new deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 3,042. Hubei had no cases as a result. In addition, the country detected 4 new cases in Beijing, all visiting Italian nationals.
• Colombia confirmed its first case, a woman who recently travelled from Italy.
• Costa Rica has confirmed its first case involving an American patient from New York.
• Egypt confirmed 12 additional cases, bringing the total number to 15.
• France confirmed 190 new cases and two additional deaths, bringing the total to 613 cases and 9 deaths.
• Germany confirmed 185 new cases, taking it to a total of 534. 105 more cases were later confirmed, bringing the total number to 639.
• The cruise ship Grand Princess announced it had 21 people on board testing positive.
• Greece confirmed 14 additional cases.
• Iceland confirmed six additional cases, bringing the total to 43.
• India confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 31.
• Indonesia confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number to four.
• Iran confirmed 1,234 new cases and 16 new deaths, taking its totals up to 4,747 cases and 124 deaths. They also reported 913 people had recovered.
• Italy announced 778 new cases and 49 new deaths.
• Malaysia confirmed 28 new cases, the largest daily increase in the country's number of confirmed cases. This took the country's total to 83.
• The Netherlands reported its first death, and 44 new cases, bringing it to a total of 128 cases.
• New Zealand confirmed its fourth case: a man who is the partner of the second case confirmed on 3 March.
• North Macedonia confirmed two additional cases, taking its total to 3.
• Peru confirmed its first case.
• Poland confirmed four additional cases (two people that travelled from Italy, one person who travelled from United Kingdom and one person who travelled from Germany with the first case confirmed day earlier), taking their total to 5.
• Portugal confirmed four additional cases (three in Porto and one in Lisbon), bringing the total to 13. All three cases in Porto have a connection with Italy.
• Qatar confirmed three new cases, taking it to a total of 11.
• Russia confirmed six more cases, bringing the total number to 13.
• Serbia confirmed its first case.
• Singapore confirmed 13 new cases, bringing the total number to 130. This is the largest increase of cases in a single day so far.
• Slovakia confirmed its first case.
• Spain confirmed 104 additional cases, bringing the total number to 360.
• Sweden confirmed 43 additional cases, bringing the total number to 137.
• Switzerland announced 123 additional cases, raising it to a total of 210 cases and one fatality.
• Togo confirmed its first case.
• In the United Kingdom, the total number of cases were confirmed as 163, a rise of 47 and the highest day-on-day increase.
• In the United States, the first three cases were confirmed in the state of Maryland. Two deaths in Florida were confirmed. Officials in the US state of Hawaii have confirmed their first case, a former passenger of the cruise ship Grand Princess. In total, the US confirmed 104 more cases, bringing the total number to 332. One more death in Washington State plus two in Florida brought the total number of U.S. deaths to 17. WHO has different data: 19 new cases, 148 in total. 1 new death, 10 in total.
• The Vatican City confirmed its first case.
• Vietnam confirmed one more case, bringing the total number to 17. It was the first case in three weeks.

7 March

WHO Situation Report 47:

• Afghanistan confirmed three additional cases, taking the total to 4.
• Argentina confirmed its first death, also the first in South America, a 64-year-old man who had travelled to Paris.
• Bahrain confirmed 19 new cases, taking the total number to 79.
• Belgium confirmed 60 additional cases, bringing the total number to 169.
• Brazil confirmed six new cases of COVID-19, raising the total number to 19.
• Canada confirmed six additional cases, taking the total to 57.
• Egypt confirmed 33 new cases on a Nile cruise ship.
• France's total rose to 949 cases and 16 deaths.
• Germany confirmed 45 new cases, taking it to a total of 684. Another 116 cases were later confirmed, bringing the total number to 800.
• Iran confirmed 1,076 new cases and 21 additional deaths, taking it to a total of 5,823 infected and 145 dead. They also confirmed 16,000 cases were hospitalised as suspect cases and 1,669 cases had recovered. Another MP, Fatemeh Rahbar, died. She had recently been elected to the parliament.
• Iraq confirmed 8 new cases taking the total to 46.
• Italy confirmed 1,247 new cases and 36 new deaths.
• Maldives confirmed its first cases, two overseas hotel employees.
• Malaysia confirmed 10 more new cases, bringing the total number to 93.
• Malta reported its first three cases, an Italian family who are residents in Malta. They had gone on holiday to northern Italy and had been in self-quarantine before being tested for the coronavirus. They are now in isolation at Mater Dei Hospital.
• Moldova confirmed its first case, a patient taken to hospital after arriving on a flight from Italy.
• New Zealand confirmed its fifth case of the coronavirus: a woman who was the partner of the third COVID-19 case confirmed in New Zealand.
• Paraguay confirmed its first case.
• Peru confirmed five more cases, bringing the total to six.
• Poland confirmed an additional case, bringing the total to 6.
• Singapore confirmed eight more cases, bringing the total number to 138.
• South Korea confirmed 274 new cases and 4 new deaths, taking total cases to 7,041.
• Spain confirmed 70 new cases and 2 deaths. The total number of cases was now 516 cases.
• The United Arab Emirates confirmed 15 additional cases, taking its total to 45.
• In the United Kingdom, 42 additional cases and one additional death were confirmed, taking the total to 206 cases and 2 deaths. 3 additional cases were confirmed in Northern Ireland later in the day, taking the total to 209 cases.
• In the United States, the number of deaths rose to 19 with 16 in Washington, 1 in California, and 2 in Florida. The total for the country increased to 444 confirmed cases. WHO has different data: 65 new confirmed cases, totalling 213. And 1 new death, 11 in total.
• Vietnam confirmed three new cases, bringing the total number to 20.

8 March

WHO Situation Report 48:

• Albania confirmed the first two cases in the country.
• Austria confirmed 25 additional cases, taking its total to 104.
• Bahrain confirmed 17 new cases, taking the total to 94.
• Bangladesh confirmed its first three cases, two people who had come from Italy separately, and a contact of one of the cases.
• Belgium confirmed 31 additional cases, bringing the total number to 200.
• Brazil confirmed six new cases of COVID-19, raising the total number in the country to 25.
• Bulgaria confirmed its first four cases.
• Canada confirmed 12 new cases, bringing the total number to 69.
• Egypt confirmed its first death (and the first death in Africa) - a German national who was hospitalised on 1 March and then suffered respiratory failure caused by acute pneumonia on 7 March.
• France confirmed that the number of cases had risen to 1,126 and 19 deaths. Elisabeth Toutut-Picard became the second Assembly member to be diagnosed with the virus.
• Germany's cases rose to over 1,000 with 1,018 cases confirmed.
• Hong Kong confirmed four new cases, taking the total to 114, and a third death.
• India confirmed five additional cases, all in Kerala. This took the country's total up to 39.
• Indonesia confirmed two additional cases, taking them to 6 cases. One of the new cases is a male crew member from the Diamond Princess.
• Iran confirmed 49 additional deaths, the highest daily toll in the country, taking it to a total of 194 deaths. Total cases have risen to 6,566, an increase of 743.
• Israel confirmed 11 additional cases, taking its total to 29.
• Italy confirmed an additional 1,492 cases and 133 deaths, taking it to a total of 7,375 cases and 366 deaths.
• Kuwait confirmed an additional case, taking its total to 62.
• Latvia confirmed an additional case.
• Lebanon confirmed four more cases, bringing the total number to 32.
• Malaysia confirmed an additional six cases, taking the total to 99.
• Poland confirmed two additional cases, taking the total to 8. In the evening, three more cases were confirmed, bringing the total number to 11.
• Portugal confirmed four additional cases.
• Qatar confirmed three additional cases, taking their total to 15.
• Saudi Arabia confirmed four additional cases, bringing the total number to 11.
• Singapore confirmed 12 new cases, bringing the total number to 150.
• Spain announced the new total was 616 cases, along with 17 deaths, an increase of seven.
• South Africa confirmed its third case, the wife of the first diagnosed case.
• South Korea confirmed an additional 93 new cases, taking its total to 7,134 and two additional deaths.
• Switzerland confirmed there are now 332 confirmed cases, with all those people placed in isolation. There have been two deaths.
• The United Kingdom announced an increase of 64 new cases, taking it to a total of 273 cases. The UK also confirmed the third death in the country. Five new cases were additionally confirmed in Northern Ireland.
• The United States confirmed 120 more cases, bringing the total number to 564. Two more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total number to 21. According to WHO, the number of confirmed cases was 213, total deaths 11. No new cases, no new deaths were recorded.
• Vietnam confirmed ten more cases, bringing the total number to 30.

9 March

WHO Situation Report 49:

• Australia's number of confirmed cases rose to 80, with six additional cases.
• Bahrain confirmed an additional 24 cases, taking the total to 118.
• Belgium confirmed 39 additional cases, bringing the total number to 239.
• Brazil confirmed five new cases in the state of Rio de Janeiro, raising the total number to 30.
• Brunei's health ministry confirmed a first case of a local man who returned from Kuala Lumpur on 3 March. Symptoms began on 7 March and preliminary tests indicate the patient is positive.
• Canada recorded its first COVID-19-related death. The country also confirmed ten more cases, bringing the total number to 79.
• Colombia confirmed two additional cases.
• Cyprus confirmed its first two cases.
• Finland confirmed seven new cases.
• France saw Guillaume Vuilletet and Sylvie Tolmont confirmed as infected deputies, before Michèle Victory became the fifth deputy of the Assembly to be diagnosed with the virus. The number of cases increased to 1,412. It was also confirmed that the culture minister, Franck Riester, had tested positive.
• Germany reported its first deaths with two fatalities. Cases increased to 1,176.
• Guernsey confirmed its first case.
• Hungary confirmed two new cases.
• India confirmed five additional cases, taking the total to 44.
• Indonesia confirmed 13 additional cases, bringing the total number to 19.
• Iran announced an update to the total cases to 7,161, with a revised number of deaths to 237. New infections are 595 new cases and 43 additional deaths. Those recovered has reached 2,394.
• Ireland confirmed three additional cases, taking the country's total to 24.
• Italy saw confirmed cases rise to 9,172 and deaths to 463.
• Kuwait announced three additional cases, taking it to a total of 65.
• Lebanon reported nine new cases, taking the total to 41.
• Malaysia confirmed 18 new cases, taking it to 117.
• The Netherlands announced 56 additional cases.
• Nigeria confirmed its second case, a Nigerian who had contact with the Italian first case.
• Norway declared 11 additional cases. By the end of the day 227 cases had been confirmed.
• Oman reported two additional cases, both of whom had travelled to Iran. This took the country's total to 18, 17 of whom had travelled to Iran and one to Italy.
• Panama announced its first COVID-19 case, a 40 year old Panamanian woman from Spain.
• The Philippines confirmed 10 additional cases, doubling the current country count to 20. Another four cases were later confirmed, bringing the total number to 24.
• Pakistan saw nine new cases, bringing the total number to 16.
• Poland confirmed five more cases, bringing the total number to 16.
• Saudi Arabia confirmed four additional cases, increasing the total to 15.
• Scotland confirmed five additional case, bringing the total to 11.
• Singapore confirmed 10 more cases, bringing the total number to 160.
• South Africa confirmed another four cases, bringing the total number to 7.
• South Korea confirmed an additional 96 cases, taking it to a total of 7,478.
• Spain's numbers increased to 1,231 cases with 30 deaths, with 32 people having recovered.
• Sweden confirmed 45 additional cases, taking its total to 203. This later rose to 252 cases including the first confirmed local transmission case.
• Switzerland confirmed 42 new cases, rising to a total of 374.
• The United Arab Emirates reported 14 additional cases, taking its total to 59. Four were Emiratis and the remainder from various other nationalities.
• The United Kingdom's confirmed cases increased by two, with the confirmation of cases in Wales. Figures released in the afternoon showed the UK had risen to 317 cases. A fourth death was reported, and then a fifth.
• The United States confirmed 153 additional cases, bringing the total number to 717. Five more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 26. According to WHO, the number of confirmed cases is 213, total deaths 11. No new cases, no new deaths were recorded.
• Vietnam confirmed an additional case, taking its total to 31.

10 March

WHO Situation Report 50:

• Australia reported 14 new cases, taking the country to a total of 107.
• Austria confirmed 25 additional cases, taking the total to 182.
• Bahrain confirmed one additional case, taking the total to 119.
• Belgium confirmed 28 new cases, bringing the total number to 267.
• Bolivia confirmed its first cases, two women who had been in Italy, arriving the country without showing any symptoms.
• Brazil confirmed four new cases, including the first case in Rio Grande do Sul, raising the total number to 34.
• Brunei confirmed six cases.
• Bulgaria confirmed two additional cases, bringing the total to 6.
• Burkina Faso confirmed its first cases with two infections, a couple who had returned from France in February.
• China saw only 19 new infections, 17 in Wuhan and 2 imported from overseas. 17 deaths were reported in Hubei.
• Democratic Republic of Congo reported its first case, a foreigner who flew into Kinshasa from Belgium who tested positive on arrival and was isolated. It was later confirmed by the Ministry of Health that the information they had originally released was incorrect and that that the first case was rather a Congolese citizen returning From France, who had contacted the Health Services two days after his arrival in Congo and had been quarantined in a local neighbourhood.
• Denmark confirmed 174 additional cases, taking it to 264 cases (including two in the Faroe Islands).
• France saw cases rise to 1,784 people and 33 people dead, with 86 people in a serious condition.
• Georgia confirmed eight additional cases, bringing the total to 23.
• Germany's number of case rose to 1,565, with the death roll remaining at 2. 341 new cases were reported in the previous 24 hours.
• Greece confirmed five new cases, bringing the total number to 89.
• Hong Kong confirmed an additional five cases, taking the total to 120 confirmed and 1 assumed case.
• India saw 18 additional cases, many in Kerala, taking the total to 62.
• Indonesia confirmed eight more cases, bringing the total number to 27.
• Iran's confirmed cases rose to 8,042 and deaths rose to 291.
• Ireland reported 10 additional cases, bringing the total number to 34.
• Israel confirmed seven more cases, taking the total to 58.
• Italy saw an increase of cases to 10,149, with deaths rising to 631.
• Jamaica confirmed its first case, a Jamaican national who travelled to the country from the United Kingdom.
• Japan confirmed 59 new cases and three new deaths.
• Jersey confirmed its first case, a person who returned from Italy.
• Kuwait announced four additional cases, increasing the total number to 69.
• Lebanon confirmed its first death from the virus.
• Malaysia confirmed 12 additional cases, taking the total to 129.
• Moldova confirmed two additional cases, taking the total to 3. The male and female, have both visited Italy in late February.
• Mongolia announced its first COVID-19 case.
• Morocco confirmed its first death, and two additional cases.
• The Netherlands confirmed 61 additional cases and a fourth death.
• Northern Cyprus reported its first case, a 65-year-old German woman who was visiting as a tourist.
• Norway confirmed 147 new cases, with total cases now standing at 374.
• Panama announced its first death and seven new cases, bringing the total number to 8.
• Pakistan confirmed an additional case, bringing the total to 20.
• Palestine recorded an additional case, taking the total to 26.
• The Philippines confirmed nine more cases, bringing the total number to 33. This comes after the tally was erroneously reported as 35.
• Poland confirmed eight additional cases, taking the total to 22.
• Qatar confirmed six additional cases, taking it to 24 confirmed cases.
• Romania confirmed eight additional cases, bringing the total number to 25.
• Russia confirmed four additional cases, bringing the total to 17.
• San Marino confirmed 11 new cases, taking it to a total of 62 cases and two deaths.
• Saudi Arabia confirmed ten additional cases, taking the total to 20.
• Scotland confirmed 7 new cases, bringing the total to 18.
• Serbia confirmed three additional cases, taking the total to 5.
• Singapore confirmed six more cases, bringing the total number to 166.
• Slovenia confirmed 15 additional cases.
• Spain confirmed 415 new cases and five new deaths. The total number of cases rose to 1,674.
• Sweden reported 78 new cases, taking the country's total to 326.
• Tunisia announced an additional three cases, taking the total to 5.
• Turkey confirmed its first case.
• The United Arab Emirates confirmed 15 additional cases, taking the total to 74.
• The United Kingdom confirmed 54 additional cases, taking it to 373 cases with six confirmed deaths. Later this increased to 382 cases with the nine additional cases in Wales. Nadine Dorries, Health Minister, was diagnosed with the virus.
• The United States confirmed 283 additional cases, bringing the total number to 1,000. Five more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 31.
• Vietnam confirmed three new cases, bringing the total number to 34.

11 March

WHO Situation Report 51:

• Albania reported three new cases, taking the country's total to 15. The first death in the country was also reported.
• Armenia confirmed three new cases, bringing the total number to 4.
• Australia reported 19 new cases, taking the country to a total of 126. American actor Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson were diagnosed with the illness during the filming of the Baz Luhrmann's upcoming-biographical film Elvis in Australia.
• Austria confirmed 24 additional cases, taking the total to 206.
• Bahrain confirmed 77 additional cases, citizens evacuated from Iran on a flight. This brought the country's total to 189.
• Belgium reported its first death.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed seven additional cases.
• Brazil confirmed 34 additional cases, raising the total number to 69.
• Bulgaria reported its first death. It also confirmed one additional case, bringing the total to 7.
• China confirmed 11 new cases across the Mainland, in addition to 13 new cases and 22 new deaths in Hubei province.
• Colombia confirmed three additional cases, bringing the total to 6. Later on the same day, three more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 9.
• Cuba confirmed its first three cases.
• Denmark confirmed 180 additional cases, raising the total to 442.
• Egypt confirmed seven additional cases, six of whom were Egyptian. The country now has 67 cases of which eight have recovered.
• France reported 487 new cases and 15 fatalities, for a total of 2,281 cases and 48 deaths.
• French Polynesia reported its first case. The patient is Maina Sage, a member of the French National Assembly.
• Georgia reported five additional cases, increasing the total to 23.
• Germany saw its cases rise to 1,908.
• Greece confirmed 10 additional cases, taking the country's total to 99, 95 of whom are Greek and 4 are foreign nationals.
• Honduras confirmed its first two cases, one patient from Spain and one from Switzerland.
• Indonesia confirmed seven more cases, bringing the total number to 34. Its first death was also reported, confirmed by the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a 53-year-old female British national.
• Iran announced that there are now 9,000 infected, with 354 deaths. New infections were 958 with 63 additional deaths. Those recovered total 2,959. Iran's first vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri was reported infected.
• Ireland confirmed nine additional cases and the first death in the country from the virus.
• Israel confirmed 97 cases.
• Italy announced 2,313 new cases and 196 new deaths. Total cases stood at 12,462, with deaths at 827. It was also confirmed Juventus and Italian footballer Daniele Rugani had tested positive for coronavirus.
• Ivory Coast declared its first case, a local citizen who had recently been in Italy.
• Kuwait reported three additional cases, bringing its total to 72.
• Lebanon recorded eight new cases, taking the total to 59, and a second death.
• Lithuania confirmed two additional cases, a married couple that came back from Italy, taking the total to 3 cases.
• Malaysia confirmed 20 additional cases, taking the total to 149.
• Maldives confirmed two additional cases.
• Morocco confirmed two additional cases, bringing the total to 5.
• The Netherlands' total increased to 503 cases, and one new death was reported.
• Norway confirmed 200 additional cases, taking the total number to 602.
• Paraguay confirmed three new cases.
• The Philippines confirmed 16 additional cases, bringing the country's total to 49. The second death was also confirmed.
• Portugal announced 18 new cases.
• Qatar reported six new cases, increasing the country's total to 24. It later announced 238 new cases in expatriates who came in contact with three infected people, and had been quarantined. The revised number of cases is now 262.
• Réunion confirmed its first case.
• Romania confirmed 18 new cases, bringing the total to 47.
• Saudi Arabia reported an additional case, an Egyptian, taking the country's total to 21.
• Scotland confirmed 18 new cases, bringing the total number to 36.
• Singapore confirmed 12 new cases, bringing the total number to 178.
• South Africa confirmed six more cases, taking the total to 13.
• South Korea announced 242 new cases and 6 new deaths.
• Spain's cases rose to 2,231, with 54 confirmed deaths.
• Sri Lanka announced one additional case, bringing the total number to 2.
• Sweden reported 98 additional cases, taking the total to 500, and announced the first death in the country.
• Taiwan confirmed one additional case, raising the country's total to 48.
• Thailand confirmed six additional cases, taking the country's cases to 59.
• The United Kingdom confirmed an additional 86 cases, with its overall total now at 456. Two more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 8. The number later increased to 460, with four cases declared in Wales, including the first instance of community transmission in Wales.
• The United States confirmed 272 additional cases, bringing the total number to 1,272. Seven more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 38. The Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were diagnosed with the illness. As a result, the NBA suspended the entire season after the night's games. The Utah Jazz vs Oklahoma City Thunder game was postponed after doctors reported Gobert had the illness.
• Vietnam confirmed three additional cases, raising the country's total to 38.
• The World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The declaration followed extensive criticism that the WHO response had been weak and inappropriately favorable toward the government of China.

12 March

WHO Situation Report 52:

• Algeria confirmed five additional cases and the first death.
• Brazil confirmed 82 new cases, raising the total number to 149.
• Brunei reported five new cases, bringing the total number to 11.
• Bulgaria reports nine new cases from the capital, bringing the total number to 16. They later reported seven more cases, bringing the total number to 23.
• Colombia confirmed four more cases, raising the total to 13.
• Egypt confirmed 13 new cases and one new death.
• France's total increased to 2,876 and 61 deaths.
• Germany announced 546 new cases and two additional deaths, taking the totals to 2,745 cases and 6 deaths.
• India confirmed its first death, a 76 year old Indian national with existing health conditions, who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia.
• Italy confirmed 189 more deaths, bringing the total number to 1,016, and 2,651 new cases were also confirmed, bringing the total number to 15,113.
• Ireland confirmed 27 new cases, bringing the total to 70. 22 of the new cases were by local transmission.
• Kuwait confirmed eight more cases, taking the total number to 80.
• Norway reported its first death.
• The Philippines confirmed three more cases, bringing the total cases to 52.
• Romania confirmed one new case, bringing to total number to 48.
• San Marino repored 15 new cases and three additional deaths.
• Singapore confirmed nine more cases, bringing the total number to 187.
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines confirmed its first case.
• Spain confirmed 782 new cases and 31 new deaths, raising the country's total to 3,059 cases and 86 dead.
• Sri Lanka confirmed an additional case, taking the total number to 3.
• Switzerland confirmed 212 new cases and 2 additional deaths.
• Trinidad & Tobago confirmed its first case, a Swiss national.
• Ukraine reported two new cases, bringing the total number to 3.
• The United Kingdom confirmed 136 new cases, bringing the total number to 596. Two more deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 10. It was confirmed Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta had tested positive for COVID-19.
• The United States confirmed 373 additional cases, bringing the total number to 1,645. Three more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 41. The Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell tested positive for the virus.
• Vietnam confirmed six new cases, bringing the total number to 44.
• A team member of McLaren tested positive for the coronavirus, throwing the 2020 Australian Grand Prix into disarray.

13 March

WHO Situation Report 53:

• Antigua and Barbuda confirmed its first case.
• Aruba confirmed its first two cases, people who travelled in from New York.
• Bulgaria confirmed three new cases, bringing the total number to 26. Bulgaria later confirmed five additional cases, bringing the total to 31.
• Brazil confirmed 22 new cases, bringing the total number to 171. President Jair Bolsonaro tested negative for COVID-19.
• Brunei confirmed 14 new cases, bringing the total number to 25.
• The Cayman Islands confirmed its first case.
• Colombia reported three more cases, raising the total to 16.
• Costa Rica reported three new cases since 12 March, bringing the total number of cases to 26.
• Curaçao reported its first case, a Dutch tourist.
• Ethiopia confirmed its first case.
• France's numbers increased to 2,876 cases and 81 deaths.
• Gabon confirmed its first case.
• Germany's case total rose to 3,675.
• Ghana confirmed its first two cases, a Norwegian Embassy official and a Turkish citizen.
• Guadeloupe confirmed its first case, a citizen who recently returned from France.
• Guatemala confirmed its first case, a traveller from Italy.
• Guinea reports its first case, an employee of the EU delegation.
• Italy's cases rose to 17,660 and deaths rose to 1,266, a rise of 250 deaths in 24 hours.
• Kazakhstan confirmed its first two cases, which were also the first in Central Asia.
• Kenya confirmed its first case, a Kenyan national who had returned from the United States via London.
• Kosovo confirmed its first two cases.
• Lithuania confirmed three new cases, bringing the total number to 6. A Spanish citizen from Madrid is confirmed in Vilnius, along with a woman in Klaipėda who arrived from Tenerife, and a man in Kaunas who arrived from Italy on 29 February.
• Malaysia confirmed 39 new cases, bringing the total number to 197.
• The Philippines confirmed 12 more cases, bringing the total number to 64.
• Puerto Rico confirmed its first three cases, a 71-year-old man and an Italian couple, aged 68 and 70.
• Saint Lucia confirmed its first case, a 63-year-old woman who had traveled to the UK.
• Singapore confirmed 13 more cases, bringing the total number to 200. The number of imported cases surpassed that of local cases.
• Slovakia confirmed 11 new cases, bringing the total number to 32.
• Spain's cases rose to 4,231. 35 more deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 121.
• Sri Lanka confirmed three new cases, bringing the total number to 6.
• Sudan confirmed its first case and first death, a man in his 50s who travelled to the United Arab Emirates.
• Suriname confirmed its first case.
• Switzerland reported 1,125 cases (of which 116 are undergoing final analysis), a 31% day-on-day increase.
• Turkey confirmed its second case. Later in the day, the case count increased to 5. All cases are related to the first case, who contracted the virus from Europe.
• Ukraine reported its first death, a 71-year-old woman from Radomyshl, Zhytomyr Oblast who recently travelled to Poland.
• The United Kingdom confirmed 202 new cases, bringing the total number to 798. The first death was confirmed in Scotland, bringing the total deaths across the UK to 11.
• The United States confirmed 559 additional cases, bringing the total number to 2,204. Eight more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 49.
• U.S. Virgin Islands confirmed the first case in the territory.
• Uruguay confirmed its first four cases, all of them having travelled from Milan, Italy.
• Venezuela confirmed its first two cases, one a traveller from the United States, and the second who had travelled from Spain.
• Vietnam confirmed three additional cases, bringing the total number to 47.

14 March

WHO Situation Report 54:

• Brazil confirmed seven more cases, bringing the total number to 178.
• Brunei reported three new cases, bringing the total to 40.
• Bulgaria confirmed six new cases bringing the total number to 37. One more death was also confirmed, bringing the total number to 2.
• Central African Republic confirmed its first case.
• Colombia reported additional eight more cases, taking the total to 24.
• Congo Republic confirmed its first case, a person who had travelled from France.
• Denmark confirmed the first death in the country, an 81-year-old man.
• Equatorial Guinea confirmed its first case, a 42-year-old woman who returned from Madrid.
• Eswatini confirmed its first case, a 33-year-old woman, who traveled to the United States and then Lesotho before returning home to Eswatini.
• France confirmed 838 new cases, bringing the total number to 4,499. 12 more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 91.
• Iran confirmed 1,365 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,729. 97 more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 611.
• Ireland confirmed 39 new cases, the largest to date, and one more confirmed death. 129 total confirmed cases and 2 deaths.
• Italy confirmed 3,497 new cases, bringing the total number to 21,157. 175 more deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 1,441.
• Malaysia confirmed 41 new cases, bringing the total number to 238.
• Mauritania confirmed its first case.
• Mayotte confirmed its first case.
• Moldova confirmed 4 new cases.
• Namibia confirmed its first cases, two tourists visiting the country.
• New Zealand confirmed its sixth case, a man who had returned from the United States on 6 March.
• The Philippines confirmed 47 more cases, bringing the total number to 111.
• Rwanda confirmed its first case.
• Saudi Arabia confirmed 17 additional cases, with its total rising to 103.
• Singapore confirmed 12 more cases, bringing the total number to 212.
• Seychelles reported its first two cases.
• Spain confirmed 1,522 new cases, raising its total to 5,753 cases. 62 more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 183.
• Sri Lanka confirmed two new cases, bringing the total number to 8. Another three cases were later confirmed, bringing the total number to 11.
• Thailand confirmed seven more cases, bringing the total number to 82.
• The United Kingdom confirmed 342 new cases, bringing the total number to 1,140. 10 more deaths were reported, bringing the total to 21.
• The United States confirmed 612 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,816. One of the cases was 24-year-old Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons. Eleven more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 60.
• Vietnam confirmed six additional cases, bringing the total number to 53.

15 March

WHO Situation Report 55:

• Bahamas confirmed their first case, a patient with no recent travel history.
• Brunei confirmed ten new cases, bringing the total number to 50.
• Bulgaria confirmed eight new cases, bringing the total number to 51.
• Finland has ceased testing for people returning from trips abroad, and all of the people suffering flu symptoms in the country. The tests are reserved for health professionals only.
• Guam confirmed its first three cases, two people who arrived from Manila and one other person with no recent travel history.
• Indonesia confirmed 21 more cases, bringing the total number to 117. Among the new diagnoses include North Sulawesi and Yogyakarta's first cases.
• Ireland confirmed 40 new cases, the largest to date with 23 males and 17 females. 169 total confirmed cases and 2 deaths.
• Italy confirmed 3,590 more cases, bringing the total number to 24,747. The country also recorded 368 new deaths, bringing the total number to 1,809. This was the largest death rate in a day for a country since the pandemic started.
• Malaysia confirmed 190 new cases, bringing the total number to 428. Most of these cases are linked to a gathering in Kuala Lumpur.
• Moldova confirmed 11 new cases, bringing the total number to 23.
• New Zealand confirmed two new cases, a Wellington man and a Danish woman, bringing the total to 8.
• Saudi Arabia confirmed 15 new cases, bring the total number to 118
• Singapore confirmed 14 new cases, bringing the total number to 226. This is the highest number of new cases in the country in a single day.
• Sri Lanka confirmed eight more cases, bringing the total to 19. There are 18 active cases with one recovered case.
• Thailand confirmed 32 more cases, bringing the total number to 114.
• Turkey confirmed 12 more cases, bringing the total number to 18.
• The United Kingdom confirmed 232 new cases, bringing the total number to 1,372. 14 more deaths were reported, bringing the total to 35.
• The United States confirmed 669 new cases, bringing the total number to 3,485. Five more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 65.
• Uzbekistan confirmed its first case, a citizen who had returned from France.
• Vietnam confirmed four additional cases, bringing the total number to 57.

16 March

WHO Situation Report 56:

• Benin confirmed its first case, a 49-year-old man who had traveled to Belgium and Burkina Faso.
• Bulgaria confirmed two new cases, bringing the total number to 53. Bulgaria later confirmed nine more cases, bringing the final total to 62.
• Costa Rica confirms 40 cases.
• Cyprus confirmed 13 new cases, taking the total to 46.
• Egypt confirmed 40 new cases, taking the total to 166. It also confirmed two additional deaths.
• France confirmed that cases had risen to 6,633 with 148 deaths.
• Germany's case rose to 7,272 with 17 deaths.
• Greece confirmed 21 new cases to a total of 352.
• Greenland confirmed its first case.
• Guatemala confirmed five more cases, bringing the total to 6 and the first death in the country from the virus.
• Indonesia confirmed 17 more cases, 134 in total.
• Iran's cases rose to 13,938 with its death toll rising by 129 to 853. The deaths included Hashem Bathaie Golpayenagi, Grand Ayatollah and a representative of the Tehran Province in Iran's Assembly of Experts.
• Ireland confirmed 54 new cases, the largest to date. 223 total confirmed cases and 2 deaths.
• Italy's confirmed cases rose to 27,980 and deaths to 2,158. This total included 3,233 new cases and 349 new deaths.
• Jordan confirmed four new cases, taking its total to 15.
• Kuwait confirmed 11 new cases, taking the total to 123.
• Liberia confirmed its first case.
• Malaysia announced another 125 cases taking it to a total of 553 with many of the new cases linked to a recent religious festival in the country.
• Moldova announced another six cases, taking its total to 29.
• Oman confirmed two additional cases, raising the total to 24.
• Pakistan confirmed its first death.
• Qatar reported 64 new cases taking it to 401.
• Singapore confirmed 17 more cases, bringing the total number to 243. This is the biggest spike of new cases in a single day.
• Somalia confirmed its first case.
• Spain reported 9,942 cases and 342 deaths.
• Sri Lanka confirmed eleven more cases, bringing the total to 29.
• Tanzania confirmed its first case.
• Turkey announced that the number of cases had risen to 47, with 29 new cases confirmed.
• The United Kingdom confirmed a total of 1,543 positive tests, up from 1,372.
• The United States confirmed 974 new cases, bringing the total number to 4,459. 22 more deaths were reported, bringing the total number to 87.
• Ukraine confirmed two new cases: two women, one of whom recently returned from Italy. Later in the day, two more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 7.
• Vietnam confirmed four additional cases, bringing the total number to 61.

17 March

• Barbados reported its first two cases, people who recently returned from the US.
• Bulgaria confirmed five new cases, bringing the number to 67, and then an additional 14 new cases, bringing the total number to 81.
• Brazil confirmed the first death in the country, a 62-year-old man in the state of São Paulo.
• Gambia reported its first case.
• Hungary reported 11 new cases, bringing the total number to 50.
• Indonesia reported 38 new cases, bringing the total number to 172.
• Kuwait confirmed seven new cases, taking the total to 130.
• Malaysia reports its first two deaths, a 60 year old pastor in Sarawak and a 34-year old man from Johor who had attended a Muslim religious gathering. Sarawak also reports 11 new cases.
• Montenegro reported its first two cases. One infected was from Podgorica, and the other from Ulcinj. Montenegro was the last country in Europe without any confirmed cases.
• Mozambique confirmed its first case, a medical doctor who had travelled to France.
• The Netherlands confirmed 1,705 cases and 43 deaths.
• New Zealand confirmed four new cases, bringing the total to 12.
• The Philippines reported 45 new cases, taking the total to 187.
• Singapore confirmed 23 new cases, bringing the total number to 266. This is the highest number of new cases in a single day so far.
• Slovakia confirmed 25 new cases, bringing the total number to 97.
• Ukraine reports 7 new cases and its second death, bringing the total number of cases to 14.
• The United Kingdom's cases rose from 1,543 to 1,950.
• Vietnam confirmed five more cases, bringing the total number to 66.
• The Brooklyn Nets announced that four of their players had tested positive, including forward Kevin Durant.

18 March

• Moldova confirmed its first death.
• New Zealand confirms eight new cases, bringing the total to 20.
• The Eurovision Song Contest, planned to be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, has been cancelled.

Events, reactions, and measures in mainland China

2 March

Wuhan closed its first makeshift hospital, one of the 16 built to contain the epidemic after the last patients were discharged. This came as the number of new cases declined.

3 March

Quarantine staff screening passengers on a plane after landing in Shenzhen, Guangdong

Shanghai and Guangdong province will quarantine travellers arriving from coronavirus-hit countries for 14 days.

7 March

The Xinjia Express Hotel in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China collapsed while containing dozens of close contacts of patients. 29 people died as a result.

9 March

11 out of 16 makeshift hospitals set up in Wuhan were closed after discharging their last patients, with the most recent being a converted sports centre and a factory. This comes as the number of cases continued to drop.

Reactions and measures outside mainland China

Running summary (as of 18 March 2020): The virus has spread to six continents and there are at least 190,000 cases confirmed with more than 7,500 deaths. The 171 countries and territories with SARS-CoV-2 infections are:

Africa

• Algeria
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Ivory Coast
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Mauritania
• Mayotte
• Morocco
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• Réunion
• Rwanda
• Senegal
• Seychelles
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tunisia

Asia

• Afghanistan
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• China
• Hong Kong
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mongolia
• Nepal
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
• Syria
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• United Arab Emirates
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam

Europe

• Albania
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Faroe Islands
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Guernsey
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Jersey
• Kosovo
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• North Macedonia
• Northern Cyprus
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

North America and the Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Curaçao
• Dominican Republic
• Greenland
• Guadeloupe
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Martinique
• Mexico
• Panama
• Puerto Rico
• Saint Barthélemy
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Martin
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States
• United States Virgin Islands

Oceania

• Australia
• French Polynesia
• Guam
• Hawaii
• New Zealand

South America

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• French Guiana
• Guyana
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Suriname
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Strict surveillance measures are being enforced at airports, seaports and border crossings to prevent the disease wide-spreading into countries/territories which either share a border with or are located in the neighborhood of Mainland China. Accordingly, some countries are thermally monitoring passengers arriving at their major international airports, while flights to and from infected countries have ceased operating. More seriously, countries such as North Korea and Papua New Guinea have banned travelers from all Asian countries.

Land and sea borders are being closed over the fears of the virus. For example, Hong Kong, Mongolia, North Korea, and Russia have closed their borders with Mainland China, while Papua New Guinea closed its land border with Indonesia. Singapore has closed its borders to all recent travelers of China.

Visas have also been suspended for some countries. Vietnam ceased issuing visas to Chinese citizens, excepting diplomatic work. Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines also suspended visa issuances: on arrival with Chinese citizens, toward the entire infected area of China and toward Hubei-related visitors who previously had travel history or currently hold a passport issued by Hubei and its neighborhood's authorities.

Evacuations of each country's citizens have been done and most of them are repatriated and quarantined for at least 14 days. Travel restrictions and advisories have been issued, mainly to East Asian and European countries.

The pandemic has caused lockdowns in some places, such as Wuhan of China, Daegu of South Korea, Luzon of the Philippines, Italy, Denmark, France, Malaysia, Czech Republic, and Spain. Public or mass gatherings are prohibited or restricted, including schools and workplaces. A lot of concerts and sport events are canceled.

1 March

Authorities in South Korea advised people to stay indoors and not attend any events. In addition, the school break was extended by one week across the country, and three weeks in Daegu.

Seoul authorities have filed a complaint to prosecutors, asking them to charge the leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Lee Man-hee and 11 others for murder and obstructing efforts to contain the coronavirus.

In the United States, the American Physical Society cancelled its annual meeting, which was to be held in Denver, Colorado from 2 to 6 March.

In Japan, one of Sharp Corporation's LCD panel factories will turn some of its production capacity to surgical masks. At end of March it will produce 150,000 masks a day, eventually rising to 500,000 a day. Other Japanese mask makers have increased their production 5-fold, rising from 20 million, to 100 million masks per week, combined.

2 March

Swiss poster explaining the rules of hygiene and good reactions in case of symptoms (in German, 2 March 2020)

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control announced that it has increased the risk level from moderate to high for people in the European Union.

In the United States, several schools were closed in the state of Washington due to the rise of coronavirus cases.

The United Kingdom calls an emergency meeting on the virus, as cases there increased by 12.

The Lower House of the Polish Parliament passed a bill on special measures regarding the spread of the new coronavirus.

The leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Lee Man-hee, apologised for its role in the outbreak.

New Zealand extended travel restrictions on Iran and China by seven days. In addition, travellers arriving from northern Italy and South Korea will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

The Badminton World Federation announced it has postponed the Portugal International tournament, originally scheduled to be held from 5 to 8 March.

3 March

South Korean president Moon Jae-in declared war on the epidemic, with more hospital beds and face masks to be made available. More than 30 trillion won will be injected into the economy for support, and government agencies will operate round the clock.

Indonesia plans to build a hospital in Galang Island to treat coronavirus patients.

Singapore will ban visitors arriving from South Korea, Iran and northern Italy from 4 March, with Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning from these places to be issued Stay-Home Notices (SHN) lasting 14 days. In addition, all travellers entering Singapore with fever or signs of respiratory illness will be required to undergo swab tests, with penalties for refusal. The travel advisory is expanded to include Iran, northern Italy, Japan and South Korea.

India suspended all visas belonging to citizens of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan immediately, along with travellers who went to these places. Authorities advised against non-essential travel to China, Iran, Italy and South Korea, along with medical screening for travellers arriving from 14 places.

Iran has temporarily released more than 54,000 prisoners due to the spread of the new coronavirus in crowded jails. Iran has also announced plans to mobilise 300,000 soldiers and volunteers against the outbreak.

Hong Kong arranged four chartered flights to evacuate 533 Hong Kong residents stuck in Hubei province.

The World Health Organization (WHO) director general has stated that the latest global death rate of the new coronavirus outbreak is far higher than seasonal flu, 3.4% and much less than 1% respectively.

France has closed about 120 schools in virus-hit areas having the highest number of infections, with more expected to shut in the coming days. Schools in Oise will remain shut until further notice, while schools in Morbihan will remain shut until 14 March.

Australia will use a little-known biosecurity law to restrict the movements of those suspected to have the coronavirus, which since 2015 had only been used for agricultural purposes. This comes after cases of community transmission were confirmed there.

Italy announced that it may set up quarantine red zones to contain the spread of the virus. As a result of the outbreak, a wine fair has been cancelled.

4 March

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the creation of a new cabinet committee to manage "the federal response to the coronavirus disease."

The Malaysian state of Sarawak bans entry by travelers who had visited Italy, Iran, South Korea, and China in the last 14 days.

The Portuguese Parliament is due to discuss the outbreak on 4 March, as the Portuguese prime minister António Costa will open the biweekly debate on the theme of "the prevention and containment of the COVID-19 epidemic".

Thailand has advised travelers arriving from nine countries to self-quarantine and register their addresses. They are Singapore, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, France, Italy, and Iran. The authorities later clarified that quarantine is not compulsory until a high-risk list of countries is finalized.

Iraq has since shut schools, universities, cinemas, cafes and other public places, which will reopen on 7 March. In addition, authorities have banned mass prayers including on Fridays until further notice.

French cycling team Cofidis are placed under quarantine in the UAE, lasting until 14 March. This comes after several staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, leading to the cancellation of the UAE Tour.

The Tokyo government urged residents to refrain from joining in cherry blossom parties in parks in view of the coronavirus.

Russia banned exports of hazmat suits, masks, and respirators among a list of 17 items to ensure that medics can access these items to treat patients. The decree, which was published today, started two days ago and will expire on 1 June. The ban does not cover exports for humanitarian and personal purposes.

The Australian Football League has moved a game between St Kilda Saints and Port Adelaide Power, originally scheduled on 31 May in Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China to Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, to be played on 7 June instead.

The Louvre, a museum in France, reopened after a three-day strike by staff concerned over the coronavirus.

Italy will close schools and universities until 15 March to contain the virus, with crowd control measures instituted. At the same time, Serie A matches could be played without spectators in a bid to stop the virus.

Workers in the UK who self-isolate will get statutory sick pay from the first day since being off work.

UK-based regional airline Flybe collapsed at 10pm GMT and was sent into administration, risking the possible closure of several local airports throughout the UK.

Saudi Arabia suspended the umrah pilgrimage temporarily for citizens and residents there owing to the coronavirus. It also disallowed visits to the mosque in Medina.

Japan said that the torch relay for the 2020 Olympics could be adjusted to prevent the spread of the virus.

Malaysia suspended all autogate and e-gates systems at all checkpoints to deal with the virus.

In Hong Kong, small business owners started a petition for the government to provide them with HK$6 billion in aid, as they had trouble saying open. The government began to use female prison inmates to produce 180,000 surgical masks per month.

Emirates removed its charges for changing flight bookings.

5 March

South Korea extends a daycare closure across the whole country for two more weeks. On the same day, a new 'special care zone' was declared in Gyeongsan after a spike in cases there.

Australia banned travelers arriving from South Korea, as well as from mainland China and Iran. Enhanced screening will be conducted on travelers arriving from Italy.

The Rome Marathon, scheduled for 29 March, was cancelled.

The Paris Marathon, scheduled for 5 April, was postponed until October 2020.

Indonesia will ban travelers arriving from the worst-affected regions of Iran, Italy and South Korea from 8 March. Indonesians who arrive from these places will undergo a health examination.

The Catholic Church of Singapore will resume services on 14 March with precautions in place.

6 March

Russia isolated 700 people in St. Petersburg, including many students, due to contact with an Italian student who had been diagnosed the day before.

Bhutan banned all tourists from arriving in the country for two weeks with immediate effect. This comes after its first confirmed case. Schools will also be closed for two weeks in the Dzongkhags of Thimphu, Paro and Punakha, and international conferences and seminars are postponed.

After India confirmed its 31st case, India ordered all international passengers to be screened upon entry to the country.

Samsung Electronics moved all of its phone production from Gumi, South Korea to a factory in Vietnam, as production was constantly being stopped and six workers at the Gumi factory had already contracted the virus.

In Panama, the Health Ministry (Minsa) enabled a hotline (169) to allow potential coronavirus patients to consult a doctor. On the same day, it was announced that over 800 people are under medical surveillance, and 30 people had tested negative for the virus. The Minsa also advised against using a surgical mask, as it could cause paranoia within society. Panama has also further enhanced its screening measures at all points of entry.

In the US, several states introduced measures that order health insurance to not charge patients usual fees (co-payment, co-insurance) associated with COVID-19 related healthcare visit or COVID-19 laboratory tests. Several events were cancelled too. In Austin, Texas, the major music and media festival SXSW has been cancelled for the first time in its 34-year history, a local disaster having been declared despite there being no coronavirus cases in the city itself. In Seattle, Washington, the Emerald City Comic Con has been cancelled and postponed until summer. Furthermore, DC Comics cancelled all March convention events, and several Jewish institutions in New York City, most notably Yeshiva University, either closed or took other prophylactic measures. Miku Expo's North American tour dates have also been postponed.

TwitchCon Europe 2020, scheduled to take place in Amsterdam from 2–3 May 2020 was announced to be cancelled as a precautionary measure.

Vis Moot competition, scheduled for April 2020 in Vienna, was cancelled and moved to an online platform.

The three-day International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) (dubbed Bollywood's Oscars), supposed to be held from 27 to 29 March, has been delayed due to fears of the coronavirus.

7 March

The International Ice Hockey Federation cancelled the Women's World Championship, scheduled from 31 March to 10 April in Canada, due to concerns about the coronavirus.

8 March

Organizers of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is the second round of the 2020 Formula One World Championship, decided to hold the 2020 event without any spectators permitted.

Italy placed more than 16 million people under quarantine in Lombardy and 14 other central and northern provinces, together with closure of schools, gyms, museums, nightclubs and other venues across the country.

The President of Portugal canceled all his public activities and will stay at home in a self-imposed quarantine after receiving a group of students from a school which has since been closed following the detection of a student with COVID-19.

France banned gatherings of over 1000 people in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

All schools and universities in Saudi Arabia have been closed until further notice to control the spread of the virus.

Qatar bans passagers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, South Korea, Thailand, Nepal, Egypt, China, Syria and India amid fears of spread of the virus.

9 March

Italy imposes a country-wide quarantine, restricting travel except for necessity, work, and health circumstances. As a result, people flocked to the supermarkets and prison riots erupted.

Mongolia put multiple cities, including its capital Ulaanbaatar, under quarantine until 16 March after the country's first case was confirmed.

Romania bans the flights to and from Italy until 23 March. In addition, all schools in Romania are closed from 11 to 22 March.

Seychelles announced a temporary closing for cruise ships.

Stock markets crash worldwide in reaction to the coronavirus outbreak and falling oil prices.

The BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, originally scheduled to take place in March 2020 in Indian Wells, California, United States, was cancelled after a confirmed case is reported in the local area.

In Panama, the Panama Metro began to clean its trains more frequently, using different disinfectants. The Minsa also announced that 1,073 people are under medical surveillance.

10 March

The Malaysian state of Sabah bans travellers from Iran and Italy from entering. The ban applies to all foreign travellers who have travelled to Iran and Italy within the last 14 days including Malaysians who are non-residents of Sabah.

All primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic were closed.

In Greece, all primary and secondary schools, universities and cram schools (known in Greece as frontistirio) were closed for two weeks, starting from 11 March until 24 March. Because 25 March is the national holiday for the Greek War of Independence, schools will reopen on 26 March. These preventive measures were taken in order to limit the spread of coronavirus in Greece. However, according to the Greek minister of education, Niki Kerameus, the school year may be extended if the measures for the closure of all schools get extended. Additionally, the Greek ministry of education prepared a plan to cover up for the lost school days. Among others, this plan includes an extension of the school year, a reduction of the school lessons' duration in 35 minutes in order to increase the teaching hours each day, reduction of Easter holidays, distance learning and cuts on the curriculum. Furthermore, the postponement of university entrance exams from June to July or September is also considered, while the military and student parades across Greece on 25 March were cancelled.

Panama suspended the school year, and activities involving large amounts of people until 7 April. The Minsa also announced that 66 people were under medical surveillance.

RuPaul's DragCon LA 2020, which supposed to take place on 1–3 May 2020 in Los Angeles has been cancelled. The fate of RuPaul's DragCon in NYC and UK is currently unknown.

Polish archbishop, the President of the Polish Episcopal Conference said that Polish churches should increase the number of masses, so that fewer people will attend at once.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Also known as Rojava), closed a border crossing underneath its control with neighboring Iraq. The Administration also released a statement asking European journalists following the Syrian Civil War not to visit parts of Syria underneath its control, and that medical checks would be done at all crossings into their territory in response to the Coronavirus.

11 March

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a CA$1,000,000,000 COVID-19 Response Fund that includes a $50 million contribution to the World Health Organization and an additional $275 million to fund coronavirus research in Canada.

All schools and universities in Poland were closed for two weeks.

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic after cases outside China increased 13-fold over the past two weeks.

The Prime Minister of Denmark announced that all schools, universities and kindergartens will be shut down for two weeks.

In the United States, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced that both its Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and Women's Basketball Tournament, scheduled from mid-March to early April, will be held without any spectators in attendance. Boise, Idaho's popular Treefort Music Fest was postponed until 23 to 27 September.

The U.S. and Canada's National Basketball Association announced that it will suspend the remainder of its 2020 season after players tested positive for the disease.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that all travel from Europe (except UK) into the United States will be suspended for 30 days.

India will suspend visas for travellers, including visa-free travel from 13 March until 15 April, except those on diplomatic, official, employment and project visas. Even travellers allowed to enter will be subject to quarantine orders.

Israel bans gatherings exceeding 100 people after a spike in cases. Schools will continue to remain open, with universities and other higher learning institutes urged to explore distance learning in case of closure. In addition, companies are asked to let employees work from home.

The Institut Pasteur de Dakar and DiaTropix team up with Mologic, a British biotech firm, to develop "point of need" test kits that can diagnose COVID-19 in 10 minutes.

12 March

Stock markets worldwide suffer their greatest single-day fall since the 1987 crash in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the previous day's announcement of the 30-day travel ban between the U.S. and Europe.

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau begins a self-quarantine for 14 days after his wife Sophie Trudeau tests positive for the virus.

Israel and Sri Lanka close schools early from 13 March, with term holidays lasting until 20 April to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Schools are also asked to refrain from planning excursions during this period.

Singapore closes mosques for five days starting from 13 March for cleaning as a precaution against the coronavirus with prayers cancelled for that day. In addition, activities at the mosques will be stopped until 27 March. This comes after two people were infected from a gathering in Malaysia. Separately, the Catholic Church of Singapore will continue suspending services indefinitely after the World Health Organization declares the coronavirus a pandemic, rescinding an initial plan to resume services on 14 March.

The Osim Sundown Marathon, supposed to be held on 23 May in Singapore, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus, with runners having direct entry to next year's event. Several other runs have also been postponed too.

The suspension of Cortes Generales, Spain's Parliament, will be extended by 15 days due to the coronavirus.

Turkey closes all primary, secondary and high schools for a week, and universities for three weeks starting from 16 March. All sports matches will be played without spectators until end of April. Students will continue education from their homes via internet and TV channels from 23 March for a week.

Following the National Basketball Association's suspension of its season one day earlier, other major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and sporting organizers do the same. The National Hockey League indefinitely pauses the remainder of its 2020 season, while Major League Soccer imposes a 30-day suspension on its 2020 season. Major League Baseball cancels the remainder of its spring training and delays the start of its 2020 season for at least two weeks. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, which had previously announced that all of its winter championship events, including its Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and Women's Basketball Tournament, would be played with no spectators, cancels all championship events until the 2020–21 season. The Professional Golfers' Association of America cancels the Players Championship and other upcoming golf events.

The World Health Organization says that the COVID-19 pandemic can be controlled as long as countries take the pandemic seriously. This comes after some countries did not take adequate measures to slow transmission, and also after WHO denied the outbreak was a pandemic.

Before midnight, the Government of Estonia declared an emergency situation to last until 1 May. Special measures announced for the duration of the emergency situation include a prohibition of all public gatherings, concerts, performances, conferences, sport events, regular study in all schools and universities (remote forms of study are allowed), closure of museums, cinemas; introduction of border checks; and visitation limits to hospitals, social service centres and prisons.

As a result of a McLaren team member testing positive, the entire McLaren team pulled out of the 2020 Australian Grand Prix.

Euroleague Basketball announces all leagues suspension including the Euroleague and the Eurocup until an unknown date.

The 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay began in Olympia, Greece, in a scaled-down ceremony without spectators. It was the first Olympic flame lighting ceremony to be held without public attendance since 1984.

13 March

With a member of the McLaren team testing positive the day before, and the team withdrawing from the race, F1 and the FIA decided to cancel the opening round of the 2020 Formula One World Championship, the Australian Grand Prix. Later, it was announced that the next two rounds, to be held in Bahrain and Vietnam, would be postponed.

The Auckland Council canceled the annual Pasifika Festival in Auckland in response to health concerns about the coronavirus.

Cricket Australia announced that the three-match series against New Zealand would go ahead, but that fans would not be admitted into the venue.

The Czech Republic announced a complete travel ban effective midnight on Monday, 16 March 2020, banning all foreigners from entering and Czech nationals and long-term resident foreigners from leaving the country. The lockdown will be effective for the duration of the 30-day state of emergency declared on 12 March 2020.

Singapore banned travellers from France, Germany and Spain, and places citizens and residents from affected countries under quarantine for 14 days.

Switzerland issued sweeping restrictions on places of public gatherings, closing schools throughout the country and imposing a ban on public gatherings of more than 100 people until 30 April. This is implemented by most cantons as a closure of cinemas, theaters, museums, youth centers, sports centers, fitness centers, swimming pools, wellness centers, discos, pianos-bars, night clubs, and erotic clubs.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency, allocating about US$50 billion of U.S. federal government money for relief efforts. In response, US stock market Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its largest single-day gain since October 2008.

In the UK, the Premier League, along with the English Football League and FA Women's Super League, suspended their respective seasons until April after both Arsenal F.C. manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea F.C. player Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the disease.

Apple Inc. announced that their annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be held as an online-only conference for the first time as a precaution. They later announced the closure of all Apple Stores outside of Greater China until 27 March. Further, a commitment of US$15 million towards the COVID-19 response was announced.

Australia's chief medical officer advised the government to ban mass gatherings of more than 500 people to stop the coronavirus.

14 March

The New Zealand Government cancelled the Christchurch mosque shootings memorial service scheduled to be held at Christchurch's Horncastle Arena on 15 March due to Covid-19 coronavirus concerns. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that anyone entering New Zealand from midnight on 15 March would have to isolate themselves for 14 days. Cruise ships will be barred from entering New Zealand from midnight 14 March until 30 June 2020. In addition, anyone with coronavirus symptoms will not be allowed to enter the Pacific Islands and those who have been traveling overseas will have to wait for 14 days before traveling to the Pacific.

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin ordered the cancellation or postponement of all public gatherings including international meetings, sport, social and religious events until 30 April 2020 due to Covid-19 health concerns. The Prime Minister also announced that the Government would be evacuating 65 Malaysians in Iran and 323 in Italy in humanitarian missions.

The US State of Georgia announced they would move their primary election for president from 24 March to 19 May, becoming the second state to do so after Louisiana.

US President Donald Trump had his physician release a memo which suggested he tested negative for the virus.

15 March

All schools in Banten province of Indonesia are closed until 28 March. This comes after the Governor of Banten Wahidin Halim declared the virus an "extraordinary event". Other provinces such as Jakarta, Central Java, West Kalimantan, and West Java also did the same thing.

Brunei has barred all citizens and foreign residents from leaving in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Ministry of Health has also banned mass gatherings including weddings and sporting events. In addition the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam, the Tutong District Amateur Football Association League, and the Brunei Basketball Association have suspended all matches and games.

Finland has ceased testing for people returning from trips abroad, and all of the people suffering flu symptoms in the country. The tests are now reserved for health professionals only.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a SAARC fund to tackle coronavirus via video conference. He proposed setting up a volunteer basis COVID-19 emergency fund with India committing USD 10 million initially for it.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act and declared measures to be put in place that comprised imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from high risk countries, including Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China; performing high-intensity screening on travellers from medium-risk countries, such as Portugal, Hong Kong, and Singapore, as well as testing and isolation for South African citizens returning from high-risk countries; closing 35 of the 72 land, sea, and air ports of entry; the prohibition of gatherings of more than 100 people; the closing schools from 18 March 2020 until mid April 2020; and the suspension of visits to correctional centres (prisons and rehabitiation facilities) for 30 days.

16 March

The Australian Border Force suspends the removal operations of New Zealand citizens to New Zealand up to 30 March 2020, effective midnight 16 March 2020.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces restrictions to entry into Canada, allowing only Canadian and American citizens, permanent residents, closest family of citizens, diplomats, and air crew. Any Canada-bound passengers showing symptoms of COVID-19 would be refused boarding. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announces the closure of all primary and secondary schools in the province effective 20 March.

Costa Rican Health Minister Daniel Salas confirmed 41 cases of coronavirus. The government also decreed a state of national emergency. Classes were suspended in all public and private schools and colleges until 4 April. Borders would be closed starting Wednesday, 18 March and last until 12 April, Costa Ricans and permanent residents have no entry restriction. Those entering must remain in quarantine for at least 14 days.

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei announced Guatemala will close its borders for two weeks as part of measures to contain the virus.

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin bans Malaysian citizens from going overseas and foreigners from entering Malaysia from 18 to 31 March. Malaysians returning from overseas will have to go through health checks and a 14-day self-quarantine.

17 March

New Zealand Health Minister David Clark announced that New Zealand Government will deport foreign tourists who flout government requirements to self-quarantine for two weeks. Later, Immigration New Zealand detained two foreign tourists for refusing to comply with self-quarantine requirements. That same day, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced a NZ$12.1 billion Covid-19 coronavirus business package to aid businesses, beneficiaries, and health services affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Jon Landau, the co-producer of the Avatar film sequels, announced that film production at the New Zealand–based Stone Street Studios had been suspended in response to the coronavirus outbreak. However, filming will continue in Los Angeles.

18 March

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) urges all New Zealanders traveling overseas to return home in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

The New Zealand and Australian Governments cancel Anzac Day services scheduled to be held at Gallipoli in Turkey in response to travel restrictions and the coronavirus outbreak.

See also

• Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in November 2019 – January 2020
• Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in February 2020

References

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