2020.04.13

2020.04.12

2020.04.11

2020.04.10

First Case

🇾🇪 Yemen

2020.04.09

Boris Johnson Leaves ICU

"Prime Minister Boris Johnson left intensive care...as he continues to recover...but he remains under close observation in hospital..."

Source

2020.04.08

First Death

🇸🇴 Somalia

2020.04.07

First Death

🇲🇼 Malawi

2020.04.06

2020.04.05

First Case

🇸🇸 South Sudan

First Death

🇧🇧 Barbados
🇭🇹 Haiti

Hungarian Parliament Gives Prime Minister Unlimited Emergency Powers

"Hungary is no more a democracy. Instead, we have a hybrid regime. Some call it electoral autocracy, others competitive authoritarianism. So not a democracy nor a dictatorship, but something in between."

Source

Boris Johnson Admitted to Hospital

"This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus...officials emphasized that it had not been an emergency admission."

Source

First Non-Domesticated Animal Tests Positive

"One of the [Bronx] zoo's Malayan tigers...has tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. Six other big cats are also showing symptoms of the illness."

Source

2020.04.04

First Death

🇬🇪 Georgia
🇰🇼 Kuwait
🇸🇷 Suriname

2020.04.03

First Case

🇫🇰 Falkland Islands

First Death

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
🇱🇾 Libya

2020.04.02

First Case

🇲🇼 Malawi

First Death

🇿🇲 Zambia

1,000,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

2020.04.01

First Death

🇧🇸 Bahamas
🇸🇻 El Salvador
🇮🇲 Isle of Man
St. Maarten

900,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

2020.03.31

First Case

🇧🇮 Burundi
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone

First Death

🇧🇾 Belarus
🇲🇷 Mauritania
🇲🇲 Myanmar
🇸🇳 Senegal
🇹🇿 Tanzania

800,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

Study Suggests Asymptomatic Spread Is A Driving Force

A study by Lucas Ferretti of Oxford University suggests 1/3 - 1/2 of infections are caused by asymptomatic spread. (Paper: https://bit.ly/2Rz8505)

Source

2020.03.30

First Case

🇧🇼 Botswana

First Death

🇨🇮 Ivory Coast

2020.03.29

First Death

🇧🇴 Bolivia
🇲🇱 Mali
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🇺🇾 Uruguay

700,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

2020.03.28

First Case

🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands, US

First Death

🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇯🇴 Jordan
🇲🇨 Monaco
🇶🇦 Qatar
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

600,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

WHO Official Dodges Question Regarding Taiwan's Handling of Pandemic

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear your question." "Okay, let me repeat the question," she said. "No, that's okay. Let's move to another one then..."

Source

First Infant Death

"An infant who tested positive for the coronavirus has died...It was the first known death of a child younger than a year old with the virus in the US..."

Source

2020.03.27

First Death

🇧🇳 Brunei
🇹🇬 Togo
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

US Stimulus Bill Passes Congress and Signed By Pres

"The far-reaching legislation stands as the largest emergency aid package in US history." (Bill Summary: https://bit.ly/2UF40bA)

Source

Boris Johnson Tests Positive

"Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating in Downing Street."

Source

2020.03.26

First Case

🇰🇳 St. Kitts and Nevis

First Death

🇦🇲 Armenia
🇭🇳 Honduras
🇰🇿󠁧󠁢󠁳 Kazakhstan
🇰🇪 Kenya
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇻🇪 Venezuela

500,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

2020.03.25

First Case

🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands
🇲🇱 Mali

2020.03.24

First Case

🇱🇾 Libya

First Death

🇨🇲 Cameroon
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

400,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

2020.03.23

First Case

🇧🇿 Belize
🇬🇩 Grenada
🇲🇿 Mozambique
🇲🇲 Myanmar

First Death

🇨🇻 Cape Verde
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇬🇲 Gambia

Man Dies After Self-Medicating with Chloroquine

"A Phoenix-area man is dead and his wife is under critical care after the two took chloroquine phosphate in an apparent attempt to self-medicate for the novel coronavirus..."

Source

Streaming Deprioritized as Many Work From Home

"[Streaming services are] committed to reduce the quality of their streaming videos in an attempt to preserve bandwidth and keep internet connections stable, as people are forced to work from home to limit the spread of coronavirus."

Source

Xenophobic Sentiment Flares

"As bigots blame them for the coronavirus and President Trump labels it the “Chinese virus,” many Chinese-Americans say they are terrified of what could come next."

Source

2020.03.22

First Case

🇨🇬 Democratic Republic of Congo
🇬🇩 Grenada
🇸🇾 Syria
🇺🇬 Uganda

First Death

🇦🇫 Afghanistan
🇦🇩 Andorra
🇬🇺 Guam
🇷🇴 Romania

Huawei Makes Donations to Ireland, Netherlands, South Korea, and Poland, Among Others

Huawei makes large amount of mask donations with 5G auctions just around the corner.

Source

2020.03.21

First Case

🇦🇴 Angola

First Death

🇨🇴 Columbia
🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇫🇮 Finland
🇮🇱 Israel
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

300,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

1/5 Americans Ordered to Stay at Home; US/Canada Border Closed

"Connecticut and New Jersey on Friday joined Illinois and California in ordering residents to stay at home in order to combat coronavirus. New York State ordered non-essential businesses to close. A ban on non-essential travel across the US-Canada border came into effect at midnight..."

Source

US Workers May Get 'Unemployment Insurance On Steroids'

"“If you can’t work because your business is closed for all the obvious reasons, you will get your full pay from the federal government and unemployment insurance on steroids will cover all workers. It will cover part-time workers, workers who are independent, it will cover the freelancers, and you will be able to stay on this for four months."

Source

US Companies Step Up With Aid

"The White House signaled...that American companies were increasing efforts to restock hospitals with crucial supplies during the coronavirus pandemic, but it again stopped short of more assertive steps that some state and local leaders have been demanding." (Tweets on that: https://bit.ly/3bsfdmP, https://bit.ly/3aayfgV, https://bit.ly/2U6LDxc)

Source

Beijing Slowly Heading Outdoors

"After several days with no 'home-grown' infections, according to China’s official figures, there is a feeling there that the coronavirus emergency appears to be under control. People in Beijing are finally heading outdoors."

Source

Olympics Still Not Cancelled -- But Should Be

"If the Games do go ahead, they will not just be an organisational nightmare of a revolving door between quarantine and competition for thousands of athletes. Ironically, anti-infection precautions will also disrupt crucial pre-competition drug testing, making the Tokyo Olympics vulnerable to drug cheats..."

Source

2020.03.20

First Case

🇨🇻 Cape Verde
🇮🇲 Isle of Man
🇲🇬 Madagascar
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

First Death

🇮🇱 Israel

HCWs Warn of Supply Shortages

"Doctors reusing masks between patients. Nurses going to work, even if they've been exposed to the novel coronavirus, to meet demand. And if their supplies run out -- staff having to replace face masks with bandanas or scarves..."

Source

Calls For Homemade Masks

"Hospitals and doctors are reaching out via social media to ask for mission-critical help in solving the shortage of N95-type masks..."

Source

NHS Doctors Given Guidelines To Decide Who Lives and Who Dies

"Overwhelmed doctors will be given new guidelines to help them decide which coronavirus victims should potentially live or die if they run out of intensive care beds or ventilators."

Source

Whitehouse Warns of Disinformation Campaigns

"The Chinese Communist Party, Russia, Iran, and bad actors around the world are spreading misinformation and lies about the Coronavirus."

Source

Trump Rails Against Reporter

"Asked for his message to frightened Americans during the national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, Donald Trump instead attacked the reporter as 'terrible' and claimed he was sensationalising the outbreak..."

Source

DOW Erases The 'Trump Bump'

"The Dow erased the “Trump bump,” ending the week below its level from the day before the president's inauguration."

Source

Pence Staffer Tests Positive For Coronavirus

"The member of the vice president’s offices adds to the growing list of White House and congressional personnel who have tested positive."

Source

Senators Closer To Economic Rescue Plan

"[There is] hope to reach 'an agreement in principle' by midnight."

Source

UK Hospitals Starting To Fill Up

"We have this evening declared a ‘critical incident’ [at this hospital]...We currently do not have enough space for patients requiring critical care."

Source

China Steps Up Border Checks

"China’s international travel hubs are screening arrivals from overseas and expanding mandatory quarantine policies to handle an expected influx of imported COVID-19 cases..."

Source

Hand Wash How-To Via Ink Illustration

Person shows what part of the hand gets washed with various hand washing techniques with ink.

Source

2020.03.19

First Case

🇹🇩 Chad
🇸🇻 El Salvador
🇭🇹 Haiti
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
🇳🇪 Niger

First Death

🇲🇽 Mexico
Northern Ireland
🇷🇺 Russia

Announcement (US):

The window for US citizens to pick their location and quarantine-mates is closing or has already closed in some locations. Check the source below for how to prepare.

Source

China Reports No New Infections

"China has reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for the first time since the pandemic began, marking a major turning point in the global battle to contain Covid-19..."

Source

Italy's Death Toll Surpasses China's

"Local newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that Italy's death toll has reached 3,405 — an uptick of 427 deaths from a day prior — while its caseload has surged to 41,035."

Source

California Issues State-Wide 'Stay At Home' Order

"The order is in place until further notice."

Source

China Claims Quick US Vaccine Creation Means US Had Access to Virus Early

"'Expert': "The US pushed out the vaccine so quickly, that only means they have been working on it way before the pandemic." 'Host': "So we can conclude that the US had this virus in their possession long ago."

Source

First Death in Sub-Saharan Africa

"Sub-Saharan Africa...recorded its first COVID-19 death, a high-ranking politician in Burkina Faso, as the head of the World Health Organisation urged the continent to 'prepare for the worst'..."

Source

Africa's Response Lacking Crucial Factor: Public Trust in Institutions

"Public health depends upon participation, and when citizens mistrust those asking them to make sacrifices or take unusual steps to protect the greater good, even the most thoughtful interventions are doomed to fail..."

Source

UK Businesses Scrap Dividend Payouts

"UK-listed businesses are scrapping plans to pay dividends in a bid to protect their balance sheets against months of disruption, hitting private investors who rely on the payouts for an income as well as pension funds..."

Source

North Korea Orders Construction of 'Curcial' New Hospital

"North Korea premier Kim Jong Un has ordered the construction of a “modern general hospital” to be finished in the "shortest period", despite claiming the country has zero cases of coronavirus infections..."

Source

Argentina Goes Into Lockdown

"Argentina's president says the country will go into mandatory quarantine due to coronavirus concerns..."

Source

Australia and New Zealand Close Borders

"Australia and New Zealand have announced that they are closing their borders to non-residents..."

Source

Chloroquine May Fight Covid-19

"The old malaria drug is getting used against the coronavirus. Tech enthusiasts are abuzz. One missing step: clinical trials."

Source

Water Firms Issue Blockage Warnings Due To Toilet Paper 'Alternatives'

"Water firms, environmental agencies and city authorities in the UK, US and Australia have issued warnings against flushing alternatives to toilet paper as wet wipes and paper towels could lead to blockages in the sewers..."

Source

Burglars Pose As NHS Workers 'Carrying Out Testing'

"Burglars are posing as NHS workers testing for coronavirus to gain access to people’s homes, police have warned. People are being urged to refuse to allow anyone claiming to be carrying out tests inside and call 999 immediately."

Source

US Celebrities Have Special Access to Testing

"Despite a widely reported shortage of test kits, a troubling trend has emerged in which asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic pro athletes and other celebrities have a curious access to testing even while hospitals throughout the country are turning away patients with severe symptoms who are in need of immediate testing..."

Source

Tracking High Temps With Smart Thermometers

"A company that makes internet-connected thermometers has followed the flu more closely than the C.D.C. can. Now the devices may be turning up cases of Covid-19."

Source

Senator Dumps Stock After Reassuring Public About Preparedness

"Soon after he offered public assurances that the government was ready to battle the coronavirus, the powerful chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee...sold off a significant percentage of his stocks..."

Source

Stop Wasting Time Debating Trump's 'China Virus' Wording

""It’s important to recognise that the president consistently uses racism as a way of distracting attention from other...subjects..."

Source

US Quietly Receives Test Swabs from Italy

"Parts to testing: First is the swabs that are used to collect the sample from the individual who’s being tested, then there’s a liquid...that you put the swab into. That’s what composed what we brought over from Italy."

Source

Younger Adults Make Up Big Portion of Hospitalizations in US

"New C.D.C. data shows that nearly 40 percent of patients sick enough to be hospitalized were age 20 to 54. But the risk of dying was significantly higher in older people."

Source

Hospitals Sounding Alarm For Funding For Supplies

"Front-line health care groups are now seeking $100 billion from Congress for supplies and equipment."

Source

Mayor of New York Calls on Pres For Help

"New York City...is calling on the President...to deploy the U.S. military to New York in an effort to fight the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak."

Source

Mayor of New York Recruits Tesla For Ventilators

"Our country is facing a drastic shortage and we need ventilators ASAP..."

Source

Forget Numbers -- Where's The Light?

Numbers in the news show no new cases in China. Even so, the number of lights out in Wuhan is eerie.

Source

Indian Police Hand-Washing Video Goes Viral

"In footage posted on Facebook by Kerala Police on Tuesday, six police officers wearing face masks can be seen dancing while demonstrating hand-washing techniques..."

Source

In An Age of Quaratine -- Entertain Goes Really Digital

Techno: https://bit.ly/33wodEx Classical: https://bit.ly/2wmyoiP

Source

2020.03.18

First Case

🇩🇯 Djibouti
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
🇿🇲 Zambia

First Death

🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇯🇲 Jamaica
🇲🇩 Moldova
🇵🇰 Pakistan

200,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

Trump Working To Get Checks To Americans

"The Trump administration is working to send money directly to Americans in a bid to curb the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis..." (Andrew Yang's Reaction: https://bit.ly/2x7uvye

Source

GM To Make Ventilators

"White House economic adviser...said...that General Motors CEO...offered the automakers’ shuttered factories to produce ventilators to address the coronavirus crisis..."

Source

China's Hubei Province Adds No New Cases For First Time

"The center of the coronavirus outbreak reported no new infections for the first time since the pathogen emerged more than two months ago...Experts warn of second wave."

Source

Xinhua Reporter's Glorification Triggers Anger At State Media

"Chinese social media has recoiled with anger at the lionization of [a Xinhua reporter], saying she helped propagate fictions that clouded the severity of the outbreak in its early days. The outrage was sparked by [her description of] her fellow reporters [as] “iron people” serving bravely on the battlefront against a deadly epidemic..."

Source

Taiwan Closes Borders To Foreign Visitors

"The indefinite entry restrictions will exempt foreign resident permit holders and diplomats but anyone arriving from another country will face 14 days of home quarantine. The government has also asked Taiwanese citizens to refrain from travelling unless absolutely necessary..."

Source

Germans Called-On For Solidarity

"Since German unification, no, since World War II, there has been no greater challenge to our country that depends so much on us acting together in solidarity...After two straight evenings of press conferences used to unveil measures that effectively suspended public life in Germany to try to curb the spread of the virus..."

Source

Turks Advised to Stay Home

"The Turkish President..advised Turks...not to leave home unless necessary for three weeks and to minimise social contact until the threat of the coronavirus recedes, but did not tell them to stay away from work..."

Source

"My Coronavirus Test"

"The symptoms have been easy to deal with. The health care system has not."

Source

Sport Stand-Ins On YouTube

With so many sports cancelled and post-poned, fans get creative in producing exciting, competitive, content.

Source

Food For Quarantine

Some consider farming for sustenance in quarantine -- here's a fun how-to gif.

Source

2020.03.17

First Case

🇧🇧 Barbados
🇬🇲 Gambia
St. Maarten

Cases in all 50 States of US

At least 6,362 cases. At least 108 deaths.

Source

Global Recession

There will likely be a "a surge in defaults, with a default rate on nonfinancial corporates in the U.S that may rise above 10% and into the high single digits in Europe over the next 12 months."

Source

Chilling Scientific Paper Effects US/UK Policies

"If Britain and the United States pursued more-ambitious measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, to slow but not necessarily stop the epidemic over the coming few months, they could reduce mortality by half"(NYT podcast: https://nyti.ms/2Wihk8i)

Source

Trump Changes His Tune

After weeks of comparing the Coronavirus to the flu, Trump is now treating it like a real crisis.

Source

Trump Defends Use of Term 'Chinese Virus'

"China was putting out information, which was false, that our military gave this to them. That was false. And rather than having an argument, I said I had to call it where it came from. It did come from China. So, I think it's a very accurate term..."

Source

China Expels More US Journalists

"China has announced it will expel journalists from three US media outlets, in a major escalation of tensions with Washington." (Also see Feb 19)

Source

China Says They Are Still Open

"China's fundamental state policy of opening-up has not changed..." (Original Statement: https://bit.ly/38XxrL5)

Source

Fear of China Made Taiwan a Success Story

"Taiwan has 10 million masks a day, widespread tracking, and just 1 death despite being close to the outbreak. "

Source

Telling People They Don't Need Masks Backfires

"Given that there is indeed a mask shortage and that medical workers absolutely do need these masks more, what should the authorities have said? The full painful truth."

Source

18% of U.S. Workers Have Lost Jobs

"Some 18% of adults reported that they had been laid off or that their work hours had been cut, a new poll found."

Source

ICE Continues To Make Arrests During Lockdown

"With safety measures taken across the state, immigrant advocates have criticized ICE for its continued enforcement operations..." The Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE responds: "Asking us to stop doing that basically gives those criminals another opportunity to maybe commit more crimes, to create more victims."

Source

Kentucky Derby Postponed

"The Kentucky Derby is being postponed from May to September..."

Source

Experts Warn of Bogus Emails

"Techniques include bogus emails with links claiming to have important updates on the virus which, once clicked on, lead to the device being infected."

Source

Toilet Paper Makers Struggle to Keep Up

"Toilet paper has a become the ultimate symbol of the panic buying; it's seemingly scooped up as soon as new rolls hit the shelves."

Source

Americans Discover Bidets

"Long a punchline among Americans, the bidet (bih-DAY) is finally getting some respect due to coronavirus-related concerns about toilet paper shortages..."

Source

Japan Launches 15-minute Testing Kit

"Japan has dramatically ramped up production of equipment to test for the presence of the novel coronavirus – including a private company that is selling kits it promises can return a result within 15 minutes. The country now has the ability to screen as many as 7,000 people a day, but...only testing individuals identified as...particularly at risk..."

Source

UC San Diego Working on Fast Test

"Researchers at UC San Diego are evaluating a new diagnostic testing system...that holds promise for identifying the novel coronavirus in as little as 45 minutes and typically within one hour."

Source

India Starts Stamping Hands

"Those who test positive for the disease [or need to self-quarantine] will be marked with an indelible ink, normally used in the country to mark those who have already voted during elections."

Source

Mass Graves Dug in Iran

Iran, having experienced one of the worst outbreaks, dig rows upon rows of mass graves for the hundreds who have perished.

Source

Venezuela Goes Into Lockdown

"The measure limits movement and commercial activity in all of the 23 states and the Capital District of Caracas. The armed forces and the National Bolivarian Police are charged with enforcing the quarantine..."

Source

Jared Leto Finds Out About Pandemic After 12-Day Meditation

"Twelve days ago I began a silent meditation...We were totally isolated....We had no idea what was happening...walked out yesterday into a very different world. One that’s been changed forever. Mind blowing -- to say the least."

Source

Gratitude in France

Reminiscent of Wuhan's 'hang in there' (加油) videos, French cheer on and thank health care workers.

Source

2020.03.16

First Case

🇧🇯 Benin
🇬🇱 Greenland
🇸🇴 Somalia
🇹🇿 Tanzania

First Death

🇩🇰 Denmark

Global Deaths and Infections Overtake Those in China

"Global deaths and infections from the coronavirus have surpassed those inside China for the first time since the beginning of the outbreak."

Source

Paper Projects Mortality Rates With No Intervention

Imperial College's paper describes that with no measures US deaths=4 million. But suppression works -- The death rate in the US would peak 3 weeks from now at a few thousand deaths, then goes down. "The nightmarish death tolls from the rest of the study disappear." (Paper: https://bit.ly/3da5lzu)

Source

We Must Prepare for Mental Toll of Self-Isolation

"

Source

Vaccine Trial Begins in Seattle

"Healthy volunteers will test different doses of the first vaccine to find out if it is safe."

Source

Social Media Giants Warn of AI Moderation Errors

"[Tech giants] that more videos and other content could be erroneously removed for policy violations, as the companies empty offices and rely on automated takedown software during the coronavirus pandemic..."

Source

Stream Netflix in Sync with Loved Ones Remotely

"During the pandemic outbreak, many are staying home and socially distancing – meaning they are also yearning for company...A Google Chrome extension provides some relief by enabling people to watch programmes simultaneously from the comfort of their own homes."

Source

Amazon Seeks to Hire 100,000 to Keep Up with Surge Demand

"Amazon said...it needs to hire 100,000 people across the U.S. to keep up with a crush of orders...it will also temporarily raise pay by $2 an hour through the end of April for hourly employees..."

Source

Gun Sales Soar in US

"Americans are flocking to gun stores and waiting in long lines as they worry about what’s to come in the next few months with society all but shut down..."

Source

Unsuccessful Cyber Attack Attempt on US Department of Health Servers

"The U.S. Health and Human Services Department suffered a cyber-attack on its computer system, part of what people familiar with the incident called a campaign of disruption and disinformation that was aimed at undermining the response to the coronavirus pandemic and may have been the work of a foreign actor."

Source

San Francisco to 'Shelter in Place'

"The directive is not a full lockdown, so people will not be prohibited from leaving their homes without government permission. Instead, they're directed to stay inside and avoid contact with others as much as possible for three weeks. Law enforcement is being asked to 'ensure compliance' with the order..."

Source

NY, NJ, CT Ban Together On Mitigation Measures

"In the absence of uniform national standards issued by the federal government, [3] govs...have implemented their own set of unified rules for the tri-state area..." They also ban crowds of 50+.

Source

High Risk Occupations

"People with jobs that put them in physical contact with many others are at the greatest risk of becoming sick..."

Source

White House Advises Against Public Gatherings of 10+

"The White House advised all Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 and urged older people to stay at home in a set of new guidelines designed to fight a spreading coronavirus outbreak..."

Source

Boca Raton Law Firm Sues Chinese Gov Over Handling of Coronavirus

"The suit alleges that the Chinese government "knew that COVID-19 was dangerous and capable of causing a pandemic, yet slowly acted, proverbially put their head in the sand, and/or covered it up for their own economic self-interest."...While the Chinese government could ignore the suit...there are economic ways to ensure the Chinese government comply with the court process..."

Source

China Eyes Rescheduled Parliament For Late April or Early May

"The annual meetings...known as the “two sessions”...would be a major indication that the Chinese leadership sees things as returning to normal...China tentatively plans to hold its delayed annual gathering of parliament in late April or early May..."

Source

Hong Kong Frees $64 Billion Capital to Lift Economy

"The city’s de-facto central bank on Monday lowered its countercyclical capital buffer imposed on banks to 1% from 2%...The lower buffer frees up about HK$500 billion to support lending..."

Source

'Herd Immunity' is Not UK's Goal (AM)

"The actual goal is the same as that of other countries: flatten the curve by staggering the onset of infections. As a consequence, the nation may achieve herd immunity; it’s a side effect, not an aim..."(UK Plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan/coronavirus-action-plan-a-guide-to-what-you-can-expect-across-the-uk)

Source

UK Realizes It's Math is Wrong (PM)

"The UK only realised 'in the last few days' that attempts to 'mitigate' the impact of the coronavirus pandemic would not work...[and] would 'likely result in hundreds of thousands of deaths and health systems (most notably intensive care units) being overwhelmed many times over'."

Source

UK's Lockdown Plans

"[It is not advised to attend] mass gatherings, sporting events and nights out in the pub..."

Source

EU to Close Borders to Non-Essential Travel

"The European Union will close its borders to all non-essential travel as it attempts to contain the ongoing spread of the coronavirus on the continent..."

Source

Super League Season Suspended

"The Rugby Football League and Super League have suspended all fixtures until April 3 at the earliest in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak."

Source

Pope Defies Lockdown to Pray at 'Plague' Crucifix Church

"[The] Pope...defied Italy's lockdown...leaving his home in the Vatican to pray for those affected by the novel coronavirus at a famous crucifix that believers claim helped to save Romans from the plague in 1522."

Source

Italy’s Coronavirus Victims Face Death Alone, With Funerals Postponed

"As morgues are inundated, coffins pile up and mourners grieve in isolation: 'This is the bitterest part.'"

Source

EU Doesn't Step up For Italy

"In a shameful abdication of responsibility, fellow countries in the European Union have failed to give medical assistance and supplies to Italy during an outbreak. China is filling the void..."

Source

Italians Singing Chinese National Anthem From Balconies is Untrue

"The spokeswoman for the Beijing Foreign Ministry said on Twitter that Italians sang the Chinese National Anthem on Balconies to thank China." Italians say this is untrue. The foreign ministers' silence is frustrating.

Source

1,350 Escape São Paulo Prison

"More than 1,350 inmates escape from prisons in São Paulo after tensions over coronavirus restrictions; several guards being held hostage - EFE" -BNO News

Source

Germany Bars Travel and Public Events

"Germany will take 'radical measures' to fight the spread of coronavirus by banning people from traveling for pleasure and closing non-essential shops..."

Source

US Airlines Seek $60 Billion Bailout

"U.S. airlines are asking for nearly $60 billion in direct assistance and loan guarantees, vastly dwarfing the $15 billion made available after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as airlines worldwide continue to plea for government help from the effects of the coronavirus outbreak."

Source

Norwegian Air Cancels 85% of Flights; Lays off 90% of Staff

"Norwegian Air...will cancel 85% of its flights and temporarily lay off 7,300 employees as a result of the growing coronavirus crisis that has strangled demand for air travel..."

Source

Spain's Prime Minister's Wife Tests Positive

The prime minister and his wife's health are in good condition.

Source

Canada to Bar Entry for Most Foreignors

"Canada will be closing its borders to anyone who is not a citizen or a permanent resident...Only four Canadian airports - in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver - will be accepting international flights..."

Source

Denmark Closes Borders

"Denmark...recorded its first coronavirus death as it closed its borders to foreigners in order to slow the spread of the disease...."

Source

Russia Bars Entry to Foreignors

"Russia’ Federal Security Service (FSB) is instructed to impose temporary restrictions on entry to the country by foreign citizens and persons without citizenship, including those arriving from Belarus and Belarusian nationals, from 00:00 local time on March 18, 2020 to 00:00 local time on May 1..."

Source

Asymptomatic Spread May Be Driving Pandemic

(Developing)"This new Science paper makes it very clear that asymptomatic transmission isn't just possible, it's driving this pandemic: "We estimate 86% of all infections were undocumented..."" (Paper: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/03/13/science.abb3221) (Also see Feb 16, 28)

Source

2020.03.15

First Case

🇧🇸 Bahamas
🇬🇺 Guam
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

H.R. 6201: Families First CoronaVirus Response Act Passes House

"In a series of tweets, the President said, 'I fully support H.R. 6201: Families First CoronaVirus Response Act, which will be voted on in the House this evening.'...The House of Representatives passed [this] bipartisan legislative package in response to the spread of coronavirus...following intense negotiations between House Speaker...and the Trump administration. The bill passed with broad, bipartisan support and a final tally of 363-40 with 40 Republicans voting against it..." (The Act: https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/Families%20First%20summary.pdf)

Source

Democratic Debate Reshaped By COVID-19

"The septuagenarian candidates, definitely in the high-risk demographic, will stand six feet apart. Even the moderators and cameramen in the CNN studio for tonight’s debate between [them] will be social distancing..."

Source

Democratic Debate Moderator Drops Out

"The Univision anchor, who was scheduled to co-moderate Sunday's Democratic primary debate, 'was in proximity with someone who was in direct contact with a person that tested positive for coronavirus.'"

Source

CDC Recommends Banning Public Events

"The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks, in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus."

Source

Americans Brag About Not Social Distancing

"The nation's top infectious disease researchers have repeatedly warned, if not begged, Americans to practice social distancing as the contagious coronavirus spreads through the population...Though some folks are social distancing, many still clearly aren't... (Also see Feb 1)"

Source

New York City Announces School Closures

"New York City’s public school system, the nation’s largest, will begin shutting down this week, by far the most far-reaching and disruptive measure the city has taken yet to slow the spread of the coronavirus."

Source

Disney Closes Parks

"Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris Resort will be closed from Sunday, March 15, 2020 through the end of the month. However, at both locations, the hotels and retail/dining complexes will remain open."

Source

Two ER Docs in Critical Condition

"The hospitalizations sharpen fears that the nation’s front-line medical workers could be uniquely vulnerable, a health care organization said..."

Source

Chinese Tycoon Vanishes

"[Another] government critic [has been] silenced by the Communist Party as it cracks down on dissent over the epidemic."

Source

Americans Stocking Up on Staples and...Guns

"A line around the block in Venice Beach, LA stocking up for COVID19 pandemic -- at the gun store!"

Source

LVMH to Distribute Hand Sanitizer

"Given the risk of a shortage of hydroalcoholic gel in France...the LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics business [has been instructed] to prepare its production sites to manufacture substantial quantities of hydroalcoholic gel to be provided to public authorities."

Source

Haiti Shuts Border and Suspends Most International Flights

"Haiti, one of the few Caribbean nations with no recorded cases of the new coronavirus, announced...a shutdown of its border with the Dominican Republic, a ban on travel for government officials, and a suspension of flights from Europe, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Latin America..."

Source

Iranian Cleric Says Zionist Coronavirus Cure Could be Halal

"In a recent ruling, an Iranian cleric decided that Muslims would be able to use a cure for coronavirus even if one is created by Israelis."

Source

Top Iran Ayatollah Denies Agreeing to Coronavirus Vaccine From Israel

"A top Shi'a cleric in Iran has denied approving the purchase of a possible anti-coronavirus vaccine from Israel, which Islamic Republic considers as its top enemy..."

Source

More Licks Go Viral

Licking in spite of the coronavirus pandemic makes a comeback. (Also see Feb 29)

Source

2020.03.14

First Case

🇨🇫 Central African Republic
🇲🇷 Mauritania
🇳🇦 Namibia
🇷🇼 Rwanda
🇸🇨 Seychelles

150,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 150,000. Of those, 5,774 have died, 73,962 have recovered, and 72,698 are still sick

Source

French Government Warns Against Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Use

"France's health minister...said people should not use anti-inflammatory drugs if they have coronavirus-like symptoms because it could worsen their condition."

Source

France Goes Into Lockdown

"France has gone on lockdown after...[The] Prime Minister...ordered the closure of restaurants, cafés and all other 'non-essential' commerce...Groceries, pharmacies, tobacconists and petrol stations will remain open."

Source

First Death in New York -- Bringing US Total Deaths to 50

"Patient was an elderly woman"

Source

US President Tests Negative

"Several guests at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida tested positive for the virus, prompting concerns that Trump was exposed. But the president made clear at the time that he wasn't worried about being infected."

Source

Dr. Anthony Fauci Becomes Voice of Truth

"You should never destroy your own credibility. And you don't want to go to war with a president ... But you got to walk the fine balance of making sure you continue to tell the truth"...

Source

Those in Close Contact with US Pres. Will Now Undergo Temp. Checks

"Out of an abundance of caution, temperature checks are now being performed on any individuals who are in close contact with the President and Vice President,"

Source

Teaneck, New Jersey Mayor Asks All To Self Quarantine

"Officials are calling for all residents to self-quarantine and only leave their residences for food and medicine as the township grapples with the...coronavirus cases..."

Source

St. Patrick's Day Still Lively in Pittsburgh

"I think people are going to be like, ‘Oh no, we’re going to be stuck inside for two weeks, so let’s all go drink today,’"

Source

Taco Bell Only Serving Drive-Thru & Delivery and Offers Sick Leave

"Taco Bell says it's equipping its restaurants to serve guests via drive-thru & delivery only, where necessary, is amending its sick policies, & will continue to pay employees who have to stay home or work at closed restaurants."

Source

Mormon Church Calls Off Public Gatherings World-Wide

"Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice."

Source

UK Scientists Petition For Social Distancing

"In an open letter, a group of 229 scientists from UK universities say the government's current approach will put the NHS under additional stress and 'risk many more lives than necessary'." (Petition: http://maths.qmul.ac.uk/~vnicosia/UK_scientists_statement_on_coronavirus_measures.pdf)

Source

Newborn Baby in London Youngest Case

"The baby's mother was rushed to hospital in London with suspected pneumonia a few days ago...Once it was ascertained that both mother and baby had coronavirus, they were placed in separate hospitals overnight to receive treatment...It's unknown whether the baby contracted the virus in the womb or during the labor..."

Source

Spain Declares National Emergency and Goes Into Lockdown

"Spain’s government announced...that it is placing tight restrictions on movements and closing restaurants and other establishments in the nation of 46 million people as part of a two-week state of emergency to fight the sharp rise in coronavirus infections..."

Source

South Korea Daily New Positive Cases Down to The 100s

Thanks to various measures such as drive-thru testing, physical barriers, drone robot disinfectors, triage by text, and more...

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Manila Imposes Nighttime Curfew

"The nighttime curfew will take effect on March 15 to April 14"

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Jordan Closes Borders

"Jordan said it would stop all incoming and outgoing passenger flights into the country...as it tightens border controls and bans public gatherings and events to combat the spread of coronavirus..."

Source

Deaths in Italy Mounting

Italian shares the obituary section -- which has grown to 10 pages long.

Source

Lebanese Pots in Quarantine

Reminiscent of Wuhan's 'hang in there' (加油) videos, Lebanese cope with quarantine with pot banging.

Source

2020.03.13

First Case

🇦🇼 Aruba
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
🇬🇦 Gabon
🇬🇵 Guadeloupe
🇬🇭 Ghana
🇬🇹 Guatemala
🇬🇳 Guinea
🇰🇿󠁧󠁢󠁳 Kazakhstan
🇰🇪 Kenya
🇽🇰 Kosovo
🇸🇩 Sudan
🇸🇷 Suriname
🇺🇾 Uruguay
🇻🇪 Venezuela
🇻🇮 Virgin Islands (US)

First Death

󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿󠁧󠁢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿󠁳󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿󠁧󠁢 Scotland

Some Recoveries Report '20 to 30%' Less Lung Function

"..Patients can do cardiovascular exercises, like swimming, the improve their lung capacity over time. While it's too early to establish long-term effects of the disease, scans of nine patients' lungs also "found patterns similar to frosted glass in all of them, suggesting there was organ damage"..."

Source

US Declares National Emergency

"President Donald Trump said Friday he was declaring a national emergency -- 'two very big words' -- to free up $50 billion in federal resources to combat coronavirus even as he refused to take personal responsibility for administration failures early in the outbreak..." Trump also said Google would create a testing triage site.

Source

Trump Surprises Google

"Google's not making a nationwide coronavirus testing website. And the company had no idea the president would say it was."

Source

US Deploys National Guard to Hot Zones

"The governors of Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, New York, Rhode Island and Washington have all activated components of their Army and Air National Guard. Guardsmen in California and Maryland are also expected to join their states’ efforts today..."

Source

Johns Hopkins Project Up to 500,000 Cases in US

"“Don’t believe the numbers when you see, even on our Johns Hopkins website, that 1,600 Americans have the virus,” he said. “No, that means 1,600 got the test, tested positive. There are probably 25 to 50 people who have the virus for every one person who is confirmed.” He added: “I think we have between 50,000 and half a million cases right now walking around in the United States.”"

Source

UK Releases Plan: Herd Immunity

"Herd immunity is a phrase normally used when large numbers of children have been vaccinated against a disease like measles, reducing the chances that others will get it. As a tactic in fighting a pandemic for which there is no vaccine, it is novel – and some say alarming..."

Source

'China Bought the West Time' Becomes Controversial

Debate grows: 'China bought time via authoritarian quaratines' vs. 'China didn't buy us time because they intially covering up the pandemic'. (NYT Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/opinion/china-response-china.html#click=https://t.co/7ftvfRKP9G)(Also see Feb 4)

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Kenya Bans Public Events

"Kenya has banned all major public events after confirming its first case of the new coronavirus in a woman who had returned to the country from the United States..."

Source

Reports Hazy Around Around Brazilian President's Test

In the morning reports said Brazilian President tested positive, now reports are saying he denies testing positive. (Original: https://twitter.com/MirrorBreaking_/status/1238463380115030018?s=20)

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Denmark Closes All Borders To International Tourists

"The happiest country in the world is banning international tourists for the next month by closing its border to all non-resident foreigners..."

Source

Poland Closes Borders

"...No international inbound flights or trains would be allowed..., except for some charter flights bringing Poles back from holidays..."

Source

Italian Music in Quarantine

Reminiscent of Wuhan's 'hang in there' (加油) videos, Italians cope with quarantine with rooftop music.

Source

Shitshow

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2020.03.12

First Case

🇰🇾 Cayman Islands
🇨🇺 Cuba
🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago

First Death

🇬🇾 Guyana

Stocks Plunge by the Most Since 1987

"Stocks plummet as Trump’s travel ban adds to investors’ distress."

Source

Disney Announces Park Closures

"It is the first time Disney will close both Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida since the Sept. 11 attacks."

Source

US Sports Shutting Down

"The U.S. coronavirus outbreak has led to an almost complete shutdown of professional sports in the country...[After the NBA announced suspending its season], NHL, MLB, MLS, U.S. Soccer, and multiple tennis associations followed suit."

Source

Chinese Diplomat Spreads False Rumours on Twitter

"Chinese diplomat with 272k followers spreads completely insane theory that US army might have brought the virus to Wuhan. China’s use of social media for disinfo is becoming ever more serious concern."

Source

China Sends Doctors and Supplies Abroad

"A charter flight carrying a nine-member Chinese aid team, along with tonnes of medical supplies , arrived at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport...Organised by the National Health Commission and the Red Cross Society of China, the group is the third expert team sent abroad by Chinese authorities following previous teams sent to Iran and Iraq...[Said China's official Xinhua news agency]"

Source

Vox Publishes Piece Chiding US Testing

"The US lags just about every developed country on testing for Covid-19 disease." (Also see Feb 13)

Source

Every Church in Rome Closes

"...Closed by April 3. This is the first time in history all the Catholic churches in Rome have been closed to worshipers, according to CNN..."

Source

France Closes Schools, Urges Elderly To Stay Home

"...Schools in France [will] close indefinitely to curb the spread of the coronavirus, and people over 70 and the infirm [should] stay home."

Source

Saudi Arabia Bans Travel to 39 Countries

"Saudi Arabia temporarily banned the travel of its citizens and residents to 39 countries including: European Union states as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus..."

Source

Belgium Closes Schools, Bars, and Restaurants

"All school lessons will be suspended...until April 3. All recreational activities are canceled. Restaurants and bars will have to close. Shops can stay open during the week but will have to close on weekends, except for pharmacies and grocery stores. All citizens are advised to work from home if possible and elderly people are advised to stay home. Public transport will continue to run..."

Source

2020.03.11

First Case

🇦🇱 Albania
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
🇬🇾 Guyana
🇭🇳 Honduras
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
🇯🇲 Jamaica
🇹🇷 Turkey

WHO Declares Pandemic

"There are 118,000 cases, more than 4,000 deaths, the agency said, and the virus has found a foothold on every continent except for Antarctica..."

Source

125,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 125,000. Of those, 4,595 have died, 66,722 have recovered, and 54,389 are active cases

Source

NBA Cancels Season

"Player Rudy Gobert mocked the risks of spreading the novel coronavirus at a news conference, just days before his positive COVID-19 diagnosis prompted the NBA to suspend its entire season."

Source

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Diagnosed Coronavirus

"Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?"

Source

DC Declares State of Emergency

"The announcement came just hours after the WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic with more than 1,200 cases in the US and growing clusters of the disease forcing many Americans to change their daily lives."

Source

Trump Addresses US -- Bans Travel From Europe

"Trump's grave-sounding remarks from the Oval Office abandoned his rosy portrayals of the global pandemic, choosing instead to frame the outbreak as a 'foreign virus' washing on American shores, despite increasing instances of community spread inside the US..."

Source

White House Told Federal Health Agency To Classify Coronavirus Deliberations

"The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as classified, an unusual step that has restricted information and hampered the U.S. government’s response to the contagion"

Source

Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Canceled

"A St. Patrick’s Day party will go on in Pittsburgh on Saturday without a parade, but the city is asking bar owners to voluntarily reduce the number of patrons allowed inside and said they would strictly enforce occupancy limits..."

Source

Denmark Closes Schools

"Denmark will close all schools, universities and day care facilities in the coming days...In addition, all employees in the public sector with non-critical jobs are to be sent home."

Source

El Salvador Declares National Quarantine

"El Salvador President...declared a national 21- day quarantine...although the country has no confirmed coronavirus cases, following the World Health Organization classifying the outbreak as a pandemic."

Source

Washington State Prohibits Events of More Than 250 People

"The health and well-being of Washingtonians during the COVID-19 outbreak remains our top priority." - Governor Jay Inslee

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Italy Shuts Down All Non-Essential Business

"Italy all but put a halt to normal life, paring the economy down to just essential services in a desperate bid to stem the advance of the deadly coronavirus."

Source

Twitter Implements Mandatory Work From Home

"Today we informed all Twitter employees globally they must work from home to support worldwide efforts to stop the spread of #COVID19. This moves beyond our earlier guidance of 'strongly encouraging work from home.'"

Source

Scotland's First Case of Community Transmission

"We have identified the first case of community transmission in Scotland which is unrelated to contact or travel. This was identified through our enhanced surveillance scheme..."

Source

2020.03.10

First Case

🇧🇴 Bolivia
🇨🇬 Democratic Republic of Congo
🇲🇳 Mongolia

First Death

🇱🇧 Lebanon

WHO Suspends Meetings

"The WTO said...that it is suspending all meetings until March 20 after a staff member was confirmed to have coronavirus."

Source

Mongolia Goes Into Lock Down

"Mongolia...barred anyone from entering or leaving its cities for six days after the country reported its first coronavirus case..."

Source

Israel Virtually Seals Off

"Israel will bar all visitors from entering Israel unless they can quarantine and order all returning Israelis into self-isolation to counter the spread of the coronavirus: an unprecedented move which effectively seals off the country. "

Source

Banks in Europe Will Delay Mortgage Payments

"Banks in Italy and the United Kingdom are preparing to postpone mortgage payments for people affected by coronavirus as the number of cases in Europe rises sharply."

Source

Barclays Offers Repayment Holidays to Corporate Borrowers

"Barclays is contacting business customers affected by coronavirus to offer 12-month capital repayment holidays on existing loans over 25,000 pounds, as part of a package of measures to support companies hit by the outbreak. "

Source

Suspect Research Paper on TCM Treatment Copied CT Scans

(Unfolding)"The paper on healing a COVID-19 patient with Traditional Chinese Medicine that I critiqued on PubPeer appears to have copied CT scan images from another paper by another group..."

Source

New York Deploys National Guard

"New York state is mobilizing the National Guard to help contain coronavirus in New Rochelle, N.Y. It will help enforce new restrictions on public gatherings and distribute food..."

Source

2020.03.09

First Case

🇧🇳 Brunei
🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇲🇩 Moldova
🇵🇦 Panama

First Death

🇪🇬 Egypt

CNN Will Start Using the 'P' Word

"So why now? The WHO hasn't called the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Nor has the US CDC...What to call this outbreak is, in part, a question of semantics. But it also speaks to specific actions being taken. It means the focus is not only on containment, but increasingly on the mitigation of the spread of the coronavirus..."

Source

US Stocks Halted After Falling 7%

"[An] implosion of an alliance between OPEC and Russia caused the worst one-day crash in crude prices in nearly 30 years...The New York Stock Exchange halted trading for 15 minutes after stocks plunged more than 7%..." S&P 500⬇️6%; DOW⬇️2,046; Nasdaq Composite⬇️5.4%

Source

All of Italy Goes Into Lockdown

"Over the weekend, blanket travel restrictions were announced in just certain areas. The rest of the country will now join the northern provinces under lockdown -- one of the toughest responses implemented outside of mainland China to get the Covid-19 pandemic under control..."

Source

US Colleges and Universities Start Cancelling Classes

"The closures began in Washington state, and now include Harvard University, Columbia University, Princeton University, Rice University, Stanford University, Hofstra University, University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington, among others. As of midday Tuesday, more than half a million students are affected by the cancellations..."

Source

South Korea 'Passed the Peak'

"[The South Korean Health Minister] said that while he believes the aggregate number of infections is high, he is confident in the job South Korea did to combat the virus' spread and would advise other governments who are dealing with outbreaks to focus efforts on early testing and global cooperation..."

Source

2020.03.08

First Case

🇲🇩 Moldova

More Than 100 Countries Have Confirmed Cases

"Over 100 countries have now reported laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19."

Source

North Korea Launches Multiple Projectiles in Weapons Test

"The test was the country’s second in a week and came as its main rival, South Korea, grappled with a large coronavirus outbreak."

Source

US Travel Advisory: Say No To Cruise Ships

"U.S. citizens, especially with underlying conditions, should not travel by cruise ship. #CDC notes increased risk of #COVID19 on cruises."

Source

2020.03.07

First Case

🇲🇻 Maldives
🇵🇾 Paraguay

First Death

🇦🇷 Argentina

Hotel in China Collapses

"Footage circulating on Twitter-like Weibo showed rescue workers combing through the rubble ...Other footage published by local media, purportedly from security cameras across the street, showed the entire hotel collapsing in seconds."

Source

2020.03.06

First Case

🇨🇲 Cameroon
🇨🇴 Columbia
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇬🇮 Gibraltar
🇵🇪 Peru
🇷🇸 Serbia
🇸🇰 Slovakia
🇹🇬 Togo

First Death

🇳🇱 Netherlands

100,000 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Source

CDC Orders Older Adults To Stay At Home

"Amid a coronavirus outbreak in the United States, the US CDC is encouraging older people and people with severe chronic medical conditions to 'stay at home as much as possible.'" (CDC Site: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html)

Source

CDC Drops Coronavirus Testing Numbers From Their Website

"The CDC has stopped disclosing the number of Americans tested for coronavirus...The disappearance of the numbers comes less than a week after the first cases of the virus with unknown origins were reported in the US..."

Source

Grand Princess Cruise Ship In Holding Pattern 🛳

"The first California resident to die from the virus...was on the Grand Princess' previous voyage to Mexico. Sixty-two guests from that trip — which is now associated with a small cluster of coronavirus cases — stayed aboard for the Grand Princess’ next trip to Hawaii....COVID-19 testing kits were delivered to the ship by helicopter."

Source

Vatican City Reports First Case

"Vatican Spokesman...said that a patient of the Vatican City's on-site health facility had tested positive for the new coronavirus..."

Source

Canada's First Case of Community Spread

"Public health officials have expected this for a while now, and it’s just a matter of deploying the resources that we have to contain it within communities...It’s just something that we have to brace for — this is going to be spreading within our communities beyond just international travel."

Source

Austin and Berkelee Consider Hosting Hackathons

In the midst of the outbreak, Austin and Berkelee plan in-person hackathons to build solutions for the epidemic. Hackathons generally consist of large crowds in the same space working on the same problem.

Source

2020.03.05

First Case

🇧🇹 Bhutan
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
🇲🇶 Martinique
🇿🇦 South Africa

First Death

🇨🇭 Switzerland

WHO Says Countries Not Doing Enough

"WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva he was concerned that a "long list" of countries were not showing "the level of political commitment" needed to "match the level of the threat we all face...This is not a drill.""

Source

Disinformation Campaign Uncovered Targeting Taiwan

"Coronavirus is the perfect storm for disinformation contagion in being both a health and a political crisis. Even after 5 years of looking at troubling disinfo every day, this is one of the most malicious campaigns I’ve ever seen."

Source

UK Airline Flybe Enters Administration (Declares Bankruptcy)

"We really tried to do everything we could back at the turn of the year but unfortunately though, with the situation that's developed with coronavirus, an already weak company just hasn't been able to survive..."

Source

Greece Shuts Down Schools and Cancels Large Gatherings

"Greece has become the latest country to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus by closing schools and universities and cancelling large public gatherings..."

Source

Palestine President Declares State of Emergency

"Palestinian President...declared a state of emergency through his prime minister...after the first cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Bethlehem..."

Source

OPEC and Russia Disagreement Causes Oil Crash

"Oil prices crashed more than 9% to their lowest level in nearly three years...as major producing nations failed to agree on supply cuts aimed at addressing the collapse in global demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak..."

Source

CDC Authorizes Testing For Anyone with Doctor Approval

"The move greatly increases the number of patients who qualify, but it’s not clear there are enough tests for those who will want them."

Source

Greece Shuts Down Schools

"Greece has become the latest country to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus by closing schools and universities and cancelling large public gatherings, as the World Health Organization insisted the virus could still be “pushed back” if governments around the world took the necessary action..."

Source

2020.03.04

First Case

🇫🇴 Faroe Islands
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇵🇱 Poland
🇸🇮 Slovenia

First Death

🇮🇶 Iraq

Germany Bans Export of Medical Protection Gear

"Germany has banned the export of medical protection gear to avoid supply shortages of masks, gloves and suits as doctors and authorities race to contain the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus..."

Source

Italy Closing All Schools And Universities Nationwide

"Lucia Azzolina, Italy's minister of education, said schools will close from March 5 until March 15 while the nation attempts to grapple with the ongoing outbreak. At least 2,502 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country and 79 people have died...US universities have also canceled and called back American students studying abroad in Italy"

Source

Another Iranian Senior Politician Dies

"A diplomat and the country's former ambassador to Syria, died...Tehran, Iran's capital, subsequently barred government officials from traveling, and parliament has been suspended indefinitely."

Source

Iran Sets Up Checkpoints and Closes Schools and Universities

"Iran’s health minister says authorities will begin manning checkpoints to limit travel between major cities amid the virus outbreak -- schools and universities are to be shut until March."

Source

U.S. Will Drop Limits on Virus Testing

"Vice President Mike Pence said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was lifting all restrictions on testing for coronavirus, and would be releasing new guidelines to fast-track testing for people who fear they have the virus, even if they are displaying mild symptoms..."

Source

COVID-19's Viral Aspects Determined

"The viral aspects reckoned in 8 wks for the #coronavirus = work done for #HIV between 1981 - 1995."

Source

2020.03.03

First Case

🇦🇷 Argentina
🇨🇱 Chile
🇲🇦 Morocco

First Death

🇪🇸 Spain

CDC Reverses Mask Recommendation

Now CDC says, "citizens should wear "non-medical, cloth masks" to help prevent...spread."

Source

World Bank Provides $12 Billion

"As COVID-19 reaches more than 60 countries, the World Bank Group is making available an initial package of up to $12 billion in immediate support to assist countries coping with the health and economic impacts of the global outbreak..."

Source

8% of Iran's Parliament Infected

"Iran is descending into chaos amid the coronavirus outbreak, with the government seemingly incapable of handling the scale of the crisis and going as far as to threaten the death penalty to those who hoard necessary materials or equipment...[23/290 members of Iranian parliament] have tested positive for the novel coronavirus...The parliament has been suspended indefinitely, and lawmakers have been asked to stop meeting with the public."

Source

2020.03.02

First Case

🇦🇩 Andorra
🇦🇲 Armenia
🇯🇴 Jordan
🇱🇻 Latvia
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇸🇳 Senegal
🇹🇳 Tunisia
🇺🇦 Ukraine

Coronavirus Dance Videos Go Viral 📺

Coronavirus dance competition videos go viral in Vietnam and then globally.

Source

Large Events in Seattle Going Uncancelled

"[Including] Emerald City Comic Con, which draws nearly 100,000 people annually, is slated to run from March 12-15 at the Washington State Convention Center. Despite widespread coronavirus worry and a reddit thread asking people to urge ECCC to reschedule, the show will go on..."

Source

Member of Council to Iran's Supreme Leader Dies

"A member of a council that advises Iran’s supreme leader died...after falling sick from the new coronavirus, state radio reported, becoming the first top official to succumb to the illness striking both citizens and leaders of the Islamic Republic..."

Source

South Korea Implements Drive-Thru Testing

"From inside his car, a driver is checked for any fever or breathing difficulties by medical staff in protective clothing and goggles who lean in through the window at a new drive-thru coronavirus clinic in South Korea...None of the drivers nor medical workers gave their names, the stigma of even being tested making people cautious..."

Source

2020.03.01

First Case

🇩🇴 Dominican Replublic
🇮🇩 Indonesia
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
🇧🇱 St. Barthélemy

First Death

🇸🇲 San Marino

Capital Punishments in Iran

"Iran’s prosecutor general has said that hoarding and other illegal behaviors seen as disruptive to the supply of healthcare items at the time of a coronavirus surge in the country could entail punishments as severe as the death penalty..."

Source

China Criminalizes So-Called-Rumours on Social Media

"Fabricating and intentionally spreading false information about the epidemic can be sentenced to up to 7 years in prison..." (Law: http://www.cac.gov.cn/2019-12/20/c_1578375159509309.htm) (Also worth noting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Wenliang#/media/File:%E6%9D%8E%E6%96%87%E4%BA%AE%E7%9A%84%E8%AE%AD%E8%AF%AB%E4%B9%A6.png

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World's First Double Lung Transplant

"Chinese doctor Chen Jingyu's team has successfully conducted World's first double lung transplant for a 59 y/o COVID2019 patient...'Experts in the industry believe this case is of great significance to reduce mortality of Coronavirus.'"

Source

Louvre Museum Closes

"The spreading coronavirus epidemic shut down France's Louvre Museum on Sunday, with workers who guard its famous trove of artworks fearful of being contaminated by the museum's flow of tourists from around the world..."

Source

2020.02.29

First Case

🇪🇨 Ecuador
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
🇲🇨 Monaco
🇮🇪 Republic of Ireland

First Death

🇦🇺 Australia
🇺🇸 US

Washington State Declares State Of Emergency

"The governor of Washington has declared a state of emergency after the first death in the U.S. from COVID-19 was confirmed..."

Source

Iranian 'Lick The Shrine' Videos Go Viral

As COVID-19 rages in Qom, many continue to lick shrines in the city as a testament to their faith. (Also see March 15)

Source

2020.02.28

First Case

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
🇧🇾 Belarus
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇮🇸 Iceland
🇱🇹 Lithuania
🇲🇽 Mexico
🇳🇿 New Zealand

First Death

🇬🇧 UK

"Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19" Released

"Is this decline real, real but temporary, fake, or something else?"

Source

Stocks Suffer Biggest Weekly Losses Since 2008

"The S&P 500 fell for the seventh straight day [in a row] and the benchmark index suffered its biggest weekly drop since the 2008 global financial crisis on growing fears the fast-spreading coronavirus could push the economy into recession, although stocks regained some ground right at the end of a volatile session. The Dow and the Nasdaq also registered their deepest weekly percentage losses since October 2008..."

Source

Amazon Tells All Employees To Halt Travel

"Amazon told all 798,000 of its employees on Friday to avoid 'non-essential travel' domestically and internationally..."

Source

North Korea Kills First Case Claims Go Viral

(Unconfirmed)" A claim that North Korea has executed a coronavirus patient has been widely shared on social media, despite the story being unverifiable."

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210 People Reportedly Died In Iran -- While Gov. Says 34

"At least 210 people have died from the coronavirus in Iran...a number six times higher than the official death toll from the Iranian government [34], but...sources in the country's health system...said otherwise. Iran has the highest mortality rate from the coronavirus and has become the new focal point for the virus in recent days..."

Source

Switzerland Bans Large Gatherings

"Switzerland has imposed a ban on public events that gather more than 1,000 people together in the same place until at least March 15 in response to the coronavirus threat."

Source

Scotland Implements Drive-Thru Testing

"Patients with appointments are being tested for the virus in their cars...in the city. Scotland remains the only part of the UK without a positive Covid-19 case. But chief [the] medical officer...has warned it is 'just a matter of time' until this changes."

Source

2020.02.27

First Case

🇩🇰 Denmark
🇪🇪 Estonia
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇳🇬 Nigeria
🇵🇸 Palestine
🇷🇴 Romania
🇸🇲 San Marino

Pilgrimages To Mecca and Medina Banned

Saudi Arabia halts travel to holiest sites in Islam due to COVID-19.

Source

Australia Will Start Acting in Accordance with the 'P' Word

"Australia has declared the coronavirus will become a global pandemic, and extended its travel ban on visitors from China..."

Source

Corona Beer Suffers

"The novel coronavirus has an unlikely victim -- one of the world’s most popular beers. Corona has become the subject of memes and videos shared on social media as the toll from the virus climbs worldwide. Reports of an increase in online searches for “corona beer virus” and “beer coronavirus” show the Mexican beer hasn’t been able to escape the association."

Source

South Korean Official In Charge of Outbreak (Allegedly) Commits Suicide

(Only one news outlet reported) "An official from the South Korea Justice Ministry reportedly jumped off the Han River and took his life. Dealing with the recent spike of coronavirus cases is part of the man’s jurisdiction."

Source

2020.02.26

First Case

🇧🇷 Brazil
🇬🇪 Georgia
🇬🇷 Greece
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
🇳🇴 Norway
🇵🇰 Pakistan
🇶🇦 Qatar

First Communal Spread In US

First case in the US of unknown origin.

Source

China Writes Heroic Tale of National Fight Against COVID-19

"A Battle Against Epidemic: China Combating covid-19 in 2020" is published in China. "A project overseen by the Central Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China, the forthcoming hardback is billed as a tribute to President Xi Jinping’s “outstanding leadership” in the fight against the novel coronavirus." (Official Declaration: http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-02/26/c_1125627516.htm)

Source

2020.02.25

First Case

🇩🇿 Algeria
🇦🇹 Austria
🇭🇷 Croatia
🇪🇸 Spain (Mainland)
🇨🇭 Switzerland

Iran's Deputy Health Minister Contracts COVID-19

"The deputy minister...denied covering up the scale of the outbreak. He appeared in physical discomfort as he spoke to reporters..."

Source

Seattle Researchers Proceed with Testing without Government Approval

"What came back confirmed their worst fear. They quickly had a positive test from a local teenager with no recent travel history. The coronavirus had already established itself on American soil without anybody realizing it..." (STAT also covered: https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/03/washington-state-risks-seeing-explosion-in-coronavirus-without-dramatic-action-new-analysis-says/)

Source

2020.02.24

First Case

🇦🇫 Afghanistan
🇧🇭 Bahrain
🇮🇶 Iraq
🇰🇼 Kuwait
🇴🇲 Oman

Medical Staff in Wuhan Plea For Help via The Lancet

"The conditions and environment here in Wuhan are more difficult and extreme than we could ever have imagined...."

Source

China Postpones National People's Congresss

"For the first time in decades, Beijing...postponed the key political event, the National People’s Congress (NPC), where hundreds of delegates gather in Beijing every March..."

Source

Apple Reopens Half of Stores in China

29/42 of Apple retail locations reopen in China with shortened hours. Factories outside Hubei province also start reopening with a slower ramp-up time than expected.

Source

US Pres Tweets 'Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA'

"The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!"

Source

2020.02.23

Turkey and Pakistan Close Borders With Iran

Turkey halts all incoming flights from Iran as well as closing all highways and railways between them. Pakistan has also closed its land border.

Source

Japan Doesn't Test Medical Workers from Diamond Princess

"Doctors and nurses who don’t have symptoms won’t be examined because they have "mastered the technology to prevent infection," the report said, citing the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare."

Source

Austria Halts Train Traffic with Italy

"Austria’s state railroad temporarily halted train traffic from Italy across a key Alpine pass on Sunday in response to a rash of coronavirus cases in its southern neighbor..."

Source

2020.02.21

WHO: 'Window of Containment Narrowing'

"This outbreak could go in any direction," Tedros said. "If we do well, we can avert any serious crisis, but if we squander the opportunity then we will have a serious problem on our hands."

Source

10 Towns in Italy Go Into Lockdown

After experiencing the first COVID-19-related death 10 Italian cities go into lockdown.

Source

2020.02.21

First Case

🇮🇱 Israel
🇱🇧 Lebanon

First Death

🇮🇹 Italy

Prisons In China Experience Outbreaks

"Prisons emerged as a new flashpoint...as three Chinese provinces reported outbreaks at penitentiaries...adding hundreds of previously unpublished cases to the official tally."

Source

2020.02.20

First Death

🛳 Princess Diamond
🇰🇷 South Korea

Infected Americans Flown Home Against CDC’s Advice

"New test results showed that 14 passengers were infected with the virus. The U.S. State Department had promised that no one with the infection would be allowed to board the planes. A decision had to be made. Let them all fly? Or leave them behind in Japanese hospitals?..The State Department and a top Trump administration health official wanted to forge ahead...But officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disagreed...The State Department won the argument. But unhappy CDC officials demanded to be left out of the news release..."

Source

2020.02.19

First Case

🇮🇷 Iran

First Death

🇮🇷 Iran

🛳

Hundreds disembark from Diamond Princess quarantine.

Source

China Expels 3 Journalists

"China said...that it would expel three Wall Street Journal reporters working in mainland China, a significant escalation of Beijing’s pressure on the foreign news media...for a headline on an essay that ran in The Journal’s editorial pages this month. The headline read: 'China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia.'" (Also worth noting from the day before: https://nyti.ms/38XXoKs) (Also see March 17)

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Chinese Officials Draft Legislation to Ban Wildlife Trade

"Beijing issued a nationwide but temporary ban on all trade in wild animals, including their transport and sale in markets...Officials in Beijing now have drafted legislation to end 'the pernicious habit of eating wildlife...'"

Source

Italy/Spain Football Game Becomes Superspreader Event

"The coronavirus was so present inside the stadium that night that once Valencia returned to Spain, 35% of its traveling squad eventually tested positive...Two weeks after [the game], there was an incredible explosion of cases [esp. in Lombardy and Bergamo]."

Source

2020.02.18

Hospital Director Dies in Wuhan

"Liu Zhiming, director of the Wuchang hospital in Wuhan, the city at the center of the outbreak, himself died of the virus, according to a statement released by local government authorities. state media reported that doctors and nurses who die while trying to contain the outbreak will officially be designated as 'martyrs.'..."

Source

2020.02.17

Prayer, Not Masks, Saved Indonesia

"As of this morning, there is zero confirmed coronavirus infection on Indonesian soil, which has raised questions over whether the country is ill-equipped to detect the disease or if Indonesians are somehow immune to the deadly virus. 'Medically, [it’s thanks] to doa (prayer). It’s all because of doa,' [says Indonesian] Health Minister..."

Source

2020.02.16

First Death

🇹🇼 Taiwan

WHO Joint Mission to China Begins (16 - 24)

"The overall goal of the Joint Mission was to rapidly inform national (China) and international planning on next steps in the response to the ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-191) and on next steps in readiness and preparedness for geographic areas not yet affected."

Source

2020.02.15

2020.02.14

First Case

🇪🇬 Egypt

First Death

🇫🇷 France

Top Hubei Officials Ousted

Xi Jinping fires top two officials in Hubei as punishment for mishandling on the epidemic.

Source

2020.02.13

First Death

🇯🇵 Japan

Hubei Changes Test Report Definition

"Now, patients will be included who exhibit all the symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus — including fever, cough and shortness of breath — but have either not been tested or tested negative for the virus itself..."

Source

Taiwan Extends Ban on Exportation of Face Mask

"Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs...announced the ban on exporting masks will continue until the end of April...Taiwan health authorities on Jan. 24 announced an export ban on face masks that was initially set to run between Jan. 24 and Feb. 23. The masks affected by the ban include N95 respirator masks, which can filter at least 94 percent of particles, as well as other masks made from textiles..."

Source

Vox Publishes Piece on Silicon Valley's 'Paranoid Fear' of Coronavirus

"There’s always a chance that the coronavirus could get out of control in tech’s backyard, but to a large extent, people’s individual power to control that is limited, and some may see measures like no-handshake rules as a step too far." (Also see March 12)

Source

2020.02.12

2020.02.11

Death Toll Passes 1,000 in China

As the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak reaches 1,016 in China, here is the latest on the crisis.

Source

WHO Declares Official Name: COVID-19

The WHO declares an official name with simple origins (COronaVIrus Disease 2019), avoiding any connection it has to any culture or geographical location.

Source

2020.02.10

Death Toll Surpasses That Of SARS

The number of deaths of COVID-19 surpasses the number of deaths from SARS.

Source

Xi Jinping 习近平 Declares 'Peoples' War on Coronavirus'

Xi appears after a stint out of the public eye to address the public. His reappearance coincides with a downturn in confirmed-case numbers.

Source

2020.02.09

Shincheonji Church of Jesus in South Korea

Confirmed coronavirus patient went to Shincheonji Church on Feb. 9 and Feb. 16. The curch's meeting conditions, large numbers of attendees and close quarters, becomes a breeding ground for the virus.

Source

Fang Bin 方斌 Goes Missing

He is a clothes seller who filmed much of the front line in Wuhan, including some of the earlier/first video clips illustrating the number of deaths on the ground.

Source

2020.02.08

PM Lee Hsien Loong Addresses Singapore

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong...urged Singapore to "take courage" amid [the] ongoing...outbreak and "see through this stressful time together".

Source

First American Dies of Coronavirus in China

According to the United States Embassy in Beijing, the person was 60 years old and died at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan...Two people familiar with the matter said the person was a woman and had underlying health conditions.

Source

This is a Big Deal™️

"The purpose of this thread is to document and timestamp when it first became clear that nCov was likely to lead to a global pandemic."

Source

2020.02.07

Chen Qiushi 陈秋实 Goes Missing

He is an independent journalist who filmed scenes on the front-line in Wuhan.

Source

Whistleblower Doctor Dies

"健康的社会不该只有一种声音。" "A healthy society cannot only have one voice." Dr Li Wenliang dies of COVID19. His death sparks a cry for free speech from the public in China.

Source

2020.02.06

Taiwan Passes Multiple Measures to Prevent Spread

Starting in early January, Taiwan passes multiple measures including travel alerts, extended school breaks, rationing masks, restrictions on Chinese travelers, and assuring unpaid leave for those with children.

Source

2020.02.05

2020.02.04

First Case

🇧🇪 Belgium

First Death

🇭🇰 Hong Kong

Xinhua Declares China Bought the World Time

Xinhua Net Publishes article stating that China 'bought time' for the world to combat the virus. (See March 13 for developments)

Source

2020.02.03

Apple Closes All Stores China

"Out of an abundance of caution and based on the latest advice from leading health experts, we’re closing all our corporate offices, stores and contact centers in mainland China through February 9." Closures started 2020.01.29.

Source

2020.02.02

First Death

🇵🇭 Philippines

2020.02.01

Chinese Woman Breaks Quarantine and Brags About It

"A CHINESE woman who knew she was infected with the deadly coronavirus has disguised her symptoms by deliberately taking antipyretics and successfully boarded a plane to France. She then bragged about her actions online in photographs with friends she met on arrival, according to Chinese media sources..." (Also see March 15)

Source

Fang Bin 方斌 's Bodybag Video Goes Viral

Clothes-seller Fang Bin 方斌 discovers 8 body-bags in 5 minutes just outside Wuhan's #5 hospital. This video elludes to a larger epidemic, with a higher death count, than official numbers suggest.

Source

2020.01.31

First Case

🇷🇺 Russia
🇪🇸 Spain
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇬🇧 UK

WHO Says To Maintain Business As Usual

"WHO says countries should keep borders open, trade & people moving despite coronavirus."

Source

US Bans Most Travel to China

US declares state of public health emergency and bans most travel to China. Airlines start discontinuing routes to China as well.

Source

China Says 'No Pets'

Source

2020.01.30

First Case

🇮🇳 India
🇮🇹 Italy
🇵🇭 Philippines
🛳 Princess Diamond

Chen Qiushi 陈秋实 's Frontline Account Video Goes Viral

"前面儿是病毒，后边儿是中国法律和行政力量。" "Before of me is the virus, behind me is the CCP." Independent journalist Chen Qiushi 陈秋实 shares his raw and emotional account of the frontlines in Wuhan early on the epidemic.

Source

WHO Declares PHEIC

WHO declares public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)

Source

2020.01.29

First Case

🇫🇮 Finland
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Cases in All 31 Provinces in China

At least 7,711 cases in China. At least 170 deaths.

Source

Amazon Sells Out of N95 Face Masks

People around the world scramble to buy N95 masks. Many send them to friends and family in China. Many are also purchasing in bulk to resell at higher prices.

Source

Starbucks Closes Half Of All Stores In China

Starbucks closes over 2,000 stores to help contain outbreak in China.

Source

2020.01.28

First Case

🇹🇼 Taiwan

Amazon Warns Shoppers About Counterfeit Face Masks

'Dear customer, all of our face masks are sold out. Please do not buy orders from other sellers to avoid getting counterfeit products,' PacingMed's product page reads. 'We are trying to replenish the stock by next month. Our brand is PacingMed. Sorry for the inconvenience.'

Source

2020.01.27

First Case

🇰🇭 Cambodia
🇨🇦 Canada
🇩🇪 Germany
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

Mayor of Wuhan Resigns

Mayor Zhou Xianwang accepts responsibility for mishandling the epidemic and resigns.

Source

Hang in There, Wuhan! -- 武汉加油！

While under quarantine, apartment residents shout to each other 'Hang in there, Wuhan!'.

Source

2020.01.26

Whistleblower Nurse Video Goes Viral

(Unconfirmed) Nurse in Hankou, Wuhan claims the situation is dire, medical supplies are not enough, as many as 90,000 are infected in Wuhan. This suggests the official numbers dramatically underrepresent the actual number of people infected.

Source

2020.01.25

First Case

🇦🇺 Australia
🇲🇾 Malaysia

Special Handling of So-Called Rumour Spreading on WeChat Declared

If users are found to be 'spreading rumours' relating to coronavirus they can subsequently be subjected to punishments ranging from various functionality disruption all the way to permanent account suspension. (Pronouncment: http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/26/c_1125503796.htm) (Also worth noting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Wenliang#/media/File:%E6%9D%8E%E6%96%87%E4%BA%AE%E7%9A%84%E8%AE%AD%E8%AF%AB%E4%B9%A6.png)

Source

Disney Shut Down

Disney shuts down theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong (25th and 26th).

Source

2020.01.24

First Case

🇫🇷 France
🇳🇵 Nepal

McDonald's Closes All Stores In Five Chinese Cities

McDonald's closes all stores in Wuhan, Ezhou, Huanggang, Qianjiang and Xiantao in Hubei province.

Source

Outbreak Travels From Asia To Europe

A man who picked up COVID-19 in the sales conference in Singapore spreads the virus to five other Brits at a ski resort/chalet in France.

Source

Taiwan Bans Export of Face Masks

"Taiwan's health authorities are on the alert and...announced a month-long export ban on surgical and N95 masks..."

Source

2020.01.23

First Case

🇸🇬 Singapore
🇻🇳 Vietnam

2020.01.22

First Case

🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇲🇴 Macau

Wuhan Lockdown

Wuhan city is put on lockdown -- cordon sanitaire. It is the largest quarantine in human history.

Source

2020.01.21

CDC Publicly Announces First Case in US

"The CDC today confirmed the first case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States in the state of Washington. The patient recently returned from Wuhan, China..."

Source

2020.01.20

First Case

🇺🇸 US

Sales Conference in Singapore Becomes Superspreader Event

A sales conference in Singapore becomes a superspreader event. From here COVID-19 reaches Europe via France and causes clusters there, the UK, and Spain (Jan. 20 - Jan. 22).

Source

2020.01.19

First Case

🇰🇷 South Korea

2020.01.18

Wuhan Banquet of 130,000+

Even though Wuhan officials know about local hospitals' struggle to cope with a growing number of patients, they enjoy the annual New Years banuqet. With the high number of guests, close proximity, and cultural custom of sharing dishes, the virus has a golden opportunity to spread. (中文 and Date of Banquet: http://www.bjnews.com.cn/opinion/2020/01/21/677335.html)

Source

2020.01.17

2020.01.16

2020.01.15

First Case

🇯🇵 Japan

2020.01.14

2020.01.13

2020.01.12

2020.01.11

First Case

🇹🇭 Thailand

First Death

🇨🇳 China

2020.01.10

2020.01.09

2020.01.08

Chinese Scientists Announce Discovery of New Virus

"Chinese scientists investigating a mystery illness that has sickened dozens in central China have discovered a new strain of coronavirus, a development that will test the country’s upgraded capabilities for dealing with unfamiliar infectious diseases."

Source

2020.01.07

2020.01.06

2020.01.05

2020.01.04

2020.01.03

2020.01.02

2020.01.01

2019.12.31

China Notifies WHO

China notifes the WHO of pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan

Source

Taiwan Warns WHO of Human-To-Human Transmission

"Officials from Taiwan contend that it told the WHO in a Dec. 31 email about suspected human-to-human transmission..."

Source

2019.12.30

A Doctor's Discovery

Dr Li Wenliang sends a message to a colleague WeChat group saying he's seeing SARS-like viruses in some patients.

Source

2019.12.29

2019.12.28

2019.12.27

2019.12.26

2019.12.25

2019.12.24

2019.12.23

2019.12.22

2019.12.21

2019.12.20

2019.12.19

2019.12.18

2019.12.17

2019.12.16

2019.12.15

2019.12.14

2019.12.13

2019.12.12

2019.12.11

2019.12.10

2019.12.09

2019.12.08

First Case

🇨🇳 China

China's Alleged First Case

Source

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2019.11.17

First Case

🇨🇳 China

China's First Case

"‘Patient zero’ has yet to be confirmed..."

Source