More than 300 dead from coronavirus with 14,300 cases confirmed

How the coronavirus outbreak went global in two months

The first case of coronavirus was detected in central China in early December. Now, nearly two months later, it’s a full-blown global emergency, with more than 14,300 confirmed cases across the world.

Here’s a look back at how we got here:

December 8: First patient develops symptoms of Wuhan coronavirus
December 31: Earliest cases of virus reported to World Health Organization (WHO)
January 1: Seafood and wildlife market in Wuhan, where the outbreak is believed to have originated, is closed for disinfection
January 7: Chinese scientists identify pathogen involved as new strain of coronavirus
January 9: First death linked to virus
January 20: Cases reported in Beijing and Shenzhen
January 23: Wuhan is placed on lockdown, with movement halted in or out of the city. A total of 60 million people are affected by travel restrictions in Wuhan and neighboring cities. WHO says virus is not yet a public health emergency of international concern
January 28: Death toll tops 100. The number of confirmed cases in mainland China overtakes the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak
January 30: WHO declares a public health emergency of international concern
January 31: Death toll tops 200
February 2: First Wuhan coronavirus death reported outside of mainland China

France helps Mexican citizens flee Wuhan

France is helping evacuate 10 Mexican citizens from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and the city where the coronavirus outbreak started.

The 10 Mexican nationals are first flying to France after being examined to confirm they don’t have symptoms, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry and Health Ministry said in a joint statement Saturday.

In France “they will follow the health protocols established by the authorities of that country.” After that, the group will return to Mexico, the ministries said.

A number of countries have evacuated their citizens from Wuhan, including Australia, Germany and France.

Wuhan built a new hospital in a matter of days

Wuhan authorities have finished building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat coronavirus patients, state media CCTV reported Sunday.

Wuhan mayor Zhou Xianwang handed the new Huoshenshan hospital over to the military on Sunday morning. According to CCTV, 1,400 military medical personnel will start in the hospital from Monday.

State media first reported on January 23 that authorities planned to build a new pneumonia hospital. According to the Beijing News, a state-backed newspaper, it is a prefabricated, box-type model that can be built in six days.

Another medical facility — the Leishenshen hospital — is under construction and is set to open on February 5. Together, the two hospitals will give an additional 2,600 beds for patient care during the outbreak.

New Zealand bans entry to foreigners traveling from China

If you’ve traveled in or transited through mainland China, you won’t be allowed into New Zealand unless you’re a New Zealand national.

The new restrictions on foreign nationals begin on February 3, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in a press release Sunday.

The ban will be in place for up to 14 days, and is aimed at helping contain the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. So far, there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in New Zealand or any South Pacific island.

New Zealand citizens and permanent residents and their immediate family members will still be able to enter — but must self-isolate for 14 days after arriving back into the country.