2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

File:COVID-19 Outbreak World Map per Capita.svg Map of confirmed cases per capita as of 5 April 2020   1,000+ confirmed cases per million   100–1,000 confirmed cases per million   10–100 confirmed cases per million   1–10 confirmed cases per million   >0–1 confirmed cases per million   No confirmed cases or no data

Total confirmed cases map upright=1.5 legend2 = Map of total confirmed cases as of 5 April 2020   100,000+ confirmed cases   10,000–99,999 confirmed cases   1,000–9,999 confirmed cases   100–999 confirmed cases   10–99 confirmed cases   1–9 confirmed cases   No confirmed cases or no data

Deaths per capita map upright=1.5 legend3 = Map of deaths per capita as of 4 April 2020   100+ deaths per million   10–100 deaths per million   1–10 deaths per million   0.1–1 deaths per million   0.01–0.1 deaths per million   >0–0.01 deaths per million   No deaths or no data

Confirmed cases per capita interactive timeline map4 = legend4 = Timeline map of confirmed cases per capita (drag circle to adjust; may not work on mobile) See larger version   1000+ cases per million   100–1000 cases per million   10–100 cases per million   <10 cases per million   No cases or no data

map5 = 288px 142px 142px 142px 142px (clockwise from top) Hospitalized patients in Tehran Disinfection vehicles in Taipei Low stocks at an Australian supermarket due to panic buying Health checks at Linate Airport in Milan The Italian government's outbreak task force

disease = Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

virus_strain = Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

location = Worldwide (list of locations)

first_outbreak = Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market

index_case = Wuhan, Hubei, China

date = 1 December 2019 – ongoing (4 years)

source = Bats and possibly pangolins

confirmed_cases = >

recovery_cases = >

deaths = >

territories = 208 }} The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The outbreak was first noted in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, in December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 and recognized it as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 18 March 2020, more than cases of COVID-19 have been reported in over 200 countries and territories, resulting in approximately deaths. More than people have recovered. The virus is mainly spread during close contact, and by small droplets produced during coughing, sneezing, or talking. These small droplets may also be produced during breathing, but rapidly fall to the ground or surfaces and are not generally spread through the air over large distances. People may also catch COVID-19 by touching a contaminated surface and then their face. The virus can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours. It is most contagious during the first 3 days after symptom onset, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear and in later stages of the disease. The time between exposure and symptom onset is typically around five days, but may range from 2 to 14 days. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no known vaccine or specific antiviral treatment. Primary treatment is symptomatic and supportive therapy. Recommended preventive measures include hand washing, covering one's mouth when coughing, maintaining distance from other people, and monitoring and self-isolation for people who suspect they are infected. Efforts to prevent the virus spread include travel restrictions, quarantines, curfews, workplace hazard controls, event postponements and cancellations, and facility closures. These include national or regional quarantines throughout the world (starting with the quarantine of Hubei), curfew measures in mainland China, various border closures or incoming passenger restrictions, screening at airports and train stations, and outgoing passenger travel bans. The pandemic has led to severe global socioeconomic disruption, the postponement or cancellation of sporting, religious, and cultural events, and widespread fears of supply shortages resulting in panic buying. Schools and universities have closed either on a nationwide or local basis in more than 160 countries, affecting approximately 97 percent of the world's student population. Misinformation about the virus has spread online, and there have been incidents of xenophobia and discrimination against Chinese people, other people of East and Southeast Asian descent and appearance, and others from hotspots. File:Wikipedia-VideoWiki-Coronavirus disease 2019.webm Video summary (script) Epidemiology Main articles: 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic by country and territory, cases/WHO situation reports, and deaths/WHO situation reports Template:2019–20 coronavirus pandemic data Health authorities in Wuhan, China (the capital of Hubei province) reported a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause on 31 December 2019, and an investigation was launched in early January 2020. The cases mostly had links to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and so the virus is thought to have a zoonotic origin. The virus that caused the outbreak is known as SARS-CoV-2, a newly discovered virus closely related to bat coronaviruses, pangolin coronaviruses, and SARS-CoV. The earliest known person with symptoms was later discovered to have fallen ill on 1 December 2019, and that person did not have visible connections with the later wet market cluster. Of the early cluster of cases reported in December 2019, two-thirds were found to have a link with the market. On 13 March 2020, an unverified report from the South China Morning Post suggested that a case traced back to 17 November 2019, in a 55-year-old from Hubei province, may have been the first. On 26 February 2020, the WHO reported that, as new cases reportedly declined in China but suddenly increased in Italy, Iran, and South Korea, the number of new cases outside China had exceeded the number of new cases within China for the first time. There may be substantial underreporting of cases, particularly among those with milder symptoms. By 26 February, relatively few cases had been reported among youths, with those 19 and under making up 2.4% of cases worldwide. Government sources in Germany and the United Kingdom estimate that 60–70% of the population will need to become infected before effective herd immunity can be achieved. Cases Cases refers to the number of people who have been tested for COVID-19, and whose test has been confirmed positive according to official protocols. The number of people infected with COVID-19 will likely be much higher, as many of those with only mild or no symptoms may not have been tested. As of 23 March, no country had tested more than 3% of its population, and many countries have had official policies not to test those with only mild symptoms, such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Deaths See also: List of deaths from the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic Most people with COVID-19 recover. For those who do not, the time from development of symptoms to death has been between 6 and 41 days, with the most common being 14 days. As of 18 March 2020, approximately deaths had been attributed to COVID-19. In China, as of 5 February about 80% of deaths were in those over 60, and 75% had pre-existing health conditions including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The first confirmed death was on 9 January 2020 in Wuhan. The first death outside mainland China occurred on 1 February in the Philippines, and the first death outside Asia was in France on 14 February. By 28 February, outside mainland China, more than a dozen deaths each were recorded in Iran, South Korea, and Italy. By 13 March, more than forty countries and territories had reported deaths, on every continent except Antarctica. Several measures are commonly used to quantify mortality. These numbers vary by region and over time, and are influenced by the volume of testing, healthcare system quality, treatment options, time since initial outbreak, and population characteristics such as age, sex, and overall health. The death-to-case ratio reflects the number of deaths divided by the number of diagnosed cases within a given time interval. Based on Johns Hopkins University statistics, the global death-to-case ratio is (7,948/198,004) as of 18 March 2020. The number varies by region. Other measures include the case fatality rate (CFR), which reflects the percent of diagnosed individuals who die from a disease, and the infection fatality rate (IFR), which reflects the percent of infected individuals (diagnosed and undiagnosed) who die from a disease. These statistics are not time bound and follow a specific population from infection through case resolution. A number of academics have attempted to calculate these numbers for specific populations. Some researchers have also attempted to estimate the IFR for the pandemic as a whole. In China, estimates for the "crude CFR", i.e. the death-to-case ratio decreased from 17.3% (for those with symptom onset 1–10 January 2020) to 0.7% (for those with symptom onset after 1 February 2020). Diagrams Charts are regularly updated, as of late March 2020. Total-confirmed-cases-of-covid-19-per-million-people.png Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 per million people Total-covid-deaths-per-million.png Total confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 per million people 2020 coronavirus cases by date of report.svg Epidemic curve of COVID-19 by date of report Coronavirus - Most affected countries - top 10.png Semi-log graph showing the change in total (cumulative) count from the first reported date for the ten most affected countries New cases daily for Covid-19 in world and top 5 countries Jan-Mar.png Semi-log plot of daily new cases of COVID-19 in the world and top five countries (averaged with deaths) Daily deaths from Covid-19 in the world and top 5 countries Jan-Mar.png Semi-log plot of daily deaths due to COVID-19 in the world and top five countries (averaged with cases) Time series of active COVID-19 cases, most affected countries.svg Semi-log plot of cases in some countries with high growth rates (post-China) with doubling times and three-day projections based on the exponential growth rates Covid-19-total-confirmed-cases-vs-total-confirmed-deaths.png Case fatality rate of COVID-19 by country and confirmed cases Coronavirus-cfr.svg Ongoing case fatality rate of COVID-19 by country Covid-confirmed-daily-cases-epidemiological-trajectory.svg Daily confirmed cases by country Duration The WHO asserts that the pandemic can be controlled. The peak and ultimate duration of the outbreak are uncertain and may differ by location. Maciej Boni of Penn State University stated, "Left unchecked, infectious outbreaks typically plateau and then start to decline when the disease runs out of available hosts. But it's almost impossible to make any sensible projection right now about when that will be". However, the Chinese government's senior medical adviser Zhong Nanshan argued that "it could be over by June" if all countries can be mobilized to follow the WHO's advice on measures to stop the spread of the virus. Adam Kucharski of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine stated that SARS-CoV-2 "is going to be circulating, potentially for a year or two". According to the Imperial College study led by Neil Ferguson, physical distancing and other measures will be required "until a vaccine becomes available (potentially 18 months or more)". William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University stated, "I think it's unlikely that this coronavirus—because it's so readily transmissible—will disappear completely" and it "might turn into a seasonal disease, making a comeback every year". The virulence of the comeback would depend on herd immunity and the extent of mutation. Signs and symptoms Main article: Coronavirus disease 2019 File:Symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 3.0.png Symptoms of COVID-19 Symptoms of COVID-19 can be relatively non-specific and infected people may be asymptomatic. The two most common symptoms are fever (88%) and dry cough (68%). Less common symptoms include fatigue, respiratory sputum production (phlegm), loss of the sense of smell, shortness of breath, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, headache, chills, vomiting, hemoptysis, diarrhea, or cyanosis. The WHO states that approximately one person in six becomes seriously ill and has difficulty breathing. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists emergency symptoms as difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, sudden confusion, difficulty waking, and bluish face or lips; immediate medical attention is advised if these symptoms are present. Further development of the disease can lead to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, septic shock and death. Some of those infected may be asymptomatic, with no clinical symptoms but test results that confirm infection, so researchers have issued advice that those with close contact to confirmed infected people should be closely monitored and examined to rule out infection. Chinese estimates of the asymptomatic ratio range from few to 44%. The usual incubation period (the time between infection and symptom onset) ranges from one to 14 days; it is most commonly five days. As an example of uncertainty, estimates of loss of smell for people with COVID-19 were 30%, and then estimates fell to 15%. Cause Transmission Further information: Transmission (medicine), Fomite, and Contact tracing Respiratory droplets, produced when a man is sneezing File:COVID19 in numbers- R0, the case fatality rate and why we need to flatten the curve.webm A video discussing the basic reproduction number and case fatality rate in the context of the pandemic Some details about how the disease is spread are still being determined. The disease is believed to be primarily spread during close contact and by small droplets produced during coughing, sneezing, or talking; with close contact being within 1 to 2 metres (3 to 6 feet). Studies have found that an uncovered coughing can lead to droplets travelling up to 4.5 metres (15 feet) to 8.2 metres (27 feet). Respiratory droplets may also be produced during breathing out, including when talking, though the virus is not generally airborne. The droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Some medical procedures such as intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may cause respiratory secretions to be aerosolized and thus result in airborne spread. It may also spread when one touches a contaminated surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. While there are concerns it may spread by faeces, this risk is believed to be low. The Government of China denied the possibility of faecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The virus is most contagious during the first 3 days after onset of symptoms, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear and in later stages of the disease. People have tested positive for the disease up to 3 days before onset of symptoms suggesting transmission is possible before developing significant symptoms. Only few reports of laboratory-confirmed asymptomatic cases exist, but asymptomatic transmission has been identified by some countries during contact tracing investigations. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) states that while it is not entirely clear how easily the disease spreads, one person generally infects two to three others. The virus survives for hours to days on surfaces. Specifically, the virus was found to be detectable for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel, for one day on cardboard, and for up to four hours on copper. This, however, varies based on the humidity and temperature. Pets or other livestock may test positive but can't pass on coronavirus to humans; there were reported cases of infected pets such as a cat in Belgium and two dogs in Hong Kong. A tiger tested positive and exhibited a dry cough at the Bronx Zoo in New York. There have been reports of people who were diagnosed with coronavirus and seemingly recovered, then were readmitted to hospitals after testing positive for the virus a second time. These cases are believed to be worsening of a lingering infection rather than re-infection. Virology Main article: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 File:Coronavirus virion structure.svg Illustration of SARSr-CoV virion Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, first isolated from three people with pneumonia connected to the cluster of acute respiratory illness cases in Wuhan. All features of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus occur in related coronaviruses in nature. Outside the human body, the virus is killed by household soap, which bursts its protective bubble. SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to the original SARS-CoV. It is thought to have a zoonotic origin. Genetic analysis has revealed that the coronavirus genetically clusters with the genus Betacoronavirus, in subgenus Sarbecovirus (lineage B) together with two bat-derived strains. It is 96% identical at the whole genome level to other bat coronavirus samples (BatCov RaTG13). In February 2020, Chinese researchers found that there is only one amino acid difference in certain parts of the genome sequences between the viruses from pangolins and those from humans, however, whole-genome comparison to date found at most 92% of genetic material shared between pangolin coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2, which is insufficient to prove pangolins to be the intermediate host. Diagnosis Main article: COVID-19 testing Infection by the virus can be provisionally diagnosed on the basis of symptoms, though confirmation is ultimately by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) of infected secretions or CT imaging. A study comparing PCR to CT in Wuhan has suggested that CT is significantly more sensitive than PCR, though less specific, with many of its imaging features overlapping with other pneumonias and disease processes. As of March 2020, the American College of Radiology recommends that "CT should not be used to screen for or as a first-line test to diagnose COVID-19". Viral testing The WHO has published several RNA testing protocols for SARS-CoV-2, with the first issued on 17 January. The test uses real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). The test can be done on respiratory or blood samples. Results are generally available within a few hours to days. Generally this test is carried out on a nasopharyngeal swab though a throat swab may also be used. Imaging Characteristic imaging features on radiographs and computed tomography (CT) of people who are symptomatic include asymmetric peripheral ground glass opacities and absent pleural effusions. The Italian Radiological Society is compiling an international online database of imaging findings for confirmed cases. Due to overlap with other infections such as adenovirus, imaging without confirmation by PCR is of limited specificity in identifying COVID-19. However, a large study in China compared chest CT results to PCR and demonstrated that though imaging is less specific for the infection, it is faster and more sensitive, suggesting its consideration as a screening tool in epidemic areas. Artificial intelligence-based convolutional neural networks have been developed to detect imaging features of the virus with both radiographs and CT. Prevention Further information: Workplace hazard controls for COVID-19 and Pandemic prevention File:Stop the Spread of Germs (COVID-19).jpg Infographic by the United States CDC, describing how to stop the spread of germs Strategies for preventing transmission of the disease include maintaining overall good personal hygiene, washing hands, avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue and putting the tissue directly into a waste container. Those who may already have the infection have been advised to wear a surgical mask in public. Physical distancing measures are also recommended to prevent transmission. Many governments have restricted or advised against all non-essential travel to and from countries and areas affected by the outbreak. However, the virus has reached the stage of community spread in large parts of the world. This means that the virus is spreading within communities, and some community members don't know where or how they were infected. Health care providers taking care of someone who may be infected are recommended to use standard precautions, contact precautions, and eye protection. Contact tracing is an important method for health authorities to determine the source of an infection and to prevent further transmission. A European COVID-19 tracing app that protects data and doesn't store the location of its users, uses Bluetooth to log a user's proximity to other cellphones. Users then receive a message if they've been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Misconceptions are circulating about how to prevent infection; for example, rinsing the nose and gargling with mouthwash are not effective. There is no COVID-19 vaccine, though many organizations are working to develop one. Hand washing Main article: Hand washing Hand washing is recommended to prevent the spread of the disease. The CDC recommends that people wash hands often with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, especially after going to the toilet or when hands are visibly dirty; before eating; and after blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing. This is because outside the human body, the virus is killed by household soap, which bursts its protective bubble. CDC further recommended using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol by volume when soap and water are not readily available. The WHO advises people to avoid touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Surface cleaning Surfaces may be decontaminated with a number of solutions (within one minute of exposure to the disinfectant for a stainless steel surface), including 62–71% ethanol, 50–100% isopropanol, 0.1% sodium hypochlorite, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.2–7.5% povidone-iodine. Other solutions, such as benzalkonium chloride and chrohexidine gluconate, are less effective. The CDC recommends that if a COVID case is suspected or confirmed at a facility such as an office or daycare, all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and ATM machines used by the ill persons, should be disinfected. Face masks and respiratory hygiene File:Street in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic.jpg People in Hong Kong wearing face masks File:04.02 總統視察「中央流行疫情指揮中心」 49726568957 66543b616e o.jpg President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen wearing a mask Health organizations recommended that people cover their mouth and nose with a bent elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and disposing of any tissue immediately. Surgical masks are recommended for those who may be infected, as wearing a mask can limit the volume and travel distance of expiratory droplets dispersed when talking, sneezing, and coughing. The WHO has issued instructions on when and how to use masks. According to Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, "Wearing a mask can reduce the propensity [of] people to touch their faces, which is a major source of infection without proper hand hygiene." Masks have also been recommended for use by those taking care of someone who may have the disease. The WHO has recommended the wearing of masks by healthy people only if they are at high risk, such as those who are caring for a person with COVID-19, although they also acknowledge that wearing masks may help people avoid touching their face. Several countries have started to encourage the use of face masks by members of the public. China has specifically recommended the use of disposable medical masks by healthy members of the public, particularly when coming into close contact (≤1 metre) with other people. Hong Kong recommends wearing a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. Thailand's health officials are encouraging people to make cloth facemasks at home and wash them daily. The Czech Republic and Slovakia banned going out in public without wearing a mask or covering one's nose and mouth. The Austrian government mandated that everyone entering a grocery store must wear a face mask. Israel has asked all residents to wear face masks when in public. Taiwan, which has been producing ten million masks per day since mid-March, required passengers on trains and intercity buses to wear face masks on 1 April. Panama has asked its citizens to wear a face mask. Face masks have also been widely used in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. Social distancing Main article: Social distancing File:Social distancing at the pharmacy Cockfosters London 23 March 2020.jpg Social distancing by maintaining physical separation at a London pharmacy on 23 March 2020. Social distancing (also known as physical distancing) includes infection control actions intended to slow the spread of disease by minimizing close contact between individuals. Methods include quarantines; travel restrictions; and the closing of schools, workplaces, stadiums, theatres, or shopping centres. Individuals may apply social distancing methods by staying at home, limiting travel, avoiding crowded areas, using no-contact greetings, and physically distancing themselves from others. Many governments are now mandating or recommending social distancing in regions affected by the outbreak. The maximum gathering size recommended by government bodies and health organizations was swiftly reduced from 250 people (if there was no known COVID-19 spread in a region) to 50 people, and later to 10 people. On 22 March 2020, Germany banned public gatherings of more than two people. Older adults and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, hypertension, and compromised immune systems face increased risk of serious illness and complications and have been advised by the CDC to stay home as much as possible in areas of community outbreak. In late March 2020, the WHO and other health bodies began to replace the use of the term "social distancing" with "physical distancing", to clarify that the aim is to reduce physical contact while maintaining social connections, either virtually or at a distance. The use of the term "social distancing" had led to implications that people should engage in complete social isolation, rather than encouraging them to stay in contact with others through alternative means. The government in Ireland released sexual health guidelines during the pandemic. These included recommendations to only have sex with someone you live with, who does not have the virus or symptoms of the virus. In late March 2020, it was reported that for more than 70 million people in India, who live in clustered slums and comprise of about one sixth of the total urban population, social distancing is not only physically impossible, but economically too. The reported reproduction rate of the COVID-19 disease could be 20% higher in Indian slums due to impenetrable living conditions, as compared to the global ratio, i.e. 2 to 3 percent. Self-isolation File:Covid-19-Transmission-graphic-01.gif Transmission of COVID-19 depends on many factors, most obviously physical distance. Self-isolation at home has been recommended for those diagnosed with COVID-19 and those who suspect they have been infected. Health agencies have issued detailed instructions for proper self-isolation. Many governments have mandated or recommended self-quarantine for entire populations living in affected areas. The strongest self-quarantine instructions have been issued to those in high risk groups. Those who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and those who have recently travelled to a country or region with widespread transmission have been advised to self-quarantine for 14 days from the time of last possible exposure. Containment and mitigation File:FlattenTheCurveCDC.gif The goal of community mitigation: (1) delay outbreak peak; (2) reduce peak burden on healthcare, known as "flattening the curve"; (3) lessen overall cases and health impact Strategies in the control of an outbreak are containment or suppression, and mitigation. Containment is undertaken in the early stages of the outbreak and aims to trace and isolate those infected as well as introduce other measures of infection control and vaccinations to stop the disease from spreading to the rest of the population. When it is no longer possible to contain the spread of the disease, efforts then move to the mitigation stage: measures are taken to slow the spread and mitigate its effects on the healthcare system and society. A combination of both containment and mitigation measures may be undertaken at the same time. Suppression requires more extreme measures so as to reverse the pandemic by reducing the basic reproduction number to less than 1. Part of managing an infectious disease outbreak is trying to decrease the epidemic peak, known as flattening the epidemic curve. This decreases the risk of health services being overwhelmed and provides more time for vaccines and treatments to be developed. Non-pharmaceutical interventions that may manage the outbreak include personal preventive measures, such as hand hygiene, wearing face-masks, and self-quarantine; community measures aimed at physical distancing such as closing schools and cancelling mass gathering events; community engagement to encourage acceptance and participation in such interventions; as well as environmental measures such surface cleaning. More drastic actions aimed at containing the outbreak were taken in China once the severity of the outbreak became apparent, such as quarantining entire cities and imposing strict travel bans. Other countries also adopted a variety of measures aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. South Korea introduced mass screening and localized quarantines, and issued alerts on the movements of infected individuals. Singapore provided financial support for those infected who quarantined themselves and imposed large fines for those who failed to do so. Taiwan increased face mask production and penalized hoarding of medical supplies. Simulations for Great Britain and the United States show that mitigation (slowing but not stopping epidemic spread) and suppression (reversing epidemic growth) have major challenges. Optimal mitigation policies might reduce peak healthcare demand by 2/3 and deaths by half, but still result in hundreds of thousands of deaths and health systems being overwhelmed. Suppression can be preferred but needs to be maintained for as long as the virus is circulating in the human population (or until a vaccine becomes available, if that comes first), as transmission otherwise quickly rebounds when measures are relaxed. Long-term intervention to suppress the pandemic causes social and economic costs. Management Further information: Coronavirus disease 2019 § Management, and Pandemic § Management Treatment There are no specific antiviral medications approved for COVID-19, but development efforts are underway, including testing of existing medications. Taking over-the-counter cold medications, drinking fluids, and resting may help alleviate symptoms. Depending on the severity, oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and breathing support may be required. The use of steroids may worsen outcomes. Several compounds that were previously approved for treatment of other viral diseases are being investigated for use in treating COVID-19. The World Health Organization also stated that some “traditional and home remedies” can provide relief of the symptoms caused by SARS-CoV-19. Health care capacity Increasing capacity and adapting healthcare for the needs of COVID-19 patients is described by the WHO as a fundamental outbreak response measure. The ECDC and the European regional office of the WHO have issued guidelines for hospitals and primary healthcare services for shifting of resources at multiple levels, including focusing laboratory services towards COVID-19 testing, cancelling elective procedures whenever possible, separating and isolating COVID-19 positive patients, and increasing intensive care capabilities by training personnel and increasing the number of available ventilators and beds. Östra Sjukhuset COVID-19 Fältsjukhus.jpg An army-constructed field hospital outside Östra sjukhuset (Eastern hospital) in Gothenburg, Sweden contains temporary intensive care units for COVID-19 patients. Touro Infirmary NOLA Coronovirus walk-in testing-tent-1433 Delachaise NOLA 70115-2020-03-21.jpg An external triage center in New Orleans. External triage centers help avoid mixing patients who come to the emergency department for COVID-19 with those who have other complaints. Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital under construction 02.jpg The Huoshenshan Hospital was constructed in Wuhan, China in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. History Main article: Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic File:Trakectproes-Covid-confirmed-cases-since-100th-case.svg Cases by country plotted on a logarithmic scale There are various theories about where the very first case (the so-called patient zero) may have originated. The first known case of the novel coronavirus may trace back to 1 December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Within a month, the number of coronavirus cases in Hubei gradually increased. These were mostly linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which also sold live animals, and one theory is that the virus came from one of these kinds of animals; or, in other words, has a zoonotic origin. A pneumonia cluster of unknown cause was observed on 26 December and treated by the doctor Zhang Jixian in Hubei Provincial Hospital, who informed the Wuhan Jianghan CDC on 27 December. On 30 December, a group of doctors at Wuhan Central Hospital alerted their colleagues of a "SARS-like coronavirus". Eight of these doctors, including Li Wenliang, were admonished by the police for spreading false rumours, and another, Ai Fen, was reprimanded by her superiors for raising the alarm. The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission later released a public notice on 31 December and informed the WHO. Enough cases of unknown pneumonia had been reported to health authorities in Wuhan to trigger an investigation in early January. During the early stages of the outbreak, the number of cases doubled approximately every seven and a half days. In early and mid-January 2020, the virus spread to other Chinese provinces, helped by the Chinese New Year migration and Wuhan being a transport hub and major rail interchange. On 20 January, China reported nearly 140 new cases in one day, including two people in Beijing and one in Shenzhen. Later official data shows that 6,174 people had already developed symptoms by 20 January 2020. As of 26 March, the United States has overtaken China and Italy with the highest number of confirmed cases in the world. As of 5 April 2020, more than cases have been reported worldwide; more than people have died and more than have recovered. Domestic responses Main articles: 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic by country and territory and National responses to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic Further information: Criticism of response to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic File:COVID-19 Outbreak lockdowns.svg Map of national and subnational lockdowns as of 30 March 2020 (table; more details)   National lockdown   Subnational lockdown   No lockdown Around 200 countries and territories have had at least one case. Due to the pandemic in Europe, many countries in the Schengen Area have restricted free movement and set up border controls. National reactions have included containment measures such as quarantines (known as stay-at-home orders, shelter-in-place orders, or lockdown) and curfews. As of 2 April, nearly 300 million people, or about 90% of the population, are under some form of lockdown in the United States, more than 50 million people are in lockdown in the Philippines, about 59 million people are in lockdown in South Africa, and 1.3 billion people are in lockdown in India. On 26 March, 1.7 billion people worldwide were under some form of lockdown, which increased to 2.6 billion people two days later—around a third of the world's population. China Main article: 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China File:COVID-19 attack rate in Mainland China.svg Confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 inhabitants by province, as of 23 March 2020 File:航拍武汉中心城区机动车禁行后道路：少有车辆踪影-Wg-8rMZAsY0.webm Aerial video from China News Service shows mostly empty roads after motor vehicles were banned in central urban areas of Wuhan. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 has been traced back to 1 December 2019 in Wuhan; one unconfirmed report suggests the earliest case was on 17 November. Doctor Zhang Jixian observed a pneumonia-cluster of unknown cause on 26 December, upon which her hospital informed Wuhan Jianghan CDC on 27 December. A public notice was released by Wuhan Municipal Health Commission on 31 December. The WHO was informed on the same day. As these notifications occurred, doctors in Wuhan were warned by police for "spreading rumours" about the outbreak. The Chinese National Health Commission initially claimed that there was no "clear evidence" of human-to-human transmission. The Chinese Communist Party launched a radical campaign later described by the Party general secretary Xi Jinping as a "people's war" to contain the spread of the virus. In what has been described as "the largest quarantine in human history", a quarantine was announced on 23 January stopping travel in and out of Wuhan, which was extended to a total of 15 cities in Hubei, affecting a total of about 57 million people. Private vehicle use was banned in the city. Chinese New Year (25 January) celebrations were cancelled in many places. The authorities also announced the construction of a temporary hospital, Huoshenshan Hospital, which was completed in 10 days, and 14 temporary hospitals were constructed in China in total. Another hospital was built afterwards, Leishenshan Hospital, for quarantine patients. On 26 January, the Communist Party and the government instituted further measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, including issuing health declarations for travellers and extending the Spring Festival holiday. Universities and schools around the country were also closed. The regions of Hong Kong and Macau instituted several measures, particularly in regard to schools and universities. Remote working measures were instituted in several Chinese regions. Travel restrictions were enacted in and outside of Hubei. Public transport was modified, and museums throughout China were temporarily closed. Control of public movement was applied in many cities, and it has been estimated that about 760 million people (more than half the population) faced some form of outdoor restriction. After the outbreak entered its global phase in March, Chinese authorities took strict measures to prevent the virus from "importing" from other countries. For example, Beijing has imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine for all international travellers entering the city. On 23 March, mainland China only one case had transmitted domestically in the five days proir, in this instance via a traveller returning to Guangzhou from Istanbul. On 24 March 2020, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reported that the spread of domestically transmitted cases has been basically blocked and the outbreak has been controlled in China. The same day travel restrictions were eased in Hubei, apart from Wuhan, two months after the lockdown was imposed. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 26 March 2020 that entry for visa or residence permit holders will be suspended from 28 March onwards, with no specific details on when this policy will end. Those wishing to enter China will have to apply for visas in Chinese embassies or consulates. The government of China encourage businesses and factories to re-open on 30 March, and provided monetary stimulus packages for firms. On 1 April, two U.S. officials claimed China underreported its cases and deaths according to a report by United States Intelligence Community, calling into further question statistics issued by the mainland Chinese government. The officials asked not to be identified because the report is confidential, and denied to detail its contents. On 4 April, the Washington Post reported on long lines at funeral homes in Wuhan, where crematoria in the city were operating 19 hours a day. The article further noted that based on the numbers of urns returned to families and the number of cremations conducted in Wuhan, 42,000 to 46,000 people may have succumb to the virus in Wuhan, far exceeding official numbers given by the Chinese government. South Korea Main article: 2020 coronavirus pandemic in South Korea File:Coronavirus Jongno 1.jpg Coronavirus infection prevention tips banner in Seoul COVID-19 was confirmed to have spread to South Korea on 20 January 2020 from China. The nation's health agency reported a significant increase in confirmed cases on 20 February, largely attributed to a gathering in Daegu of a new religious movement known as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Shincheonji devotees visiting Daegu from Wuhan were suspected to be the origin of the outbreak. As of 22 February, among 9,336 followers of the church, 1,261 or about 13% reported symptoms. South Korea declared the highest level of alert on 23 February 2020. On 28 February, more than 2,000 confirmed cases were reported in Korea, rising to 3,150 on 29 February. All South Korean military bases were quarantined after tests confirmed that three soldiers were positive for the virus. Airline schedules were also affected and therefore they were changed. South Korea introduced what was considered the largest and best-organized programme in the world to screen the population for the virus, and isolate any infected people as well as tracing and quarantining those who contacted them. Screening methods included mandatory self-reporting of symptoms by new international arrivals through mobile application, drive-thru testing for the virus with the results available the next day, and increasing testing capability to allow up to 20,000 people to be tested every day. South Korea's programme is considered to be a success in controlling the outbreak despite not quarantining entire cities. The South Korean society was initially polarized on President Moon Jae-in's response to the crisis. Many Koreans signed petitions either calling for the impeachment of Moon over what they claimed to be government mishandling of the outbreak, or praising his response. On 23 March, it was reported that South Korea had the lowest one-day case total in four weeks. On 29 March it was reported that beginning 1 April all new overseas arrivals will be quarantined for two weeks. Per media reports on 1 April, South Korea has received requests for virus testing assistance from 121 different countries. Iran Main article: 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Iran File:Disinfection of Tehran subway wagons against coronavirus 2020-02-26 09.jpg Disinfection of Tehran Metro trains against coronavirus Iran reported its first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections on 19 February in Qom, where, according to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, two people died later that day. Early measures announced by the government included the cancellation of concerts and other cultural events, sporting events, and Friday prayers, and closures of universities, higher education institutions, and schools. Iran allocated five trillion rials to combat the virus. President Hassan Rouhani said on 26 February 2020 that there were no plans to quarantine areas affected by the outbreak, and only individuals would be quarantined. Plans to limit travel between cities were announced in March, although heavy traffic between cities ahead of the Persian New Year Nowruz continued. Shia shrines in Qom remained open to pilgrims until 16 March 2020. Iran became a centre of the spread of the virus after China during February. Amidst claims of a cover-up of the extent of the outbreak in Iran, more than ten countries had traced their cases back to Iran by 28 February, indicating that the extent of the outbreak may be more severe than the 388 cases reported by the Iranian government by that date. The Iranian Parliament was shut down, with 23 of its 290 members reported to have had tested positive for the virus on 3 March. On 12 March, the Human Rights Watch urged the Iranian prison authorities to unconditionally release the human rights defenders detained for peaceful dissent, and to also temporarily release all the eligible prisoners. It stated that there is a greater risk of the virus to spread in closed institutions like detention centres, which also lack adequate medical care. On 15 March, the Iranian government reported 100 deaths in a single day, the most recorded in the country since the outbreak began. At least 12 sitting or former Iranian politicians and government officials had died from the disease by 17 March. By 23 March, Iran was experiencing 50 new cases every hour and one new death every ten minutes due to coronavirus. According to a WHO official, there may be five times more cases in Iran than what is being reported. It is also suggested that U.S. sanctions on Iran may be affecting the country's financial ability to respond to the viral outbreak. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has demanded economic sanctions to be eased for nations most affected by the pandemic, including Iran. Europe Italy Main article: 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy File:Emergenza coronavirus (49496308758).jpg Civil Protection volunteers carrying out health checks at the Guglielmo Marconi Airport in Bologna The outbreak was confirmed to have spread to Italy on 31 January, when two Chinese tourists tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Rome. Cases began to rise sharply, which prompted the Italian government to suspend all flights to and from China and declare a state of emergency. An unassociated cluster of COVID-19 cases was later detected, starting with 16 confirmed cases in Lombardy on 21 February. On 22 February, the Council of Ministers announced a new decree-law to contain the outbreak, including quarantining more than 50,000 people from 11 different municipalities in northern Italy. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, "In the outbreak areas, entry and exit will not be provided. Suspension of work activities and sports events has already been ordered in those areas." On 4 March, the Italian government ordered the full closure of all schools and universities nationwide as Italy reached 100 deaths. All major sporting events, including Serie A football matches, were be held behind closed doors until April, but on 9 March, all sport was suspended completely for at least one month. On 11 March, Prime Minister Conte ordered stoppage of nearly all commercial activity except supermarkets and pharmacies. On 6 March, the Italian College of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI) published medical ethics recommendations regarding triage protocols that might be employed. On 19 March, Italy overtook China as the country with the most coronavirus-related deaths in the world after reporting 3,405 fatalities from the pandemic. On 22 March, it was reported that Russia had sent nine military planes with medical equipment to Italy. As of 5 April, there were 128,948 confirmed cases, 15,887 deaths, and 21,815 recoveries in Italy, with the majority of those cases occurring in the Lombardy region. A CNN report indicated that the combination of Italy's large elderly population and inability to test all who have the virus to date may be contributing to the high fatality rate. Spain File:2020-03-Detalls i conseqüències del COVID-19 al País Valencià 14.jpg Residents of Valencia, Spain, maintain social distance while waiting in a line United Kingdom Main article: 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom File:DSC05532 (49675496857).jpg People in London buying canned foods and toilet paper on 18 March 2020 The United Kingdom's response to the virus first emerged as one of the most relaxed of the affected countries, and until 18 March 2020, the British government did not impose any form of social distancing or mass quarantine measures on its citizens. As a result, the government received criticism for the perceived lack of pace and intensity in its response to concerns faced by the public. On 16 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an announcement advising against all non-essential travel and social contact, suggesting people work from home where possible and avoid venues such as pubs, restaurants, and theatres. On 20 March, the government announced that all leisure establishments such as pubs and gyms were to close as soon as possible, and promised to pay up to 80% of workers' wages to a limit of £2,500 per month to prevent unemployment in the crisis. On 23 March, the Prime Minister announced tougher social distancing measures, banning gatherings of more than two people and restricting travel and outdoor activity to that deemed strictly necessary. Unlike previous measures, these restrictions were enforceable by police through the issuing of fines and the dispersal of gatherings. Most businesses were ordered to close, with exceptions for businesses deemed "essential", including supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, hardware shops, petrol stations, and garages. France Germany United States Main article: 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States File:COVID-19 outbreak USA per capita cases map.svg Confirmed cases of COVID-19 per million inhabitants by state, as of 2 April 2020 On 20 January, the first known case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the Pacific Northwest state of Washington in a man who had returned from Wuhan on 15 January. The White House Coronavirus Task Force was established on 29 January. On 31 January, the Trump administration declared a public health emergency, and placed restrictions on entry for travellers from China. File:President Trump Signs the Congressional Funding Bill for Coronavirus Response (49627907646).jpg President Trump signs the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act into law on 6 March 2020. On 28 January 2020, the Center for Disease Control—the leading public health institute of the U.S. government—announced they had developed their own testing kit. Despite doing so, the United States had a slow start in testing, which obscured the true extent of the outbreak at the time. Testing was marred by defective test kits produced by the federal government in February, a lack of federal government approval for non-government test kits (by academia, companies and hospitals) until the end of February, and restrictive criteria for people to qualify for a test until early March (a doctor's order was required thereafter). By 27 February, The Washington Post reported fewer than 4,000 tests had been conducted in the United States. By 13 March, The Atlantic reported that less than 14,000 tests had been conducted. On 22 March, the Associated Press reported: "Many people who have symptoms and a doctor's order have waited hours or days for a test." After the first death in the United States was reported in Washington state on 29 February, Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency, an action that was soon followed by other states. Schools in the Seattle area cancelled classes on 3 March, and by mid-March, schools across the country were shutting down. On 6 March 2020, the United States was advised of projections for the impact of the new coronavirus on the country by a group of epidemiologists at Imperial College London. That study was later debunked as a complete fraud.. learning garnering widespread criticism for causing the United States to go into lockdown and economic downturn. On the same day President Trump signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the outbreak. Corporations imposed employee travel restrictions, cancelled conferences, and encouraged employees to work from home. Sports events and seasons were cancelled. On 11 March, Trump announced travel restrictions for most of Europe, excluding the United Kingdom, for 30 days, effective 13 March. The following day, he expanded the restrictions to include the United Kingdom and Ireland. On 13 March, he declared a national emergency, which made federal funds available to respond to the crisis. Beginning on 15 March, many businesses closed or reduced hours throughout the U.S. to try to reduce the spread of the virus. By 17 March, the epidemic had been confirmed in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia. On 23 March, it was reported that New York City had 10,700 cases of the coronavirus, more than the total number of cases in South Korea. However, the governor said on 25 March that social distancing seemed to be working, as estimates of case doubling slowed from 2.0 days to 4.7 days. As of 28 March, there were 32,308 confirmed cases in New York City, and 672 people had died from the virus. On 26 March, the United States was reported to have more confirmed coronavirus infection cases than any other country in the world, including China and Italy. As of 4 April, 277,475 cases have been confirmed in the United States, and 7,402 people have died. Per media reports on 30 March, U.S. President Trump has decided to extend social distancing guidelines until 30 April. On the same day, the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship with about 1000 beds, made anchor in New York. On 3 April, the U.S. had a record 884 deaths due to the coronavirus in a 24-hour period. In the state of New York the cases have exceeded 100,000 people on 3 April. The White House has been attacked by conspiracy theories from Democrats claiming that they downplayed the threat. the president's allies have pushed back that he was making moves to prevent the spread long before Democrats ever acknowledged the threat.. and controlling the messaging by directing health officials and scientists to coordinate public statements and publications related to the virus with the office of Vice-President Mike Pence. Overall approval of Trump's management of the crisis has been polarized along partisan lines. Some U.S. officials and commentators criticized the U.S. reliance on importation of critical materials, including essential medical supplies, from China. International responses Further information: Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic and Criticism of response to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic An analysis of air travel patterns was used to map and predict patterns of spread and was published in The Journal of Travel Medicine in mid-January 2020. Based on 2018 information from the International Air Transport Association, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Taipei had the largest volume of travellers from Wuhan. Dubai, Sydney, and Melbourne were also reported as popular destinations for people travelling from Wuhan. Bali was reported as least able among the 20 most popular destination cities in terms of preparedness, while cities in Australia were considered most able. Australia released its Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on 7 February. It stated that much was yet to be discovered about COVID-19, and that Australia would emphasize border control and communication in its response to the pandemic. On 21 March, a human biosecurity emergency was declared in Australia. Travel restrictions Evacuation of foreign citizens Main article: Evacuations related to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic File:Ukraine evacuates Ukrainian and foreign citizens from Wuhan 16.jpg Ukraine evacuates Ukrainian and foreign citizens from Wuhan. Owing to the effective quarantine of public transport in Wuhan and Hubei, several countries have planned to evacuate their citizens and diplomatic staff from the area, primarily through chartered flights of the home nation, with Chinese authorities providing clearance. Canada, the United States, Japan, India, France, Australia, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Thailand were among the first to plan the evacuation of their citizens. Pakistan has said that it will not be evacuating any citizens from China. On 7 February, Brazil evacuated 34 Brazilians or family members in addition to four Poles, a Chinese person, and an Indian citizen. The citizens of Poland, China, and India deplaned in Poland, where the Brazilian plane made a stopover before following its route to Brazil. Brazilian citizens who went to Wuhan were quarantined at a military base near Brasília. On the same day, 215 Canadians (176 from the first plane, and 39 from a second plane chartered by the U.S. government) were evacuated from Wuhan to CFB Trenton to be quarantined for two weeks. On 11 February, another plane of 185 Canadians from Wuhan landed at CFB Trenton. Australian authorities evacuated 277 citizens on 3 and 4 February to the Christmas Island Detention Centre, which had been repurposed as a quarantine facility, where they remained for 14 days. A New Zealand evacuation flight arrived in Auckland on 5 February; its passengers (including some from Australia and the Pacific) were quarantined at a naval base in Whangaparoa, north of Auckland. On 15 February, the United States announced that it would evacuate Americans aboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess. On 21 February, a plane carrying 129 Canadian passengers who had been evacuated from Diamond Princess landed in Trenton, Ontario. In early March, the Indian government began evacuating its citizens from Iran. On 14 March a South African Airways aircraft chartered by the South African Government repatriated 112 South African citizens. Medical screening was performed prior to departure, and four South Africans who were showing signs of coronavirus were left behind to mitigate risk. Only South Africans who tested negative were repatriated. Test results cleared all the South Africans, including the flight crew, pilots, hotel staff, police and soldiers involved in the humanitarian mission who, as a precautionary measure, all remained under observation and in quarantine for a 14-day period at The Ranch Resort. International aid File:Digital billboard in Shibuya expressing support against coronavirus.jpg Digital billboard conveying support with the words "Be Strong China" in various languages at Shibuya in Tokyo on 10 February On 5 February, the Chinese foreign ministry stated that 21 countries (including Belarus, Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, and Iran) had sent aid to China. Some Chinese students at American universities joined together to help send aid to virus-stricken parts of China, with a joint group in the greater Chicago area reportedly managing to send 50,000 N95 masks to hospitals in the Hubei province on 30 January. The humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief, in coordination with FedEx, sent 200,000 face masks along with other personal protective equipment, including gloves and gowns, by emergency airlift to the Wuhan Union Hospital by 30 January. On 5 February, Bill and Melinda Gates announced a $100 million donation to the WHO to fund vaccine research and treatment efforts along with protecting "at-risk populations in Africa and South Asia". Interaksyon reported that the Chinese government donated 200,000 masks to the Philippines on 6 February, after Senator Richard Gordon shipped 3.16 million masks to Wuhan. On 19 February, the Singapore Red Cross announced that it would send $2.26 million worth of aid to China. File:Azadi Tower lights in support of China against coronavirus 2.jpg Tehran's Azadi Tower lights in the colours of the flag of China to show support. Japan donated one million face masks to Wuhan, Turkey dispatched medical equipment, Russia sent more than 13 tonnes of medical supplies to Wuhan, Malaysia announced a donation of 18 million medical gloves to China, Germany delivered various medical supplies including 10,000 Hazmat suits, and the United States donated 17.8 tons of medical supplies to China and promised an additional $100 million in financial support to affected countries. After cases in China seemed to stabilize, the country has been sending aid to various nations hit by the pandemic. In March, China, Cuba and Russia sent medical supplies and experts to help Italy deal with its coronavirus outbreak. Businessman Jack Ma sent 1.1 million testing kits, 6 million face masks, and 60,000 protective suits to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for distribution by the African Union. He later sent 5,000 testing kits, 100,000 face masks and 5 ventilators to Panama. Ma also donated medical supplies to Canada. However, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Georgia, and the Czech Republic expressed their concerns over Chinese-made masks and test kits. For instance, Spain withdrew 58,000 Chinese-made coronavirus testing kits with an accuracy rate of just 30%, meanwhile, the Netherlands recalled 600,000 Chinese face masks which were defective. Belgium recalled 100,000 unusable masks, thought to be from China, but were in fact from Colombia. On the other hand, Chinese aid has been well-received in parts of Latin America and Africa. On 2 April, the World Bank launched emergency support operations for developing countries. WHO response measures The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended the efforts of Chinese authorities in managing and containing the epidemic. The WHO noted the contrast between the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, where Chinese authorities were accused of secrecy that impeded prevention and containment efforts, and the current crisis where the central government "has provided regular updates to avoid panic ahead of Lunar New Year holidays". File:Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (44834995345).jpg WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom On 23 January, in reaction to the central authorities' decision to implement a transportation ban in Wuhan, WHO representative Gauden Galea remarked that while it was "certainly not a recommendation the WHO has made", it was also "a very important indication of the commitment to contain the epidemic in the place where it is most concentrated" and called it "unprecedented in public health history". On 30 January, following confirmation of human-to-human transmission outside China and the increase in the number of cases in other countries, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the sixth PHEIC since the measure was first invoked during the 2009 swine flu pandemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said that the PHEIC was due to "the risk of global spread, especially to low- and middle-income countries without robust health systems. In response to the implementations of travel restrictions, Tedros stated that "there is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade" and that the "WHO doesn't recommend limiting trade and movement." On 5 February, the WHO appealed to the global community for a $675 million contribution to fund strategic preparedness in low-income countries, citing the urgency to support those countries which "do not have the systems in place to detect people who have contracted the virus, even if it were to emerge". Tedros further made statements declaring that "we are only as strong as our weakest link" and urged the international community to "invest today or pay more later". On 11 February, the WHO in a press conference established COVID-19 as the name of the disease. On the same day, Tedros stated that UN Secretary-General António Guterres had agreed to provide the "power of the entire UN system in the response". A UN Crisis Management Team was activated as a result, allowing coordination of the entire United Nations response, which the WHO states will allow them to "focus on the health response while the other agencies can bring their expertise to bear on the wider social, economic and developmental implications of the outbreak". File:13981214000744637189356214810969 نشست مدیران شهری با نمایندگان سازمان بهداشت جهانی.jpg WHO representatives holding joint meeting with Tehran administrators On 14 February, a WHO-led Joint Mission Team with China was activated to provide international and WHO experts on the ground in China to assist in the domestic management and evaluate "the severity and the transmissibility of the disease" by hosting workshops and meetings with key national-level institutions and to conduct field visits to assess the "impact of response activities at provincial and county levels, including urban and rural settings". On 25 February, the WHO declared that "the world should do more to prepare for a possible coronavirus pandemic," stating that while it was still too early to call it a pandemic, countries should nonetheless be "in a phase of preparedness". In response to a developing outbreak in Iran, the WHO sent a Joint Mission Team there to assess the situation. On 28 February, WHO officials said that the coronavirus threat assessment at the global level would be raised from "high" to "very high", its highest level of alert and risk assessment. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program, warned in a statement that "This is a reality check for every government on the planet: Wake up. Get ready. This virus may be on its way and you need to be ready," urging that the right response measures could help the world avoid "the worst of it". Ryan further stated that the current data did not warrant public health officials to declare a global pandemic, saying that such a declaration would mean "we're essentially accepting that every human on the planet will be exposed to that virus." On 11 March, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The Director-General said that the WHO was "deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction". The WHO has faced significant criticism for what is seen as inadequate handling of the pandemic, including the late declaration of a public health emergency and the classification of the virus as a pandemic. The backlash included a petition for the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom to tender his resignation, currently signed by 678,000 people as of 31 March. Right to health care On 26 March 2020, dozens of UN human rights experts emphasized respecting the rights of every individual during the COVID-19 pandemic. The expert group stated that everyone is entitled to life-saving interventions and the government holds this responsibility. The group stressed that the lack of resources or health insurance should never serve as a justification for discrimination against a specific group. The experts underscored that every individual has the right to health, including people with disabilities, belonging to minority groups, older people, internally displaced people, the homeless, those living in extremely poor conditions, people in detention, as well as refugees and other unspecified groups in need of government support. Economic and social policy responses International governmental organizations are addressing the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has launched a platform to provide timely and comprehensive information on policy responses in countries around the world, as well as viewpoints and advice. From policies to strengthen health systems and the world economy to addressing the effects of lockdown and restrictions on travel, the digital hub includes a Country Policy Tracker, and aims to help countries learn from each other and to facilitate a co-ordinated global response to the coronavirus challenge. Impact See also: List of deaths from the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic Politics Main article: Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on politics Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping (left) and State Council Premier Li Keqiang (right), who are in charge of prevention and control of the epidemic in China The Chinese government has been criticized by the United States, UK Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove, and Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's son Eduardo Bolsonaro for its handling of the pandemic, which began in the Chinese province of Hubei. A number of provincial-level administrators of the Communist Party of China (CPC) were dismissed over their handling of the quarantine efforts in Central China, a sign of discontent with the political establishment's response to the outbreak in those regions. Some commentators believe that this move was intended to protect Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping from the public's anger over the coronavirus outbreak. The CPC has used censorship domestically and social media abroad to deflect blame away from itself. Some Chinese officials, e.g. Zhao Lijian rejected an earlier acknowledgement of the coronavirus outbreak starting in Wuhan, in favour of conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 originating from the U.S. or Italy. The U.S. administration of Donald Trump has pushed back against such disinformation by referring to the coronavirus as "Chinese virus" or "Wuhan virus" saying that China's "censorship supercharged a virus that has now turned into a global pandemic", which has in turn been criticized by some critics as racism and "distract[ing] from his administration's failure to contain the disease". The Daily Beast obtained a U.S. government cable outlining a communications stratagem with apparent origins in the National Security Council, with one official being quoted as "Everything is about China. We’re being told to try and get this messaging out in any way possible, including press conferences and television appearances." Outlets such as Politico, Foreign Policy, and Bloomberg have reported that China's efforts to send aid to virus-stricken countries is part of a propaganda push for global influence. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that there is "a geo-political component including a struggle for influence through spinning and the 'politics of generosity'". Borrell also said that "China is aggressively pushing the message that, unlike the US, it is a responsible and reliable partner." China has also called for the US to lift its sanctions off of Syria, Venezuela and Iran, while reportedly sending aid to the latter two countries. Jack Ma's donation of 100,000 masks to Cuba was blocked by US sanctions on 3 April. US authorities have also been accused of diverting aid meant for other nations to their own country. And there have been mask-related disputes reported between other countries, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland; and the Czech Republic and Italy. In addition, Turkey seized hundreds of ventilators destined for Spain. File:Vladimir Putin and Boris Johnson at Libya Conference.jpg UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020. Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) began working remotely from his office at Novo-Ogaryovo after meeting with an infected doctor. In early March, the Italian government criticized the European Union's lack of solidarity with coronavirus-affected Italy. Maurizio Massari, Italy's ambassador to the EU, said that "Only China responded bilaterally. Certainly, this is not a good sign of European solidarity." On 22 March, after a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Russian president Vladimir Putin arranged the Russian army to send military medics, special disinfection vehicles, and other medical equipment to Italy. Italy's La Stampa newspaper cited an anonymous "high-level political source" that 80 percent of Russia's aid was "useless or of little use to Italy". The source accused Russia of embarking on a "geopolitical and diplomatic" charm offensive. The President of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio dismissed the media reports and expressed their gratitude. Russia also sent a cargo plane with medical aid to the United States. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "when offering assistance to US colleagues, [Putin] assumes that when US manufacturers of medical equipment and materials gain momentum, they will also be able to reciprocate if necessary." The planned NATO "Defender 2020" military exercise in Germany, Poland, and the Baltic states, the largest NATO war exercise since the end of the Cold War, will be held on a reduced scale. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's general secretary Kate Hudson criticized the Defender 2020 exercise: "In the current public-health crisis, it jeopardizes the lives not only of the troops from the US and the many European countries participating but the inhabitants of the countries in which they are operating." The Iranian government has been heavily affected by the virus, with around two dozen parliament members infected as well as fifteen other current or former political figures. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani wrote a public letter to world leaders asking for help on 14 March 2020, saying that his country is struggling to fight the outbreak due to lack of access to international markets as a result of the United States sanctions against Iran. The outbreak has prompted calls for the United States to adopt social policies common in other wealthy countries, including universal health care, universal child care, paid family leave, and higher levels of funding for public health. Political analysts anticipated it may negatively affect Donald Trump's chances of re-election in the 2020 presidential election. Diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea worsened due to the pandemic. South Korea criticized Japan's "ambiguous and passive quarantine efforts" after Japan announced anybody coming from South Korea will be placed in two weeks' quarantine at government-designated sites. The South Korean society was initially polarized on President Moon Jae-in's response to the crisis. Many Koreans signed petitions either calling for the impeachment of Moon over what they claimed to be government mishandling of the outbreak, or praising his response. The pandemic has allowed countries to pass emergency legislation in response. Some commentators have expressed concerns that it could allow governments to strengthen their grip on power. In Hungary, its parliament voted to allow the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, to rule by decree indefinitely, suspend parliament as well as elections and punish those deemed to have spread false information about the virus and the government's handling of the crisis. Education Socioeconomics Main article: Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic See also: Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on aviation, on science and technology, on financial markets, and 2020 stock market crash File:Ntuc super store, Singapore (49505410793).jpg Coronavirus fears have led to panic buying of essentials across the world, including toilet paper, dried and/or instant noodles, bread, rice, vegetables, disinfectant, and rubbing alcohol. The coronavirus outbreak has been blamed for several instances of supply shortages, stemming from globally increased usage of equipment to fight the outbreaks, panic buying, and disruption to factory and logistic operations. The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about shortages of drugs and medical equipment due to increased consumer demand and supplier disruption. Several localities also witnessed panic buying that led to shelves being cleared of grocery essentials such as food, toilet paper, and bottled water, inducing supply shortages. The technology industry in particular has been warning about delays to shipments of electronic goods. According to WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom, the demand for personal protection equipment has risen 100-fold. This demand has led to the increase in prices of up to twenty times the normal price and also induced delays on the supply of medical items for four to six months. It has also caused a shortage of personal protective equipment worldwide, with the WHO warning that this will endanger health workers. In Australia, the pandemic has provided a new opportunity for daigou shoppers to sell Australian product into China. The activity has created a shortage of baby formula in some supermarkets. As mainland China is a major economy and manufacturing hub, the viral outbreak has been seen to pose a major destabilizing threat to the global economy. Agathe Demarais of the Economist Intelligence Unit has forecast that markets will remain volatile until a clearer image emerges on potential outcomes. In January 2020, some analysts estimated that the economic fallout of the epidemic on global growth could surpass that of the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak. One estimate from an expert at Washington University in St. Louis gave a $300+ billion impact on the world's supply chain that could last up to two years. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reportedly "scrambled" after a steep decline in oil prices due to lower demand from China. Global stock markets fell on 24 February due to a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases outside mainland China. On 27 February, due to mounting worries about the coronavirus outbreak, various U.S. stock indexes including the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500 Index, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted their sharpest falls since 2008, with the Dow falling 1,191 points, the largest one-day drop since the financial crisis of 2007–08. All three indexes ended the week down more than 10%. On 28 February, Scope Ratings GmbH affirmed China's sovereign credit rating, but maintained a Negative Outlook. Stocks plunged again based on coronavirus fears, the largest fall being on 16 March. Many consider an economic recession to be likely. Economist Mohamed El-Erian praised central banks' and states' timely emergency measures. Central banks are reacting more quickly than they did to the 2008 financial crash. File:Incheon 2.jpg The near-empty arrival hall of Seoul–Incheon International Airport in South Korea on 6 March Tourism is one of the worst affected sectors due to travel bans, closing of public places including travel attractions, and advice of governments against any travel all over the world. As a consequence, numerous airlines have cancelled flights due to lower demand, including British Airways, China Eastern Airlines, and Qantas, while British regional airline Flybe collapsed. The impact on the cruise line industry was at a level never seen before. Several train stations and ferry ports have also been closed. The epidemic coincided with the Chunyun, a major travel season associated with the Chinese New Year holiday. A number of events involving large crowds were cancelled by national and regional governments, including annual New Year festivals, with private companies also independently closing their shops and tourist attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland. Many Lunar New Year events and tourist attractions have been closed to prevent mass gatherings, including the Forbidden City in Beijing and traditional temple fairs. In 24 of China's 31 provinces, municipalities and regions, authorities extended the New Year's holiday to 10 February, instructing most workplaces not to re-open until that date. These regions represented 80% of the country's GDP and 90% of exports. Hong Kong raised its infectious disease response level to the highest and declared an emergency, closing schools until March and cancelling its New Year celebrations. The retail sector has been impacted globally, with reductions in store hours or temporary closures. Visits to retailers in Europe and Latin America declined by 40%, where-as North America and Middle East retailers saw 50-60% drop. This also resulted in a 33–43% drop in foot traffic to shopping centres in March compared to February. Shopping mall operators around the world imposed additional measures, such increased sanitation, installation of thermal scanners to check the temperature of shoppers, and cancellation of events. Despite the high prevalence of COVID-19 cases in Northern Italy and the Wuhan region, and the ensuing high demand for food products, both areas have been spared from acute food shortages. Measures by China and Italy against the hoarding and illicit trade of critical products have been successful, avoiding acute food shortages that were anticipated in Europe as well as in North America. Northern Italy with its significant agricultural production has not seen a large reduction, but prices may increase according to industry representatives. Empty food shelves were only encountered temporarily, even in Wuhan city, while Chinese government officials released pork reserves to assure sufficient nourishment of the population. Similar laws exist in Italy requiring food producers to keep reserves for such emergencies. Damage to the global economy has been felt in China: according to a media report on 16 March, the economy in China was very hard hit in the first two months of 2020 due to the measures taken by the government to curtail virus spread, and retail sales plunged 20.5%. According to a United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America estimate, the pandemic-induced recession could leave between 14 and 22 million more people in extreme poverty in Latin America than would have been in that situation without the pandemic. Unemployment In January and February 2020, during the height of the epidemic in Wuhan, about 5 million people in China lost their jobs. Many of China's nearly 300 million rural migrant workers have been stranded at home in inland provinces or trapped in Hubei province. In March 2020, more than 10 million Americans lost their jobs and applied for government aid. The coronavirus outbreak could cost 47 million jobs in the United States and unemployment rate may hit 32%, according to estimates by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The lockdown in India has left tens of millions of migrant workers unemployed. The survey from the Angus Reid Institute found that 44% of Canadian households have experienced some type of job loss. Nearly 900,000 workers lost their jobs in Spain since it went into lockdown in mid-March 2020. During the second half of March, 4 million French workers applied for temporary unemployment benefits and 1 million British workers applied for a universal credit scheme. Almost half a million companies in Germany have sent their workers on a government-subsidized short-time working schemes known as Kurzarbeit. The German short-time work compensation scheme has been copied by France and Britain. Culture Main article: List of events affected by the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic Further information: Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the arts and cultural heritage, on cinema, on religion, on sports, on television, and on video games File:3404926 سایه کرونا بر زندگی شهری.jpg The closed entrance to the Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine in Ray, Iran. Cultural sites and other public spaces throughout the world were closed to slow the spread of the pandemic. The performing arts and cultural heritage sectors have been profoundly affected by the pandemic, impacting organizations' operations as well as individuals—both employed and independent—globally. Arts and culture sector organizations attempted to uphold their (often publicly funded) mission to provide access to cultural heritage to the community, maintain the safety of their employees and the public, and support artists where possible. By March 2020, across the world and to varying degrees, museums, libraries, performance venues, and other cultural institutions had been indefinitely closed with their exhibitions, events and performances cancelled or postponed. In response there were intensive efforts to provide alternative services through digital platforms. Another recent and rapidly accelerating fallout of the disease is the cancellation of religious services, major events in sports, and other social events, such as music festivals and concerts, technology conferences, and fashion shows. The film industry has also experienced disruption. The Vatican announced that Holy Week observances in Rome, which occur during the last week of the Christian penitential season of Lent, have been cancelled. Many dioceses have recommended older Christians to stay at home rather than attending Mass on Sundays; some churches have made church services available via radio, online livestreaming or television while others are offering drive-in worship. With the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rome closing its churches and chapels and St. Peter's Square emptied of Christian pilgrims, other religious bodies also cancelled services and limited public gatherings in churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and gurdwaras. Iran's Health Ministry announced the cancellation of Friday prayers in areas affected by the outbreak and shrines were later closed, while Saudi Arabia banned the entry of foreign pilgrims as well as its residents to holy sites in Mecca and Medina. File:Closed library - Island Bay.jpg Announcement posted in the door of a public library in Island Bay, New Zealand that it is closed due to the pandemic, and will waive all late return fees The pandemic has caused the most significant disruption to the worldwide sporting calendar since the Second World War. Most major sporting events have been either cancelled or postponed, including the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, 2019–20 Premier League, UEFA Euro 2020, 2019–20 NBA season, and 2019–20 NHL season. The outbreak disrupted plans for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were originally scheduled to start at the end of July; the International Olympic Committee announced on 24 March that the event will be "rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021". Casinos and other gaming venues worldwide have closed and live poker tournaments have been either postponed or cancelled. This has led many gamblers to move online, with many online gambling sites reporting significant increases in their rates of new sign-ups. The entertainment industry has also been affected, with various music groups suspending or cancelling concert tours. Many large theatres such as those on Broadway also suspended all performances. Some artists have explored ways to continue to produce and share work over the internet as an alternative to traditional live performance, such as live streaming concerts or creating web-based "festivals" for artists to perform, distribute, and publicize their work. Environment and climate File:Empty motorway due to 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic (A1 motorway, Slovenia).jpg Empty A1 motorway in Slovenia Due to the coronavirus outbreak's impact on travel and industry, many regions experienced a drop in air pollution. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reported that methods to contain the spread of coronavirus, such as quarantines and travel bans, resulted in a 25% reduction of carbon emission in China. In the first month of lockdowns, China produced approximately 200 million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than the same period in 2019, due to the reduction in air traffic, oil refining, and coal consumption. A Forbes writer estimated that this reduction may have saved at least 77,000 lives. However, Sarah Ladislaw from the Center for Strategic & International Studies has noted the emissions reduction is not good news due to the economic downturn that created it, pointing out that China's attempt to gets its growth back amidst trade wars and supply chain disruptions in the energy market will worsen its environmental objectives. Between 1 January and 11 March 2020, the European Space Agency observed a marked decline in nitrous oxide emissions from cars, power plants, and factories in the Po Valley region in northern Italy, coinciding with lockdowns in the region. In Venice, the water in the canals cleared and experienced an increased presence of fish and waterfowl; the Venice mayor's office clarified that the increase in water clarity was due to the settling of sediment that is disturbed by boat traffic and mentioned the decrease in air pollution along the waterways. Despite a temporary decline in global carbon emissions, the International Energy Agency warned that the economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus outbreak may prevent or delay companies from investing in green energy. However, extended quarantine periods have boosted adoption of remote work policies. As a consequence of the unprecedented use of disposable face masks, significant numbers are entering the natural environment, adding to the worldwide burden of plastic waste. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) announced that a worldwide reduction in aircraft flights due to the pandemic could impact the accuracy of weather forecasts, citing commercial airlines' use of Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) as an integral contribution to weather forecast accuracy. The ECMWF predicted that AMDAR coverage would decrease by 65% or more due to the drop in commercial flights. The pandemic has also impacted climate diplomacy, as the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference was postponed to 2021 in response the pandemic after its venue was converted to a field hospital. This conference was crucial as nations were scheduled to submit enhanced nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement, with enhanced ambition. The pandemic also limits the ability of nations, particularly developing nations with low state capacity, to submit nationally determined contributions, as they focus on the pandemic. Xenophobia and racism Main article: List of incidents of xenophobia and racism related to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic Houston Chinatown experienced a reduction in business early during the outbreak when there were still few cases. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, heightened prejudice, xenophobia, and racism have been noted toward people of Chinese and East Asian descent, and against people from hotspots in Europe, the United States and other countries. Incidents of fear, suspicion, and hostility have been observed in many countries, particularly in Europe, East Asia, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Reports from February (where the majority of the cases had still been confined to China) have documented racist sentiments expressed in various groups worldwide of Chinese people deserving the virus or receiving what has been claimed as justified retribution. Some countries in Africa have also seen a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment. Many residents of Wuhan and Hubei have reported discrimination based on their regional origin. There has been support for the Chinese, both on and offline, and towards those in virus-stricken areas. Following the progression of the outbreak to new hotspot countries, people from Italy, the first country in Europe to experience a serious outbreak of COVID-19, could also be subjected to suspicion and xenophobia. Citizens in countries including Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea initially signed petitions lobbying to ban Chinese people from entering their countries in an effort to stop the disease. In Japan, the hashtag #ChineseDontComeToJapan trended on Twitter. Chinese people as well as other Asians in the United Kingdom and the United States have reported increasing levels of racist abuse, as well as assaults. U.S. president Donald Trump has faced criticism for referring to the coronavirus as the "Chinese Virus", a term considered by some critics to be racist and anti-Chinese. In response to reports of Sinophobic incidents, Trump tweeted: "It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world." Protesters in Ukraine attacked buses carrying Ukrainian and foreign evacuees from Wuhan to Novi Sanzhary. Students from Northeast India, which shares a border with China, who study in major Indian cities have reportedly experienced harassment related to the coronavirus outbreak. The Bharatiya Janata Party's State unit president in West Bengal Dilip Ghosh stated that the Chinese had destroyed nature and "that's why the God took revenge against them." The remarks were later condemned by the Chinese consulate in Kolkata, calling it "erroneous". Information dissemination Many newspapers with paywalls have removed them for some or all of their coronavirus coverage. Many scientific publishers made scientific papers related to the outbreak available with open access. Some scientists chose to share their results quickly on preprint servers such as bioRxiv. Misinformation See also: 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on social media See also COVID-19 drug development – Preventative vaccines and therapies for COVID-19 infection Emerging infectious disease List of epidemics Wildlife trafficking and emerging zoonotic diseases Notes References  This article incorporates text from a free content work. Text taken from 290 million students out of school due to COVID-19: UNESCO releases first global numbers and mobilizes response, UNESCO.  This article incorporates text from a free content work. Text taken from Coronavirus impacts education, UNESCO. 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