2019 Coronavirus Timeline

The 2019 Coronavirus discovered first when the World Health Organization (WHO) received several reports of pneumonia resulting from unknown causes. The 2019-nCoV originated in Wuhan China and has since spread to over 23 countries. The number of confirmed cases continues to grow daily, having the most effect on populations in mainland China. Organizations around the world are working together to contain the spread of the Wuhan Coronavirus, but unfortunately, there is no clear end in sight. As the situation evolves, leaders have implemented several measures to minimize the potential spread of the Wuhan Coronavirus and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and WHO continues to monitor the situation closely. Updates on the outbreak of the 2019 Coronavirus can be read below:  

• December 31, 2019 – The WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause. The cause was identified as a novel coronavirus.
• January 7, 2020 – The Chinese authorities identified a new type of coronavirus (novel coronavirus, nCoV), which was isolated. The genetic sequencing for the virus has been shared by China for other countries to use.
• January 8, 2020 – CDC began alerting clinicians to be on the look-out for patients with respiratory symptoms and a history of travel to Wuhan, China.
• January 10, 2020 – WHO published a range of interim guidance for all countries on how they can prepare for this virus, including how to monitor for sick people, test samples, treat patients, control infection in health centres, maintain the right supplies, and communicate with the public about this new virus.
• January 13, 2020 – Confirmation of the novel coronavirus in a person in Thailand. The person was traveling from Wuhan, China.
• January 16, 2020 – The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, informed the WHO of a confirmed case of a novel coronavirus in a person who traveled to Wuhan, China. This is the second confirmed case of 2019-nCoV that has been detected outside of China.
• January 17, 2020 – The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan reported an imported case of laboratory-confirmed 2019-novel coronavirus from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
• January 17, 2020 – CDC began implementing public health entry screening at San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK), and Los Angeles (LAX) airports. There are plans to expand screenings to Atlanta and Chicago.
• January 20, 2020 – National IHR Focal Point (NFP) for Republic of Korea reported the first case of novel coronavirus in the Republic of Korea. The case is a 35-year-old female, Chinese national, residing in Wuhan, Hubei province in China.
• January 21, 2020 – The CDC confirmed the first case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States in the state of Washington. The patient recently returned from Wuhan, China. While originally thought to be spreading from animal-to-person, there are growing indications that limited person-to-person spread is happening. It’s unclear how easily this virus is spreading between people.
• January 21, 2020 – CDC again updated its interim travel health notice for this destination to provide information to people who may be traveling to Wuhan City and who may get sick. The travel notice was raised from Level 1; Practice Usual Precautions, to a Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions advising travelers that preliminary information suggests that older adults with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease.
• January 21, 2020 – Taiwan identifies the first imported case of 2019 novel coronavirus infection returning from Wuhan, China through on-board quarantine.
• January 24, 2020 – Two confirmed cased of Wuhan Coronavirus in Vietnam. The first was a traveler from Wuhan, the second was a family member of that person.
• January 24, 2020 – The second confirmed case of the virus in the United States was detected in Illinois.
• January 24, 2020 – Three confirmed cases in France.
• January 24, 2020 – One confirmed case in Singapore.
• January 25, 2020 – One case is confirmed in Australia. The person had traveled from Wuhan.
• January 26, 2020 – Two more travel related cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Arizona and California.
• January 28, 2020 – CDC expanded airport screenings from 5 to 20 airports.
• January 29, 2020 – There are now cases in 15 countries including: China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, United States of America, Canada, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates.
• January 29, 2020 – Health and Human Services and the CDC received the flight carrying approximately 210 U.S. citizens from Wuhan at March Air Reserve Base in California.
• January 30, 2020 – WHO declares that the outbreak is now a Public Health Emergency of International Concern which was determined by the Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus.
• January 30, 2020 – Confirmed cases in the Philippines, India, and Finland.
• January 30, 2020 – CDC Confirms person-to-person spread in the US. Which brings the number of confirmed people in the United States to 6.
• January 31, 2020 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under statutory authority of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, has issued federal quarantine orders to all 195 United States citizens who repatriated to the U.S. on January 29, 2020. The quarantine will last 14 days from when the plane left Wuhan, China. These individuals will continue to be housed at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California.
• January 31, 2020 – The virus is confirmed in Italy.
• January 31, 2020 – CDC confirmed another infection with 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States that was detected in California. The patient recently returned from Wuhan, China.
• January 31, 2020 – Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to 2019-nCoV.
• February 1, 2020 – Globally 11,953 cases confirmed. 259 deaths. 23 countries outside of China.
• February 1, 2020 – Has spread to Russia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.
• February 2, 2020 – Globally 14,557 cases confirmed. 304 deaths. 23 countries outside of China, 1 death outside of China.
• February 3, 2020 – 17391 cases confirmed globally. 361 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 23 countries outside of China.
• February 3, 2020 – CDC has confirmed additional five infections with novel coronavirus in the United States bringing the total number of confirmed positives in the U.S. to 11.  The new cases include one patient identified in Massachusetts and four more patients in California.  Four of the five patients have travel history to Wuhan, China.
• February 3, 2020 – CDC has screening now at 11 airports. The added airports are: Washington Dulles, Newark, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Detroit Metropolitan.
• February 4, 2020 – 20,630 cases confirmed globally. 425 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 23 countries outside of China.
• February 5, 2020 – WHO and partners have developed a global strategic preparedness and response plan, which outlines the public health measures that the international community can provide support to all countries to prepare for and respond to the 2019‑nCoV outbreak. The plan describes what we have learned so far about the virus and translates that knowledge into strategic action that can guide the efforts of all national and international partners when developing context-specific national and regional operational plans. The total estimated resources required to be mobilized by the international community to implement priority public health measures in support of countries to prepare for and respond to 2019-nCoV for this plan is USD 675.5 million
• February 5, 2020 – First confirmed case in Belgium.
• February 5, 2020 – 24,554 cases confirmed globally. 491 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China.
• February 5, 2020 – This week, several planes carrying passengers from Wuhan China will arrive in three states. These locations are Travis Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, CA, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, and Eppley Airfield in Omaha, NE. These passengers will be issued quarantine orders upon arrival at their designated quarantine location. This legal order is intended to protect the travelers, their families, and the community. This quarantine order will begin on the day the flight left Wuhan and will continue for up to 14 days.
• February 6, 2020 – A CDC-developed laboratory test kit to detect 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) began shipping yesterday to select qualified U.S. and international laboratories. Distribution of the tests will help improve the global capacity to detect and respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus. Order will begin on the day the flight left Wuhan and will continue for up to 14 days.
• February 6, 2020 – WHO is convening a global research and innovation forum to mobilize international action in response to the new coronavirus. The forum will bring together key players including leading scientists as well as public health agencies, ministries of health and research funders pursuing 2019-nCoV critical animal health and public health research and the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, among other innovations.
• February 6, 2020 – 28,276 cases confirmed globally. 564 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China.
• February 7, 2020 – 31,211 cases confirmed globally. 637 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China
• February 8, 2020 – 34,886 cases confirmed globally. 723 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China
• February 9, 2020 – 37,558 cases confirmed globally. 812 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China
• February 10, 2020 – The CDC has confirmed an additional case in Wisconsin bringing the total number of cases in the US to 12.
• February 10, 2020 – 40,235 cases confirmed globally. 909 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China.
• February 11, 2020 – The CDC confirms the 13th case of novel coronavirus in the US. The patient was under federal quarantine in California when diagnosed.
• February 11, 2020 – Following WHO best practices for naming of new human infectious diseases, which were developed in consultation and collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), WHO has named the disease COVID-19, short for “coronavirus disease 2019.” These organizations needed to find a name that would not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, that is also pronounceable and related to the disease.
• February 11, 2020 – 43,103 cases confirmed globally. 1017 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China.
• February 12, 2020 – CDC confirms 14^th case of the novel coronavirus in the US in California. The patient was among the group of people in federal quarantine.
• February 12, 2020 – 45,171 cases confirmed globally. 1114 deaths in China. 1 death outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China.
• February 13, 2020 – CDC confirms 15^th case of the novel coronavirus in the US among the group of people under federal quarantine at JBSA-Lackland in Texas.
• February 14, 2020 – 49,053 cases confirmed globally. 1,381 deaths in China. 2 deaths outside of China. Confirmed in 24 countries outside of China.
• February 15, 2020 – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is supporting the Department of State-led mission to repatriate U.S. citizens who want to return to the United States from Japan, currently aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The U.S. government recommends that U.S. citizens disembark and return to the United States for further monitoring. There are approximately 400 U.S. citizens onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Americans returned by flights chartered by the State Department will be subject to a 14-day, federal quarantine and be housed at two existing federal quarantine sites for repatriated travelers.
• February 15, 2020 – 50,580 cases confirmed globally. 1,524 deaths in China. 2 deaths outside of China. Confirmed in 25 countries outside of China. Egypt reported its first confirmed case.
• February 16, 2020 – 51,857 cases confirmed globally. 1,666 deaths in China. 3 deaths outside of China. The newest in France. Confirmed in 25 countries outside of China.
• February 17, 2020 – 71,429 cases confirmed globally. 1,772 deaths in China. 3 deaths outside of China. Confirmed in 25 countries outside of China.
• February 17, 2020 – From today, WHO will be reporting all confirmed cases, including both laboratory-confirmed as previously reported, and those reported as clinically diagnosed (currently only applicable to Hubei province, China). From 13 February through 16 February, we reported only laboratory confirmed cases for Hubei province. The change in reporting is now shown in the figures. This accounts for the apparent large increase in cases compared to prior situation reports.
• February 18, 2020 – 73,332 cases confirmed globally. 1,870 deaths in China. 3 deaths outside of China. Confirmed in 25 countries outside of China.
• February 18, 2020 – Update on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in Japan: After disembarkation from the Diamond Princess, these passengers and crew will be required to wait 14 days without having symptoms or a positive coronavirus test result before they are permitted to board flights to the United States.
• February 19, 2020 – 74,280 cases confirmed globally. 2,006 deaths in China. 3 deaths outside of China. Confirmed in 25 countries outside of China.
• February 19, 2020 – After several days at sea, the Royal Government of Cambodia agreed to accept the Westerdam cruise ship and the 2,257 persons on board, taking into consideration a number of factors including the needs of passengers and humanitarian considerations. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Royal Government of Cambodia and technical partners, including the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) and Institute Pasteur Cambodia, to support the public health response to the Holland America MS Westerdam cruise ship event in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Stay tuned as we will continue to update this post regularly.