Factbox: Latest on the spread of coronavirus around the world

Global markets suffered record falls on Thursday as alarm over the coronavirus intensified and governments from Ireland to Italy unveiled measures to try to slow the spread of a disease that has infected more than 127,000 people worldwide.

Deaths/Infections 

More than 127,000 people have been infected globally and over 4,700 have died, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements.

Mainland China had 15 new infections, down from 24 cases a day earlier, bringing the total to 80,793. The death toll touched 3,169, up by 11 from the previous day.

Europe

Poland has reported its first death from coronavirus. So far 47 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the country.

Greece reported its first fatality, a 66 year-old-man who had returned from a religious pilgrimage to Israel and Egypt at the end of February.

Italy’s death toll from the coronavirus epidemic shot past 1,000 as the economic impact worsened. The total number of infections rose to 15,113.

The number of confirmed cases across the UK rose 29% to 590 over the past 24 hours. Ten people have died.

The death toll in France rose to 61 from Wednesday’s 48. The country will close all nurseries, schools and universities from Monday.

Turkish schools will be closed for one week and universities for three weeks from March 16 and sports events will be held without spectators until end-April.

A woman, wearing a protective face mask, walks in front of the Bank of England, following an outbreak of the coronavirus in London. PHOTO: Reuters

Austria will deny entry to people arriving from Italy, ban indoor events of more than 100 people and close schools from next week until April, along with the Czech Republic which is also closing schools and universities.

Bulgaria plans to declare a state of emergency as the country’s confirmed cases rose sharply to 23.

Ukraine said it would restrict mass events and close schools and universities in capital Kiev.

Americas

US President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of European travel to the United States for 30 days to help curb the spread of a coronavirus pandemic.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, are in self-isolation after she fell ill and was tested for the coronavirus, while school was cancelled in Ontario to limit the spread of the outbreak. The country on Thursday reported 138 confirmed cases, a 34% increase from Wednesday and a three-fold gain from a week ago.

Costa Rica, which has reported 22 cases, has ordered all university classes suspended.

Asia

China’s Hubei province said public transport workers in Wuhan and those engaged in making medical supplies and daily necessities could return to work along with some industries that impact national or global supply chains.

India said it will suspend a vast majority of visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

An Indonesian Red Cross personnel sprays disinfectant inside Istiqlal mosque, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia. PHOTO: Reuters

Total infections in Japan rose to 1,278, including 696 from a cruise ship and 14 returnees on charter flights from China. One new infection was reported early on Wednesday, when the death toll stood at 19.

South Korea reported 114 new cases and six more deaths. The new cases bring the country’s total to 7,869, with 66 deaths.

Thailand reported 11 new cases, bringing the total cases to 70.

Weeks after Vietnam declared that all its 16 cases had recovered, the number of infections is on the rise following a flight from Britain.

Middle East and Africa

Iran on Thursday reported 75 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 429 in the worst-hit country in the Middle East.

South Africa reports the first case of local transmission of the coronavirus on Thursday.

Australia

Australia’s government said it would pump A$17.6 billion ($11.4 billion) into the economy to prevent the outbreak from pushing the country into its first recession in nearly 30 years.

Economic fallout

Spain placed four towns under quarantine and announced measures to tackle the economic impact.

Canada will spend C$1 billion ($728 million) to fight the spread of coronavirus and stands ready to do more, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

A man wearing protective mask walks past a closed shop covered with advertisements for rental space at Mongkok, following the outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Hong Kong, China. PHOTO: Reuters

Italy will ramp up spending to help the economy, earmarking 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion) to tackle the growing crisis, its Prime Minister said on Wednesday.

Japan’s government is expected to cut its assessment of the economy in a monthly report due later this month.

Event cancelled, postponed, pared back

The World Trade Organisation’s major biennial meeting, due to be held in Kazakhstan in June, was cancelled, dealing a blow to its efforts to update the global rules of commerce.

The Australian Formula One Grand Prix was cancelled on Friday due to worries about the coronavirus outbreak.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch was lit behind closed doors in ancient Olympia.

India ordered upcoming international cricket matches to be played in empty stadiums.

The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has cancelled Sebring 1,000 Miles race in Florida.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) said on Wednesday it was suspending the season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive.

A father carries the backpack of his daughter as he waits for her at entrance of a school after Catalonia announced to close schools, kindergartens, institutes and universities from tomorrow as a precaution against coronavirus in Barcelona, Spain. PHOTO: Reuters

A meeting of G20 Agriculture and Water ministers scheduled for March 17-19 in Saudi Arabia has been postponed.

FIFA has postponed its annual Congress, due to be held in Ethiopia in June, for three months.

The inaugural edition of the multi-nation Fed Cup finals that were scheduled to be held in Budapest next month was postponed on Wednesday.

The world figure skating championships, scheduled to be held in Montreal from March 16-22, have been cancelled.

The International Weightlifting Federation postponed the European championship from April to June.