Strategies for preventing transmission of the disease include social distancing, wearing of masks, 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.
Prevention
COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 pandemic | Prevention
Strategies for preventing transmission of the disease include social distancing, wearing of masks, 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 Recommended preventive measures include hand washing, covering mouth or wearing face mask when sneezing or coughing, social distancing, disinfecting surfaces, ventilation and air-filtering, and monitoring and self-isolation if exposed or symptomatic. Social distancing, wearing of masks, 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. Preventive measures include hand washing, covering mouth or wearing face mask when sneezing or coughing, social distancing, disinfecting surfaces, ventilation and air-filtering, and monitoring and self-isolation if exposed or symptomatic.
where is coney island in relation to manhattan
user
The southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.
assistant
who were the earliest settlers in this region?
user
Dutch
assistant
is it a tourist place?
user
Yes, it is a vacation destination
assistant
what are some of the sights to see there?
user
The New York Aquarium, KeySpan Park, the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island
assistant
where is the first place located on the island?
user
On the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island
assistant
what is the zip code of the island?
user
Coney Island's primary ZIP Code is 11224
assistant
what are the major ethnicities found there?
user
African American, White, Asian, Native American
assistant
is there a lot of crime here?
user
No, Coney Island's rate of violent crimes per capita is less than that of the city as a whole.
assistant
how many townships are there in the borough mentioned earlier?
user
Six townships
assistant
who is the current mayor of this place?
user
Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context.
assistant
what universities are found here?
user
Long Island University and the New York University Tandon School of Engineering
assistant
how has the first one dealt with the current pandemic?
user
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Long Island University moved all classes to online instruction for the remainder of the semester.
assistant
when did this pandemic start?
user
The disease was first identified in December 2019
assistant
which country is it supposed to have originated from?
user
China
assistant
what are some ways to prevent the spread of this disease?
user
Strategies for preventing transmission of the disease include social distancing, wearing of masks, 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.
COVID-19 pandemic | Prevention
The Ministry of Transport asked the local governments to take the principle of "block one, not three ()", that is, to block the virus from spreading, but not to block roads, traffic and Internet access, the transportation of emergency supplies and the transportation of essential goods.
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Early responses by Henan
The central government has imposed restrictions on the publication of academic research regarding the origins of the coronavirus. The directive issued by the Ministry of Education's science and technology department stated that "academic papers about tracing the origin of the virus must be strictly and tightly managed", requiring that such papers be vetted by a State Council task force. A Chinese researcher who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation said "I think it is a coordinated effort from (the) Chinese government to control (the) narrative, and paint it as if the outbreak did not originate in China.
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Investigations of origins of the virus
On February 6, the Connecticut Department of Public Health released a document with information intended for schools to prevent the spread of the virus. The document advocated for those who had been to China recently to self-monitor for 14 days, and that those exhibiting no symptoms after the 14-day period were able to return to their normal lives. In late February, greater precautions were undertaken by different organizations to be prepared for the eventual spread of the virus into Connecticut. On February 25, the University of New Haven suggested that all students in Italy should return to the United States.
COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut | January–February
Strategies in the control of an outbreak are screening, containment (or suppression), and mitigation. Screening is done with a device such as a thermometer to detect the elevated body temperature associated with fevers caused by the coronavirus. Containment is undertaken in the early stages of the outbreak and aims to trace and isolate those infected as well as introduce other measures to stop the disease from spreading. When it is no longer possible to contain 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 on society.
COVID-19 pandemic | Screening, containment and mitigation
Yanzhong Huang, a health expert at Seton Hall University, said that China could have been more forceful and "when there was a cover-up and there was inaction". A number of other countries' governments have called for an international examination of the virus's origin and spread.
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Information sharing
and Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren't wearing masks. This virus is transmitted by droplets and close contact. Droplets play a very important role − you've got to wear a mask, because when you speak, there are always droplets coming out of your mouth. Many people have asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections. If they are wearing face masks, it can prevent droplets that carry the virus from escaping and infecting others."
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic | China and Asia
The WHO advises people to avoid touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. It is not clear whether washing hands with ash, if soap is not available, is effective at reducing the spread of viral infections.
COVID-19 pandemic | Hand washing
scientists in 2018, rather than from a natural source. As of 18 May 2020, an official UN investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus, supported by over 120 countries, was being considered. United States' president Donald Trump claimed to have seen evidence that gave him a "high degree of confidence" that the novel coronavirus originated in the Chinese laboratory but did not offer any evidence, data or details, contradicted statements by the United States' intelligence community and garnered a lot of harsh criticism and doubts. As of 5 May, assessments and internal sources from the Five Eyes nations indicated that the coronavirus outbreak being the result of a laboratory accident was "highly unlikely", since the human infection was "highly likely" a result of natural human and animal interaction.
Pandemic prevention | Biotechnology research and development regulation
'Bore' yourselves for two weeks." ; "If the whole society is mobilized, 'boring' the virus is to contribute to society". Since then, he has put forward three important standards on returning to work, namely "fire prevention, anti-theft, and 'anti-colleagues'". At the end of February, Zhang Wenhong said in a media interview that in China, the first occurrence of new coronary virus was only in Wuhan. If it was transmitted to China from outside, it should have infected several Chinese cities at the same time, not one by one. He also said that the source of the virus is a controversial issue, but there must be "exact basis" to make claims, so he does not agree that the virus originated outside China.
Zhang Wenhong | COVID-19 pandemic
Let Harvard to come here. The door is open for them to see. There is nothing we keep secret."
Terawan Agus Putranto | COVID-19 pandemic
Preventive measures to reduce the chances of infection include staying at home, wearing a mask in public, avoiding crowded places, keeping distance from others, washing hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds, practising good respiratory hygiene, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Those diagnosed with COVID-19 or who believe they may be infected are advised by the CDC to stay home except to get medical care, call ahead before visiting a healthcare provider, wear a face mask before entering the healthcare provider's office and when in any room or vehicle with another person, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, regularly wash hands with soap and water and avoid sharing personal household items.
Coronavirus disease 2019 | Prevention
A number of religious groups have claimed protection due to their faith, some refusing to stop large religious gatherings. In Israel, some Ultra-Orthodox Jews initially refused to close synagogues and religious seminaries and disregarded government restrictions because "The Torah protects and saves", which resulted in an eight-fold faster rate of infection among some groups. The Islamic missionary movement Tablighi Jamaat organised Ijtema mass gatherings in Malaysia, India, and Pakistan whose participants believed that God will protect them, causing the biggest rise in COVID-19 cases in these and other countries. In Iran, the head of Fatima Masumeh Shrine encouraged pilgrims to visit the shrine despite calls to close the shrine, saying that they "consider this holy shrine to be a place of healing." In South Korea the River of Grace Community Church in Gyeonggi Province spread the virus after spraying salt water into their members' mouths in the belief that it would kill the virus, while the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu where a church leader claimed that no Shincheonji worshipers had caught the virus in February while hundreds died in Wuhan, later caused in the biggest spread of the virus in the country.
Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Religious protection
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 localised 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 penalised hoarding of medical supplies.
COVID-19 pandemic | Screening, containment and mitigation
They reiterated their warning that a rush of alarmed, uninfected outpatients with light symptoms of the disease could overwhelm hospitals and turn waiting rooms into "breeding grounds" for COVID-19. On 25 February, the Abe Administration introduced the "Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control" (Japanese: 新型コロナウイルス感染症対策の基本方針) based on advice from the expert meeting. After a spike of infections in Italy, Iran, and South Korea, Abe decided that the government's disease countermeasures would prioritize the prevention of large-scale clusters in Japan. This included controversial requests to suspend large-scale gatherings such as community events and school operations, as well as to limit patients with light cold symptoms from visiting medical facilities to prevent them from overwhelming hospital resources.
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan | Phase 2: Mitigation
Subsequent whole genome sequencing studies carried out by the Public Health Agency proved that disease control measures including isolation and contact tracing had been largely successful in preventing the infection to spread from Italy.
COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden | Early cases (December 2019 – February 2020)
The WHO stated that investing in preparedness was the smartest way to make sure that the coronavirus and other outbreaks are “identified and stopped quickly” and that solidarity should triumph over stigma. Portugal announced one more suspected case of a child of unspecified age that had returned from China. All previous six suspected cases were revealed to be negative after clinical analysis. In Bragança, Portugal, two Chinese college students agreed to stay on a voluntary quarantine when they return to Bragança. Although they did not show symptoms and neither had they been in contact with infected persons as far it was known, the reason for the quarantine was a recent holiday travel to China.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020 | 14 February
The strategy of mass-testing asymptomatic carriers was proven to be successful in stopping the spread of the virus in one Italian town. This strategy in Italy was supported by the region of Veneto.
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy | Screening and testing policies
Social distancing (also known as physical distancing) includes infection control actions intended to slow the spread of the disease by minimising 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. Non-cooperation with distancing measures in some areas has contributed to the further spread of the pandemic. The maximum gathering size recommended by U.S.
COVID-19 pandemic | Social distancing
It often spreads in clusters, where infections can be traced back to an index case or geographical location. There is a major role of "super-spreading events", where many people are infected by one person. These generally occur usually indoors, where groups of people remain in poor ventilation for longer periods. It transmits via aerosols particularly in these crowded and confined indoor spaces, which are particularly effective for transmitting the virus, such as restaurants, nightclubs or choirs. Another important site for transmission is between members of the same household.
Transmission of COVID-19 | Reproduction number
Southern Connecticut State University suspended all institutionally-supported travel to nations including Italy, China, South Korea, and Japan on March 3 to try to prevent the spread of the virus. On March 4, it was revealed that a Meriden-based company had begun research on a vaccine for SARS-Cov-2.
COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut | March 3–4
On the same day, the Italian government again enacts rules to limit the spread of COVID-19 among the population. Even at the Giro d'italia 2020 some cyclists were found to be positive at COVID-19 and some withdrew from the race. Protection systems for people such as face masks and distancing between people are essential to prevent the spread of the virus. In October 2020, the Italian regions and the central government began reinforcing hospitals to accommodate more sick and infected with COVID-19. The Italian government through the national health system has purchased larger doses of flu vaccine, about 19 million doses, to be distributed to the population.
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy | Drop in new cases and second wave
China also aided the things needed as other countries have the virus spread faster and their country's graphs lowered. They, along with Cuba and Russia, sent experts and medical equipment to Italy in order to fight their virus outbreak, with China sending three medical teams and donated more than forty tons of medical supplies to Italy. Businessman Jack Ma sent 1.1 million testing kits, 6 million face masks, and 60,000 protective suits to Ethiopia for distribution by the African Union. He later sent 5,000 testing kits, 100,000 face masks and 5 ventilators to Panama.
International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Sent
In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the government has put in place various travel restrictions and quarantining measures.
COVID-19 pandemic in São Tomé and Príncipe | Prevention
In 2020, during the national quarantine in Italy due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Italian authorities put in place a series of strict measures to prevent the increase in cases of those infected, eventually being able to judicially punish those who disobey these indications.
Intentional contagion of infection | COVID-19
First, the new policies advised local medical institutions that it is better for people with mild cold-like symptoms to rely on bed rest at home, rather than to seek medical help from clinics or hospitals. The policy also recommended that people at a higher risk of infection – including the elderly and patients with pre-existing conditions – avoid hospital visits for non-treatment purposes, such as by ordering prescriptions over the telephone instead of in person. Second, the new policies allowed general medical facilities in areas of a rapid COVID-19 outbreak to accept patients suspected of infection. Before this, patients could only get tested at specialized clinics after making an appointment with consultation centers to prevent the transmission of the disease.
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan | Phase 2: Mitigation
The Chinese health officials also promised to take strict measures to stop the virus from spreading and release information as soon as possible.
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Safeguarding 2020 Chunyun
By the time the WHO realized that the problem was serious, the false information of a low mortality rate and its low risk to non-senior citizens had already spread very rapidly. The United States and the WHO tried to send scientists to help China fight COVID-19; however, China refused the help. China did eventually share the genome sequence of COVID-19 with the global community and later accepted another offer from the WHO to send a team of scientists to help. The lack of communication and the slow transmission of information between science and government caused failures to slow the spread of the virus in its early stages.
Science diplomacy and pandemics | COVID-19
On 26 February, one of the people with whom he had interacted in Romania tested positive.
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy | Spread to other regions
On 31 January, England confirmed the first two cases, both members of a family of Chinese nationals staying in a hotel in York who were taken to specialist facilities in Newcastle upon Tyne. Afterwards, several confirmed cases were detected across the UK. The UK government implemented preventive measures to curb the spread of infections which included contact tracing, isolation and testing, some of which were related to the Italy clusters. The NHS set up drive-through screening centres at several hospitals to test members of the public showing symptoms. This effort was later replaced with screening focused on diagnosing patients in secondary care.
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe | United Kingdom
Perceived discrepancies in the official Chinese data for the number of cases left many netizens doubtful, with some mockingly labeling the virus "patriotic" for its appearance of mainly infecting Chinese after they left the country.
COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei | Human-to-human transmission
In Tanzania, President John Magufuli, instead of banning congregations, urged the faithfuls to go to pray in churches and mosques in the belief that it will protect them. He said that the coronavirus is a devil, therefore "cannot survive in the body of Jesus Christ, it will burn" (the "body of Jesus Christ" refers to the church). In Somalia, myths have spread claiming Muslims are immune to the virus.
Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Religious protection
Turkey shut down its border with Iran and banned all incoming flights as a precaution for stopping the spread of disease after Iran had reported 43 cases. Pakistan also closed its border with Iran, Afghanistan suspends travel to and from Iran and Jordan bans citizens from China, Iran, and South Korea. Georgia imposes restriction on inbound air flights with Iran, allowing passengers only in one direction. Italy introduces strict measures which place almost 50,000 people in lockdown in an attempt to control the virus. Fines are imposed on those caught entering or leaving outbreak areas. Carnival of Venice and Carnival of Ivrea are cancelled.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020 | 23 February
After the teams determine the source of infection, the ministry and local government officials enact countermeasures to locate, test, and place under medical surveillance anybody who may have come into contact with an infected person. They can also file requests to suspend infected businesses or restrict events from taking place there. From its contract tracing findings, the Ministry of Health discovered that 80% of infected people did not transmit COVID-19 to another person. The Ministry also determined that patients that did infect another person tended to spread it to multiple people and form infection clusters when they were in certain environments.
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan | Contact tracing against clusters
It is not clear whether this is because young people are less likely to be infected, or less likely to develop serious symptoms and seek medical attention and be tested. A retrospective cohort study in China found that children and adults were just as likely to be infected.
COVID-19 pandemic | Cases
In February 2020, in order to prevent spread of the virus, the government announced that all country parks and municipal parks would be closed, to avoid crowds and reduce the risk of infection. Some residents were unhappy with this, feeling that the risk of transmission in the suburbs was very low, and that staying at home for a long time without going outside to exercise would increase the risk of other diseases. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that railings and similar could become a mode of transmission, that it's difficult to wear a mask when exercising, and that it's easy to end up starting a conversation if you run into a friend; these could all increase the risk of transmitting the virus.
COVID-19 pandemic in Macau | Closing parks
At a press conference on 12 March 2020, two spokesmen for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Zhao Lijian and Geng Shuang) promoted the conspiracy theory that the coronavirus had been "bio-engineered" by Western powers and suggested that the US government, specifically the US Army, had spread the virus. No evidence supports these claims. Zhao also pushed these conspiracy theories on Twitter, which is blocked in mainland China but is used as a public diplomacy tool by Chinese officials to promote the Chinese government and defend it from criticism. China's ambassador to South Africa also made these claims on Twitter.
Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Origin of virus
The Chinese Foreign Ministry advised foreign diplomats to stop visiting Beijing in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Authorities in Wuhan also allow food vendors to resume operations. The US embassy in Tokyo urged US nationals living in Japan to either return to the US immediately or stay in the Asian country for an indefinite period, adding that the Japanese government's decision not to test broadly made it difficult to accurately assess the COVID-19 prevalence rate.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 | 3 April
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. A retrospective official study published in March found that 6,174 people had already developed symptoms by 20 January (most of them would be diagnosed later) and more may have been infected.
COVID-19 pandemic | 2020
The government of China, which upholds a policy of state atheism, used the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to continue its antireligious campaigns, demolishing Xiangbaishu Church in Yixing and removing a Christian Cross from the steeple of a church in Guiyang County. In the Shandong, officials issued guidance forbidding online preaching, a vital way for churches to reach congregants amid both persecution and the spread of the virus.
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Religion
On 7 August, the CDC added that exhalation valves or vents in masks do not help prevent the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID-19 to others (source control), as the one-way hole in the material may allow expelled respiratory droplets from the exhaled air to reach others. The CDC states that healthcare personnel should wear a NIOSH-approved N95 (or equivalent or higher-level) respirator or a face mask (if a respirator is not available) with a face shield or goggles as part of their personal protective equipment, while patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection should wear a face mask or cloth face covering during transport.
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic | US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Caulfield has referred to the amount of misinformation surrounding the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as an "infodemic". He has received funding from the federal government's Rapid Research Funding Opportunity to investigate how misinformation about COVID-19 spreads and to look for ways to stop it. He noted that this is the first time a global pandemic has spread in the time of social media, which allows for information to be shared quickly and often inaccurately. Some of the supposed cures of COVID-19 that Caulfield has debunked are drinking bleach, drinking silver, snorting cocaine, homeopathy, drinking cow urine, garlic soup and hydroxychloroquine.
Timothy Caulfield | COVID-19
Many colleges across the world were starting to reconsider and look into reviewing current student plans for Study abroad programs to and/or from China. This was due to the health safety for the students. Colby College isolated students who showed no signs of the virus, after they returned from China.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020 | 7 February
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) pointed out several measures that Taiwan has taken to prevent community spread of the coronavirus, emphasizing that Taiwan has used lessons learned during the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak to combat the coronavirus pandemic. On 8 May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Taiwan for its donation of 500,000 masks after his foreign minister, François-Philippe Champagne, refused to do so.
COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan | Canada
If the epidemic continues to evolve in Italy and Iran, then the risk of the Coronavirus becoming a cross-annual epidemic will increase along with it.”
Zhang Wenhong | COVID-19 pandemic
During the Covid-19 pandemic, China used a vast disinformation campaign that COVID-19 originated outside of China. It used proxy accounts, bots and even Chinese government officials and diplomats to disseminate false stories on social media. For example, Chinese state-run media falsely claimed that COVID-19 had originated in South Korea and Italy. A Chinese diplomat Zhao Lijian shared a theory that a US Army service member had brought the virus to China. The German Interior Ministry also revealed that Chinese diplomats had urged Germany to report favorably on Chins's COVID-19 response efforts. China has also influenced the World Health Organisation to shape and steer its messaging in favour of China.
Three warfares | Covid-19 pandemic
New cases are being reported throughout the country nearly every day. Many are people who have recently returned from China, including a college student from Boston and a woman in California who returned from Wuhan. Two more cases of person-to-person transmission are reported in California. "The Washington Post" reported that HHS Secretary Azar, responding to concerns about a "startling shortage" of essential medical supplies (masks, gowns, gloves, etc.) wrote letters in late January and early February asking for additional funding. Since China also needed such supplies, replenishing them could be difficult as much of the manufacturing was in China. He also made a formal request for $4billion on February5, which "OMB officials and others at the White House greeted as an outrage".
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States | February 1–15
On 15 April 2020, US President Donald Trump announced that the US government was investigating whether the virus spread from the laboratory.
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Investigations of origins of the virus
The gene sequencing data of the isolated 2019-nCoV, a virus from the same family as the SARS coronavirus, was posted on Virological.org by researchers from Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Fudan University, Shanghai. A further three sequences from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and one from Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan were posted to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) portal. The same day, Public Health England issued its guidance. Beginning of the 2020 Chunyun travel season in China.
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 | 10 January
Social media posts and internet memes claimed that "COVID-19" derives from "Chinese Originated Viral Infectious Disease 19", or similar, as supposedly the "19th virus to come out of China". In fact, the WHO named the disease as follows: CO stands for "corona", VI for "virus", Dfor "disease" and 19 for when the outbreak was first identified (31 December 20"19").
Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Name of the disease
Furthermore, Wang directed that "The National Health Commission 'unequivocally requires that any tests, clinical data, test results, conclusions related to the epidemic shall not be posted on social media platforms, nor shall [it] be disclosed to any media outlets including government official media, nor shall [it] be disclosed to partner institutions'". The broad scientific consensus holds that SARS-CoV-2 originated in bats. A member of Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBRA) in the UK, tasked with dealing with crisis, has said that while British government intelligence does not dispute that the virus has a zoonotic origin, it also does not discount the idea of a leak from a Wuhan laboratory, saying that "Perhaps it is no coincidence that there is that laboratory in Wuhan" (the Wuhan Institute of Virology).
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Investigations of origins of the virus
The virus outbreak originated in Wuhan, China. It was first detected back in December 2019, which is why scientists called it COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). This outbreak has since caused a health issue in the city of Wuhan, China which evolved into a global pandemic. The World Health Organization officially declared it a pandemic back on March 11, 2020. As of May 2020, scientists believe that the coronavirus, a zoonotic disease, is linked to the wet markets in China. Epidemiologists have also warned of the virus's contagiousness. Specialists have declared that the spread of SARS-Cov-2 is still unknown. The generally accepted notion among virologists and experts is that the action of inhaling droplets from an infected person is most likely the way SARS-Cov-2 is spreading.
Globalization and disease | COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) worldwide crisis
The other people coming from the Lombardy and Veneto regions will enter voluntary isolation at home for 14 days, upon arrival in Romania.
COVID-19 pandemic in Romania | 21 February−2 March: First cases and early preventive measures
Iran became a center of the spread of the virus after China. Amidst claims of a cover-up of the extent of the outbreak in the country, over ten countries have traced their cases back to Iran, indicating that the extent of the outbreak may be more severe than that admitted by the Iranian government. The Iranian Parliament was shut down, with 23 of the 290 members of parliament reported to have had tested positive for the virus on 3 March. A number of senior government officials as well as two members of parliament have died from the disease.
National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic | Iran
The Australian Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) began the first stage of potential vaccines for COVID-19 on ferrets at a biosecurity facility near Melbourne. The Chinese city of Shenzhen banned the breeding, trade and consumption of wildlife including snakes, lizards, as well as cats and dogs. The Chinese Government also sent a mercy flight to evacuate Chinese students in London. Chinese Government announced it had distributed 11 million masks and 500,000 disinfecting products to Chinese students abroad in affected countries. In Guam, the United States Navy announced that it would evacuate 3,000 personnel aboard the aircraft carrier , which had reported cases of the coronavirus.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 | 2 April
He further suggested that anyone found to have the virus should be isolated at a hotel or other facility rather than their home, warning that without these measures the virus could spread anew, resulting in having to start the lockdown all over again.
Roberto Burioni | Response to COVID-19
As a precaution, she told her colleagues to wear protective gear and prepare a specialized area in the hospital to receive patients with similar conditions.
COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei | Discovery
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it (called a fomite), and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. On surfaces the amount of viable active virus decreases over time until it can no longer cause infection. One study indicated that the virus can be detected for up to four hours on copper, up to one day on cardboard, and up to three days on plastic (polypropylene) and stainless steel (AISI 304).
Transmission of COVID-19 | Objects and surfaces
The scientific consensus is that COVID-19 has a natural origin. The probable bat-to-human infection may have been among people processing bat carcasses and guano in the production of traditional Chinese medicines. The earliest known person with symptoms was later discovered to have fallen ill on 1December 2019, and that person did not have visible connections with the later wet market cluster. Of the early cluster of cases reported that month, two-thirds were found to have a link with the market. On 13 March 2020, an unverified report from the "South China Morning Post" ("SCMP") suggested a case traced back to 17 November 2019 (a 55-year-old person from Hubei) may have been the first person infected.
COVID-19 pandemic | Background
In Australia, New South Wales began opening schools. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed that a seven-year-old boy had tested positive for COVID-19, and the school was closed. The Associated Press reported that a United States Department of Homeland Security report dated 1 May states that intelligence officials believed that China covered up the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak to allow time for them to stock up on supplies. Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television issued a statement accusing United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of "wantonly spewing poison and spreading lies" about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in response to Pompeo's statement claiming that the coronavirus had originated in a laboratory in Wuhan.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020 | 4 May
They suggested that transmission of the virus may have been facilitated by the low temperatures in the factory, its limited fresh air supply, and the strenuous nature of the work. On the other hand, the living conditions in the dormitories appeared to not have played a major role in the evolution of the outbreak.
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany | July
The aim of the Expert Meeting is to curb the pandemic while maintaining socio-economic activities. If countries around the world repeatedly block the city and lift the blockade every time an outbreak occurs, the global economy and society will collapse. They think that urban blockade is a 19th-century measure, and that there is a 21st-century-type measure to curb the spread of infection by controlling the behavior of people. Vaccine development takes time, and we don't know if we can actually make a vaccine. Herd immunity cannot be achieved unless a large number of victims are killed and about 70% of the population is infected.
Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting | Japan's Strategy for COVID-19
In February 2020, Italy became one of the world's main centres for confirmed cases of COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that originated in China. , more than 380,000 coronavirus cases and 36,000 deaths were confirmed, affecting mainly Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Piedmont. In late January, the government banned all flights from and to China, becoming the first European country to adopt this measure. On 22 February, the Council of Ministers announced a bill to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, quarantining more than 50,000 people from 11 different municipalities in Northern Italy. Prime Minister Conte stated: "In the outbreak areas, entry and exit will not be provided.
Giuseppe Conte | Coronavirus pandemic
By the third week of February, the group had "effectively concluded that the United States had already lost the fight to contain the virus, and that it needed to switch to mitigation" such as NPI's. This was based on the "realization that many people in the country were likely infected and capable of spreading the disease, but not showing any symptoms". For instance, by the time of the European travel ban on March 11 (a containment strategy), the group considered such containment steps ineffective. Trump still had not directed NPI's as of March 11. As late as March 13, the CDC was still questioning the benefit of closing schools.
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States | February 15–29
By 26 March, the United States had overtaken China and Italy with the highest number of confirmed cases in the world. Research on coronavirus genomes indicates the majority of COVID-19 cases in New York came from European travellers, rather than directly from China or any other Asian country. Retesting of prior samples found a person in France who had the virus on 27 December 2019 and a person in the United States who died from the disease on 6February 2020.
COVID-19 pandemic | 2020
colleagues, [Putin] assumes that when U.S. manufacturers of medical equipment and materials gain momentum, they will also be able to reciprocate if necessary." In early April, Norway and EU states like Romania and Austria started to offer help by sending medical personnel and disinfectant, and Ursula von der Leyen offered an official apology to the country.
COVID-19 pandemic | Italy
As the pandemic progresses, schools may continue with remote learning or decide to reopen. Strategies such as cohorting, rotating schedules, eating lunch in the classroom, and utilizing outdoor spaces are some ways to minimize close contact. Additional precautions include face masks, hand sanitizer stations, rearranging classrooms to enable physical distancing, and frequent cleaning. The CDC made a School Decision Tree to aid administrators in the planning process for reopening. The American Academy of Pediatrics urges re-entry policies need to be flexible and responsive as new information about the virus emerges. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine states that in-person instruction for grades K-5 and students with special needs should be prioritized to prevent children from falling behind.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education | Hazard controls
government bodies and health organisations was swiftly reduced from 250 people (if there were no known COVID-19 spread in a region) to 50 people, and later to 10. On 22 March 2020, Germany banned public gatherings of more than two people. A Cochrane review found that early quarantine with other public health measures are effective in limiting the pandemic, but the best manner of adopting and relaxing policies are uncertain, as local conditions vary. 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.
COVID-19 pandemic | Social distancing
The WHO on January 30 warned that "all countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread" of the virus. February 25 was the first day the CDC told the American public to prepare for an outbreak. By February the CDC was exploring options to control the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. Six cities believed to be high-risk were selected for early "sentinel surveillance" to try to detect the virus in patients who did not meet CDC guidelines for testing; those cities were Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Honolulu.
U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic | Containment efforts within the U.S
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC) issued a travel watch at Level 1 ("Practice usual precautions") on 6 January, with recommendations on washing hands and more specifically advising avoiding animals, animal markets, and contact with unwell people if travelling to Wuhan. The US CDC offers to send a US team to assist Chinese experts in their research in regard to transmissibility, severity, and incubation period of the disease. Hong Kong began screening passengers arriving on trains stopped at Wuhan.
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 | 6 January
On January 8, the CDC issued an official health advisory via its Health Alert Network (HAN) and established an Incident Management Structure to coordinate domestic and international public health actions. On January 10 and 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued technical briefings warning about a strong possibility of human-to-human transmission and urging precautions. On January 14, the WHO said "preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission," although it recommended that countries still take precautions due to the human-to-human transmission during earlier SARS and MERS outbreaks. The CDC issued an update on January 17, noting that person-to-person spread was not confirmed, but was still a possibility.
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States | December 2019 to January 2020
Social distancing and the wearing of cloth face masks, surgical masks, respirators, or other face coverings are controls for droplet transmission. Transmission may be decreased indoors with well maintained heating and ventilation systems to maintain good air circulation and increase the use of outdoor air.
Transmission of COVID-19 | Introduction
Some Chinese state media had propagated the speculation that the virus may have spread in Italy before the Wuhan outbreak, after Italian doctor Giuseppe Remuzzi mentioned reports of strange pneumonia cases in November and December. He later said his words were "twisted". An "intentional disinformation campaign" by China was discussed among the Group of Seven (G7), and the Chinese efforts were condemned by the US Department of State, which criticized Chinese authorities for spreading "dangerous and ridiculous" conspiracy claims. The US summoned China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, to issue a "stern message" over the Chinese government's claims; Cui had disavowed the US military conspiracy theory as "crazy" in a February interview and affirmed his belief in another one in mid-March.
Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Origin of virus
Wang Yang, the Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Transport said that the ministry would carry disinfection monitoring and protection measures out in areas with heavy passenger traffic including transport hubs, passenger stations, and cargo terminal factory stations. On 22 January, as the coronavirus outbreak escalated, Li Bin, the deputy president of NHC warned that Chunyun might speed the transmission of the new virus up. Li repeated the government's previous advice to the people, that is, stay away from Wuhan. George F. Gao, the Director of China CDC also admitted to the conference that the virus can transmit between humans and there were also cases of community-acquired infections.
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China | Safeguarding 2020 Chunyun
The WHO advice for people to wear masks only if they had symptoms was scrutinized, as experts and researchers have pointed out the asymptomatic transmission of the virus. The WHO revised its mask guidance in June, with its officials acknowledging that studies have indicated asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic spread but that not much is known.
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic | World Health Organization
In February 2020, Italy became one of the world's main centres for confirmed cases of COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that originated in China. As of October 2020, more than 440,000 coronavirus cases were confirmed, affecting mainly Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Piedmont. In late January, the government banned all flights from and to China, becoming the first European country to adopt this measure. On 22 February, the Council of Ministers announced a bill to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, quarantining more than 50,000 people from 11 different municipalities in Northern Italy. Prime Minister Conte stated: "In the outbreak areas, entry and exit will not be provided.
Roberto Speranza | Coronavirus pandemic
The outbreak was confirmed to have spread to Italy on 31 January 2020, when two Chinese tourists tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Rome. In response, the Italian government suspended all flights to and from China and declared a state of emergency, with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stating that Italy is the first EU country to take this precautionary measure. On 31 January, the Italian Council of Ministers appointed Angelo Borrelli, head of the Civil Protection, as Special Commissioner for the COVID-19 Emergency. A unassociated cluster of COVID-19 cases was later further detected starting with 16 confirmed cases in Lombardy on 21 February, an additional 60 cases on 22 February, and Italy's first deaths reported on the same day.
National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic | Italy
On 20–21 January the World Health Organization then sent to Wuhan a delegation, which reported on 22 January that human-to-human transmission was indeed occurring. The Chinese government allowed the visit to foreign medical officials not only from Taiwan but also from Hong Kong and Macau.
Chuang Yin-ching | COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
An official said, "It means there will be many more cases and the idea is to keep the spread slow so that it can happen over many months to ensure that our health infrastructure is sufficient."
COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu | Mathematical models
The World Health Organisation announced that the team of international experts tasked with studying the spread of COVID-19 from China will be delayed to the end of July.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020 | 17 July
Russia implemented preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country by imposing quarantines, carrying raids on potential virus carriers and using facial recognition to impose quarantine measures. Measures to prevent a crisis in Russia include banning the export of medical masks, and cancellation of large-scale events by schools. The Russian government has also taken measures to prevent foreign citizens from heavily affected countries from visiting Russia. The Russian consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor advised tourists to refrain from visiting Wuhan and stay away from Chinese zoos and markets selling animals and seafood. The agency also said that development of a vaccine against the virus was underway, relying on the WHO's recommendations.
COVID-19 pandemic in North Asia | Government responses
citizens from Hubei Province, China, where the virus had originated. On February 5, 345 U.S. citizens were evacuated from Hubei Province and taken to two air bases in California to be quarantined for 14 days. 300 others were evacuated the following day. Fourteen of the 340 Americans who were evacuated from the "Diamond Princess" that was docked in Yokohama, Japan, on February 16 were found to have contracted the virus.
2020s in United States political history | COVID-19 pandemic
On 29 January, Belgium issued a travel notice advising against non-essential flights to China, Hong Kong excluded, with some travel companies cancelling all flights to China. On 1 March, as a second case of coronavirus was confirmed in Belgium, "phase 2" of the health risk containment strategy was activated. The mayor of Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, Olivier Maingain, was one of the only mayors to take measures to prevent the spreading of the new coronavirus by restricting access to schools, sports facilities and public places for persons returning from areas at risk and only a few schools, such as the International School Ghent, quarantined pupils returning from infected areas, such as Northern Italy.
COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium | Containment measures
SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have arisen in October or November 2019, as indicated by phylogenetic studies. Current evidence suggests that it descends from a coronavirus which infects wild bats and spread to humans through an intermediary wildlife host. It is not known whether the virus itself evolved in wildlife populations or if its distinctive spike proteins were selected for after zoonotic transfer to humans.
Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 | October and November
Due to its severity, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused countries to send aid, as part of the international responses and management regarding the pandemic. Types of materials aided includes (but are not limited to) masks, medical supplies, personal protective equipment, money, and test kits. It started with aid to China as the virus spreads primarily there, and then internationally as it spreads globally. The destination of the aid ranges from hospitals, COVID-19 healthcare workers, research on the vaccine, to societies vulnerable. People donating includes the government of said country, notable people, organizations and institutions, charities, as well as regular people.
International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Introduction
Russia implemented preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country by imposing quarantines, carrying raids on potential virus carriers and using facial recognition to impose quarantine measures. On 31 January, two cases were confirmed, one in Tyumen Oblast, another in Zabaykalsky Krai. Both were Chinese nationals, who have since recovered. By 17 April, first case was confirmed in the Altai Republic, thus all 27 federal subjects of Asian Russia had confirmed cases.
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia | Russia
During the PHEIC announcement, Tedros stated there was no cause to limit trade or travel with China and said "Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China." In the first week of February 2020, Tedros reiterated per WHO and international guidelines that governments adopt policies to stop the spread of the disease that were "evidence-based and consistent," and not to "unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade." On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Tedros commented, "We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.
Tedros Adhanom | COVID-19 pandemic
On 31 December 2019, the Health Commission of Wuhan, Hubei, China, informed the WHO about a cluster of acute pneumonia cases with unknown origin in its province. On 9 January 2020, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) reported the identification of a novel coronavirus (later identified as the SARS-CoV-2) as the cause. In late January 2020, following the developments of COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China, on 3 February, Italy set up enhanced screening measures, including thermal cameras and medical staff at airports.
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy | Background
The remedy is thought to have originated as a commonly circulated social media post, and has been widely debunked by health experts, including the WHO, which has stated that while staying hydrated by drinking water is important for overall health, it does not prevent coronavirus infection.
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia | Advice from the Health Ministry
China has rapidly constructed new hospitals to accommodate a large number of beds. According to doctors in Tokyo, Japan, the state of emergency is not enough for stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitals | Asia
The People's Republic of China has employed mass quarantines – firstly of the city of Wuhan and subsequently of all of Hubei province (population 55.5 million) – in the COVID-19 pandemic. After few weeks, the Italian government imposed lockdowns in all the country (more than 60 million people) to stop the coronavirus pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India quarantined itself from the world for a period of one month Most governments around the world restricted or advised against all non-essential travel to and from countries and areas affected by the outbreak. The virus has already spread within communities in large parts of the world, with many not knowing where or how they were infected.
Quarantine | 21st century
The virus is thought to be natural and has an animal origin, through spillover infection. The first known human infections were in Wuhan, Hubei, China. A study of the first 41 cases of confirmed COVID-19, published in January 2020 in "The Lancet", reported the earliest date of onset of symptoms as 1December 2019. Official publications from the WHO reported the earliest onset of symptoms as 8December 2019. Human-to-human transmission was confirmed by the WHO and Chinese authorities by 20 January 2020. According to official Chinese sources, these were mostly linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which also sold live animals.
Coronavirus disease 2019 | History
Caroline Duchaine, an aerosol specialist at the Université Laval, thinks that the virus may not be as potent in aerosol form, losing parts of its spiky protein shell as it dries out in the air. McGeer and Duchaine are interested in how the virus survives in air in a hospital setting, particularly around patients who are being intubated. She hopes her research will provide insight as to whether face masks should be worn to reduce the transmission of the virus. At the time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were considering whether to advise members of the public to wear masks when they left the house, and they had been made mandatory in the Czech Republic.
Allison McGeer | COVID-19 pandemic
The Chinese Government urges the United States Government to fulfill its obligations to the World Health Organization after President Trump cut funding to the international organization. An Associated Press report alleges that the Chinese Government suppressed news of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan for six days between 14 and 20 January 2020, causing the spread of the coronavirus disease. Japanese Government Yoshihide Suga encourages Japanese citizens to limit their interaction with others in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. While Japanese government policy is to limit interactions by 70 percent, compliance is not compulsory.
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 | 15 April
Thereafter, extensive screenings and checks were performed on everyone that had possibly been in contact with or near the infected subjects. It was subsequently reported that the origin of these cases had a possible connection to the first European local transmission that occurred in Munich, Germany, on 19 January 2020. Doctors in Codogno stated that the 38-year-old patient led an active social life in the weeks before his illness and potentially interacted with dozens of people before spreading the virus at their Hospital. Afterward, he was transferred to Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, and his wife to Sacco Hospital in Milan.
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy | Lombardy
There were many cases in the beginning of August 2020. These cases were all related to the same person and spread on the national holiday ólavsøka, which was celabrated on 28 and 29 July, and during the days after, mainly at private parties, according to the Chief Medical Officer. With massive testing and isolating the persons who tested positive and their close contacts the authorities managed to stop the spreading of the virus.
COVID-19 pandemic in the Faroe Islands | Introduction
The government of China, which upholds a policy of state atheism, used the COVID-19 pandemic to continue its antireligious campaigns, demolishing Xiangbaishu Church in Yixing and removing a Christian cross from the steeple of a church in Guiyang County. In the Shandong Province, "officials issued guidance forbidding online preaching, a vital way for churches to reach congregants amid both persecution and the spread of the virus".
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion | China
Social distancing and the wearing of cloth face masks, surgical masks, respirators, or other face coverings are controls for droplet transmission. The World Health Organization recommends of social distance; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends .
Transmission of COVID-19 | Respiratory droplets
By 31 March 2020, the virus had spread to much of the globe, and there were at least 730,000 cases confirmed with more than 36,000 deaths. Only the following countries and territories had not reported any cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections: Asia Europe
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 | Reactions and measures outside mainland China
In contrast, scientists suggest the virus originated in bats and migrated into an intermediary host animal before infecting people.
Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic | Bat soup consumption