Paris (AFP)

From its emergence in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan (center) to its appearance in several other Asian countries, in Europe and in the United States, here are the main stages of the spread of the new Chinese virus, close to Sras.

Part of the coronavirus family, it causes flu symptoms in people who are infected, up to severe respiratory syndromes. To date, it has infected nearly 1,300 people in China, where 41 have died, according to Chinese authorities.

- First alert -

The first alert is received by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Chinese authorities warn of the emergence in the metropolis of Wuhan (11 million inhabitants, capital of Hubei province) pneumonia of unknown origin. The virus is spotted in a wholesale seafood and fish market.

Patient isolation measures are taken.

- New coronavirus -

On January 7, 2020, the first virus sequencing analyzes carried out by Chinese teams made it possible to identify a new coronavirus, according to the WHO.

- First death, case abroad -

On the 11th, the Chinese authorities report the first death.

A first case of contamination outside of China, in Thailand, was reported two days later.

Cases are then recorded elsewhere in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan).

- Controls in the USA and Asia -

On the 17th, in the United States, screenings were set up at several major airports on flights from Wuhan.

Four days later, many Asian countries - from Bangkok to Singapore or Sydney - as well as the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong and Russia tightened the controls on the arrival of planes which took off from risk areas.

- "Proven" human transmission -

On the 20th, a Chinese expert, Zhong Nanshana, confirms that the disease is transmitted between humans.

Nearly half of the Chinese provinces are affected, including mega-cities like Beijing in the north, Shanghai (east) and Shenzhen (south).

On the 21st, a first case was detected in the United States.

- Possible mutation of the virus -

In Europe, London and Rome are announcing measures to monitor passengers from Wuhan.

Wearing a mask is made compulsory in public spaces in Wuhan.

- Wuhan cut off from the world -

On the 23rd, trains and planes departing from Wuhan can in principle no longer leave this agglomeration and the highways are blocked there. Several other cities in Hubei Province are cut off from the world.

The closure of the Forbidden City is announced after the cancellation of the New Year festivities in Beijing.

- No "international emergency" -

In the evening, the WHO recognizes the "emergency in China", judging however that it is "too early" to speak about "public health emergency of international scope".

On the 24th, more than 40 million people were confined to Hubei province, which has nearly 60 million inhabitants. Two deaths are reported for the first time far from the cradle of the epidemic, one in Hebei, the region around Beijing, and the other in Heilongjiang, a province bordering Russia.

Some sections of the Great Wall are closed, as is the Disneyland amusement park in Shanghai.

- First cases in Europe -

Three cases are confirmed in France, the first in Europe. A second case is reported in the United States.

The Chinese army sends three planes to Hubei province carrying 450 medical personnel, including military doctors.

On the 25th, authorities in Wuhan announced the ban on the circulation of non-essential motor vehicles from midnight (4:00 p.m. GMT). Beijing orders national screening measures on trains, buses and planes.

Besides Wuhan, virtually the entire province of Hubei is now cut off from the world, bringing the total number of confined residents to over 56 million.

Hong Kong declares the maximum health alert level.

Australia reports four first cases on its soil.

© 2020 AFP