- Although the total number of covid-19 cases outside (China) is still relatively small, we are concerned about the cases that exist without any clear epidemiological link such as travel history or contact with a confirmed case, says the World Health Organization (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

- We still have the opportunity to stop the spread, but the window is about to be closed, he says.

Outside China, more than 1,500 people have been infected in 26 countries, according to WHO.

Case outside China

Earlier on Friday, Chinese authorities reported that 75,567 people had been infected by the virus and that a total of 2,239 had died as a result. While the spread of the virus has slowed down in the worst-hit area of ​​the million-city Wuhan, the number of cases in Chengdu Province has increased.

Another two people have died from the virus in Iran, and 13 new people have been found infected. In total, four people have died as a result of the virus in the country and 18 have been infected.

In Italy, two more inhabitants have been tested positive for the corona virus. The message comes shortly after a first person has fallen ill.

Israel has reported its first infected person, who earlier this week flew home from the large cruise ship quarantined in Japan.

Prisons possible infection cure

At the same time, another possible infection cure has been discovered in China. About 500 cases of infected persons have been found in several of the country's prisons. A large part of the new cases have been registered in the Rencheng Jail in Shandong Province, where seven guards and 200 prisoners are reported to have tested positive for the virus.

Wu Lei, chief of Shandong's prison system, admits that the new cases show that their measures to prevent the spread of infection were not effective. The outbreak has prompted the authorities to kick the head of the province's Justice Department, Xie Weijun, as well as seven prison officials.

Furthermore, 34 cases have been discovered in the Shilifeng prison in Zhejiang Province, which also led to the dismissal.