The new virus, which has killed 41 people and infected nearly 1,300 people in China, belongs to the Coruna virus strain, and shows symptoms of a cold in infected people, and its symptoms may reach acute respiratory infections. It affected nearly 1,300 people in China, killing 41 people.
From its appearance in the Chinese city of Wuhan (central) to its arrival in other Asian countries, Europe and the United States, we observe in the following the most prominent stages of the spread of the new coronavirus, which is similar to SARS (acute respiratory syndrome).
What is Corona virus?
According to the World Health Organization, corona viruses are a broad group of viruses that include viruses that can cause a range of ailments in humans, ranging from a common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome. Also, viruses from this group cause a number of animal diseases.
The first warning for the new Corona virus
The World Health Organization issued the first warning on December 31, 2019, and the Chinese authorities, for their part, announced the emergence of acute pneumonia cases of unknown origin in the city of Wuhan, which is 11 million people, the capital of Hubei Province. The virus was detected in a wholesale market of seafood and fish, and isolation measures were taken.
Corona virus is emerging
On January 7, 2020, first analyzes of the strain of the virus, conducted by Chinese medical teams, allowed for the detection of an emerging coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization.
The first death
On January 11, 2020, the Chinese authorities announced the first death from the epidemic, and two days later, the first outbreak was reported outside China, in Thailand, and injuries were recorded in other Asian countries including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Certain human infections
On January 20, a Chinese expert confirmed that the disease could be transmitted from one person to another. Nearly half of the Chinese provinces were affected by the epidemic, as well as large cities such as Beijing in the north, Shanghai in the east, and Shenzhen in the south. After one day, HIV infection was recorded in the United States.
Possible transmission of the virus
On January 22, the Chinese authorities warned that the new Chinese virus, which is transmitted through the respiratory tract, “could be transmitted and spread more easily.” In Europe, London and Rome announced taking control measures for passengers from Wuhan, and wearing masks became mandatory in public places in Wuhan.
Wuhan cut from the world
On January 23, trains and planes in Wuhan could no longer leave the city, highways were closed, and several other cities in Hubei Province were cut off from the world.
On the 24th of this month, more than 40 million people were isolated in Hubei Province, which is about 60 million people, and two deaths were recorded for the first time outside the epidemic center.
The Chinese army sent to Hubei Province three planes carrying 450 medical workers, including military doctors, and Wuhan authorities announced the prevention of unnecessary traffic from midnight, and Beijing ordered nationwide measures to detect suspected cases of the emerging coronavirus on trains, planes, and buses In addition to Wuhan, virtually every Hubei Province has been cut off from the world, raising the isolated population to over 56 million.
Infection with the new corona virus outside China
Three injuries were confirmed in France, the first in Europe, a second injury was announced in the United States, and Australia recorded four injuries on its soil.
The situation is dangerous and the epidemic is spreading fast
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that the spread of the viral pneumonia epidemic that has killed 41 people "is accelerating" and is putting China in a "dangerous situation", and stressed during a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party that China can "win the battle" against Corona virus emerging, according to the official China News Agency.
According to Chinese television (CCTV), China has decided to stop all tour group trips, whether inside or outside the country as of January 27, as part of its efforts to stop the spread of the new Corona virus.
The TV report, quoting from the China Tourism Board, added that domestic tourist trips have already stopped since Friday.
Tips for preventing new Corona virus
The World Health Organization has recommended on its website, ordinary people and health workers, the basic principles to reduce the public risks of transmission of acute respiratory diseases in order to avoid infection with the new Corona virus, and called for the need to adhere to the following measures:
1. Avoid close contact with people with acute respiratory illnesses
2. Hand washing frequently, especially after direct contact with patients or their environment.
3. Avoid contact with farm animals or wild animals without protection
4. People with symptoms of acute respiratory illness should adhere to etiquette related to coughing (maintaining a certain distance, covering the mouth with disposable tissue or clothing during coughing and sneezing, and washing hands).
5. Inside health care facilities: Promote standardized infection prevention and control practices in hospitals in general and in emergency departments in particular.