People across the world were planning and preparing to welcome and celebrate New Year. Following the detection of several respiratory illness cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan city of China.  This not only altered the plans and programs of the New Year celebration across China but also posed threat to Chinese health system as the number of cases surged.  Subsequently, considering the speed and spread of the virus, WHO on January 31, announced global emergency in the global health system.

Outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus has sent the whole world in near panic mood. The virus that originated in Wuhan of China, where it has claimed at least 259 lives and affected nearly 12 thousands, has now spread to as many as 25 countries. More than 6,000 cases have been reported with majority in China. The figure is increasing every other day. As you are reading this, many more countries and many more people may be affected.

BEIJING/GENEVA, Jan 31: The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday it was declaring the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 170 people in China a global emergency, as cases spread to at least 18 countries.

SHANGHAI, Jan 26: More than 2,000 people globally have been infected with a new coronavirus, the vast majority of them in China, where 56 people have died from the disease, according to figures released on Sunday.