On Dec. 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. To date, of the 118,000 cases reported globally in 114 countries, more than 90 percent of cases were in just four countries, and two of those – China and the Republic of Korea – have significantly declining epidemics. 81 countries had not reported any cases, and 57 countries had reported 10 cases or less.

National authorities reported that all patients had been isolated and received treatment in Wuhan medical institutions. The clinical signs and symptoms are mainly fever, with a few patients having difficulty in breathing, and chest radiographs showing invasive lesions of both lungs.

According to the authorities, some patients were operating dealers or vendors in the Huanan Seafood market. Based on the preliminary information from the Chinese investigation team, no evidence of significant human-to-human transmission and no health care worker infections had been reported.