1 March 2020 – The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Hubei province, China the epicentre
of the outbreak increased for two successive days following a period of decline
in the number of new cases. WHO advises that countries should work to increase
the availability of pulse oximeters and medical oxygen systems. South Korea, with
3,736 cases, and Italy, with 1,128 cases, have the most cases outside of China.
New
Zealand Government announces that travellers from northern Italy and South
Korea must also self isolate for 14 days.
The first
death is reported in Australia; a passenger from the Diamond Princess. Australia
extended its travel ban to include Iran.
2 March 2020 — A team of WHO experts lands in Iran to support
the outbreak response with technical assistance, bringing medical supplies and
protective equipment for over 15,000 health care workers and enough laboratory
kits to test nearly 100,000 people. A WHO staff member in Iran tests positive
for COVID-19. In the past 24 hours, there were nearly nine times more new cases
reported outside China than within China. WHO Health Emergencies Programme
advises that Influenza is different than COVID-19 because there are treatments,
vaccines, and there is an understanding of its transmission and patterns. They
are genuinely heartened to see that where countries have fought back and put in
strong measures, that unlike influenza this virus is suppressed.
Four new
cases reported in Australia.
3 March 2020 — To meet global demand for personal protective
equipment, WHO estimates that industry needs to increase manufacturing by 40%. An estimated 89 million medical masks, 76 million
examination gloves, and 1.6 million goggles are required each month for the
COVID-19 response.
4 March 2020 — The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria says countries may use savings from their existing
grants for COVID-19 response, with a limit of up to 5% of the grant’s total
value. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation says COVID-19 has disrupted the education of 290.5
million students globally, which is an “unprecedented” figure. This includes
school closures in 13 countries.
A second
death reported in Australia.
A second
case was confirmed in New Zealand who had returned from Northern Italy on 35
February.
5 March 2020 – Three new cases reported in New South Wales. Travel
ban extended to South Korea.
The third
case and the first case of local transmission was reported, having been
infected by a family member returning from Iran.
6 March 2020 — WHO says there are more
than 200 clinical trials registered that look at different therapeutics to
treat COVID-19, as well as traditional Chinese medicine.
A
passenger returning from Nepal was advised to self isolate while awaiting test
results but continued to work a casual shift on 7 March 2020; shortly afterward
his results were returned – positive.
It was
advised that eight New Zealanders had been passengers on the Grand Princess
San Francisco to Mexico cruise and may have been in contact with a confirmed
case. They had already returned to New Zealand; one had been ill with
respiratory illness and could be considered a probable (but not confirmed)
case.
7 March 2020 — The number of COVID-19 cases surpasses 100,000.
It was
revealed that a doctor who had returned from the US on 29 February believing he
had a mild cold had returned to work, but subsequently had returned a positive
test result.
A fifth
case was announced – partner of the third case.
8 March 2020 — Over 100 countries report cases of COVID-19.
Italy prepares to lockdown at least 16 million people in the Lombardy region
and in 11 other provinces in the north and east of the country.
A third
death, and the second at an aged care facility in Sydney, was reported.
9 March 2020 — WHO moves closer to declaring the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.
A teacher
from a school in Melbourne was confirmed to have the virus; her partner had
been a passenger on the same flight from the US as the doctor on 29 February.
10 March 2020 — The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI, is investing a further $4.4 million for
vaccine development efforts against COVID-19, bringing the organization’s total
investments to $23.7 million. The money will be used to help Novavax and the University of Oxford in their vaccine
development work. The Italian Prime Minister places the entire country in
lockdown.
11 March 2020 — WHO Director declares the global COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. “We are deeply concerned both by the alarming
levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction,” he says,
adding that “we have called every day for countries to take urgent and
aggressive action.”
Australia’s
travel ban extended again to include Italy.
12 March 2020 — The Pacific confirms its first case of COVID-19.
The US suspends travel from Europe (excluding the UK).
The first
case was reported in ACT, nine new cases including the first human-to-human
transmission in the state were reported in Victoria and the Home Affairs
Minister, Peter Dutton was diagnosed in Queensland. This brought the national
total to 175. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, recently returned from the US,
reported that they were in isolation after testing positive. Prime Minister
Scott Morrison unveiled a $17.6 billion stimulus package to “protect
Australians” health, secure jobs and set the economy to bounce back from the
crisis. The Victorian Government declared they were suspending all jury trials
to limit the spread.
Festivals
and large gatherings begin to be cancelled, some sports matches are played in stadiums
bereft of audiences.
13 March 2020 — Europe has now become the epicentre of the
pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world
combined, apart from China. More cases now being reported every day than were
reported in China at the height of its epidemic.
A National
Cabinet was formed akin to a war cabinet for the first time since WW2,
consisting of State Premiers and Chief Ministers of each Territory. At the
first meeting it was announced that gatherings of more than 500 people should
be cancelled from 15 March. Schools, universities, workplaces, public transport
and airports were not included in this recommendation.
14 March 2020 – A sixth case was confirmed who had also returned from
the US, he was in self isolation. New Zealand Government announces that anyone
entering the country must self-isolate for 14 days apart from those arriving from
the Pacific Islands. Cruise ships are banned and strict guidelines are put in
place for travellers to the Pacific Islands.
15 March 2020 — Cases in Africa are on the rise. A week ago there
were 27 cases on the continent. Now, there are 273 confirmed cases in 26 countries and 6
deaths. Countries respond with travel restrictions. German government sources tell Reuters that the U.S. is trying to convince German firm
CureVac to move research on a potential vaccine to the United States.
Two more
cases confirmed in New Zealand including an Australian who had travelled to New
Zealand before receiving his test results in Queensland.
Two deaths
reported in New South Wales. The University of Queensland stopped teaching for
a week after three students tested positive, Western Australia and New South
Wales Governments introduced measures to stop schools organising gatherings of
more than 500 people. Two more politicians tested positive. Mirroring the move
by New Zealand, the Prime Minister announced that all travellers returning to
or arriving in Australia from midnight must self isolate for 14 days. Failure
to comply would result in a fine set by each state, cruise ships were also
banned from docking in the country for 30 days.
16 March 2020 — For the first time since the beginning of the
outbreak, infections and deaths outside China surpass those within China. WHO declares that this is the
defining global health crisis of our time, saying that now that the virus has a
foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real.
They note that they have also seen a rapid escalation in social distancing
measures, like closing schools and cancelling sporting events and other
gatherings; but have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation
and contact tracing — which they feel is the backbone of a response.
Prime
Minister of New Zealand says that tourists who do not self quarantine will be deported,
17 March 2020 — Bloomberg Philanthropies announces
$40 million for a COVID-19 global response initiative to prevent and slow the
spread in low- and middle-income countries. Cases of COVID-19 surpass 480 in
Southeast Asia. WHO calls on countries in the region "to urgently
scale-up aggressive measures” to combat its spread. The International Organization for Migration and The UN Refugee Agency temporarily
suspend refugee resettlement departures to reduce the
spread of the virus.
Four more
cases reported in New Zealand. The Government announces a $12.1 billion package
to cushion the impact on the economy; including $500 million for health, $8.7
billion to support business and jobs and $2.8 billion for income support and
boosting consumer spending. A school in Dunedin closes for 2 days after a
student tests positive.
The state
of Tasmania declared a public health emergency.
18 March 2020 — The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations provides $620,000 to The University of Hong Kong to support
preclinical testing of another vaccine candidate against COVID-19. This is the
seventh vaccine development project against COVID-19 CEPI has invested in since
January.
A human
biosecurity emergency was declared by the Governor General under Section 475 of
the Biosecurity Act 2015. The cruise ship Ovation of the Seas
disembarked 3500 passengers in Sydney. The Voyager of the Seas docked
the same day.
Ministry
of Health confirmed eight new cases in New Zealand.
19 March 2020 — Cases of COVID-19 surpass 200,000 globally. It took over three months to reach the first
100,000 confirmed cases and just 12 days to reach the next 100,000. For the
first time since the outbreak began, Wuhan reports no new cases.
Ministry
of Health confirmed another eight new cases in New Zealand. All gatherings of
more than 100 people are cancelled. The country’s borders are closed to all but
New Zealand citizens and permanent residents from midnight.
The Celebrity
Solstice docked in Sydney. The Ruby Princess also Sydney and
disembarked 2700 passengers. Qantas confirmed it would suspend 60% of domestic
flights, put 2/3 of its staff on leave, suspend all international flights and
ground over 150 aircraft from the end of March until the end of May. The Prime
Minister announced that Australia would be closing its international borders to
all non-residents and non-Australian citizens from 9pm 20 March. Tasmania’s
Premier announced that all non-essential travellers to the state, including
returning residents would be subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine.
20 March 2020 — WHO launches a health alert messaging service
through WhatsApp and Facebook. People can access this service by sending
"hi" to this WhatsApp number: +41 798 931 892. WHO advises that one of the things they are
learning is that although older people are the hardest hit, younger people are
not spared. Data from many countries clearly show that people under 50 make up
a significant proportion of patients requiring hospitalization. The Queen and
Prince Philip leave Buckingham Palace to enter isolation at Windsor Castle.
Ministry
of Health confirmed eleven new cases in New Zealand. Auckland Council close
their pools, libraries, galleries and other community facilities for 14 days.
It was
announced that three of 13 passengers from the Ruby Princess had tested
positive and they and all passengers were advised by NSW Health to self
isolate.
21 March 2020 — Ecuador’s health and labour ministers resign after cases in the country surpass 500.
Another
thirteen new cases in New Zealand. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
announced the introduction of a country-wide alert system, similar to existing
fire warnings. There are four levels and at the time of announcement she
advised the country was in Alert Level 2. Those over 70 and those with
compromised immune systems are asked to stay at home as much as possible.
People who can work from home are asked to do so and travel within the country
should be limited.
The Australian
Government imposed a social distancing rule of 1 person per 4m2.
22 March 2020 — Global cases of COVID-19 surpass 300,000. It took over three months to reach the first
100,000 confirmed cases, 12 days to reach 200,000 and three days to reach 300,000.
Fourteen
new cases reported in New Zealand.
The states
of New South Wales and Victoria impose mandatory closure of non-essential
services; South Australia and Western Australia close their borders. Prime Minister
Scott Morrison announced a closure of places of gathering including pubs,
clubs, licensed premises in hotels and bars, entertainment venues, including places
of worship, nightclubs, casinos and cinemas. Cafes and restaurants can remain
open but only for takeaway. Funerals and weddings need to observe the strict
four square metre rule. Schools are to remain open, but parents are entitled to
keep children at home at their discretion. A second stimulus package of $66 billion
was announced including measures to increase income support for JobSeekers and
allowing access to superannuation.
23 March 2020 — World Bank Group President calls on
bilateral creditors of the lowest-income countries to provide debt relief so
these countries can focus resources on the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO says that asking
people to stay at home and take other physical distancing measures are an
important way of slowing down the spread of the virus and buying time, but they
are defensive measures. To win, we need to attack the virus with aggressive and
targeted tactics; testing every suspected case, isolating and caring for every
confirmed case, and tracing and quarantining every close contact.
36 new
cases reported. In light of this dramatic increase Alert Level 3 became effective
immediately and the nation was given 48 hours warning that Alert Level 4 would
be in place at 11.59pm on 25 March. People are instructed to stay home, schools
and other educational facilities will be closed from 24 March, all
non-essential businesses will close and travel will be severely limited. Another
wave of panic buying starts at supermarkets.
The
measures announced yesterday for places of social gathering were put in place
at midday.
24 March 2020 — Cases of COVID-19 surpass 400,000. It took over
three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases, 12 days to reach 200,000, three days to reach 300,000, and two days to
reach 400,000. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces a lockdown of 21 days for the country's 1.3
billion residents. This is the largest lockdown announced since the beginning
of the outbreak. The Chinese government announces it will lift the lockdown on Wuhan, the city at
the centre of the outbreak, on April 8.
40 new
cases from 1400 tests. From this date onward probable cases are included at a
local level bringing the total to 155.
A
passenger from the Ruby Princess died and 133 others had tested
positive.
25 March 2020 — The United Nations launches a $2 billion global humanitarian response plan appeal
to assist vulnerable countries in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO list six
steps countries should take as they are in lockdown mode: expand, train, and
deploy health care workforce; create systems to find all suspected case at
community levels; increase production and availability of testing; identify and
equip facilities needed to treat and isolate patients; develop plans on how to
quarantine contacts; and focus the whole government on the suppression and
control of the pandemic. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales tests positive for
COVID-19 and goes into self isolation. The 2020 Olympic Games are postponed to
2021.
50 new
cases including probable cases. A national State of Emergency was declared for
7 days (to be reviewed and possibly extended) and the country entered Alert
Level 4 at 11.59pm.
The National
COVID-19 Coordination Commission was established by the Prime Minister as a
strategic advisory body.
26 March 2020 — G-20 country leaders, after their virtual summit,
release a statement outlining commitments in fighting the pandemic,
such as sharing timely and transparent information, strengthening health
systems globally, and protecting front-line health workers. They call upon WHO to assess gaps in
pandemic preparedness and report to a meeting of finance and health ministers
in the coming months, aimed at establishing a global initiative on pandemic
preparedness and response. Cases in the U.S. surpass those in China and Italy
— making it the new epicentre of the pandemic.
A further
78 cases were reported, but it was also noted that 17 people had fully
recovered and that 168 New Zealand travellers were in quarantine.
27 March 2020 — WHO announces that the first patients will
shortly be enrolled in Norway and Spain in a trial called the Solidarity Trial,
comparing the effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations
against COVID-19. More than 45 countries are contributing to the trial. U.K.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19.
The cruise
ship Artania docked in Fremantle, Most of the 850 passengers flew home
from Perth to Germany over the next two days. 41 passengers and crew tested
positive and remained in Perth for treatment. They were not counted in the
Australian figures.
Health authorities
reported 85 new confirmed and probable cases.
28 March 2020 — Cases of COVID-19 worldwide surpass 600,000.
Portugal announces that all foreigners will be treated as residents
during the COVID-19 crisis, to ensure they have access to public services.
Quarantine measures in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began, begin to ease after more than two months of lockdown, including
restarting rail service in and out of the city. Spain and Italy hit new records for the number of dead in one day. Spain records
832 dead and Italy records 889.
Health
authorities reported 83 new cases including 78 confirmed and 5 probable cases.
The number
of passengers from the Ruby Princess who had tested positive had risen
to 284.
29 March 2020 — Global death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 30,000.
60 new
confirmed and 3 probable cases reported. New Zealand records first death a
patient initially diagnosed with influenza who later tested positive for
COVID-19.
30 March 2020 — Johnson & Johnson announces the selection of a lead COVID-19 vaccine
candidate. The company expects to start human trials by September, at the
latest, and anticipates the first batches of a vaccine could be available for U.S. Food and Drug Administration "emergency
use authorization" in early 2021. The University of Washington, University
of Oxford, and La Jolla Institute for Immunology receive $20 million to fund
clinical trials to identify highly potent immunotherapies to combat the
COVID-19 pandemic.
76 new
confirmed cases and one previously counted probable case was confirmed to be
negative. It was also reported that community spread made up about 2% of cases,
57% were directly related to overseas travel and 27% were close contacts of a
confirmed case.
Two deaths
were recorded. To date 440 passengers from the Ruby Princess (21 NSW, 71
SA, 70 QLD, 43 WA, 22 ACT, 18 VIC, 3 TAS and 2 NT) have tested positive. A $130
billion JobKeeper wage subsidy package was announced.
31 March 2020 — WHO Western Pacific
Regional Director expresses concerns that travel restrictions are impacting
Pacific island countries’ ability to diagnose COVID-19 cases. The U.S.
government reportedly places a moratorium on USAID’s global shipments of
personal protective gear, asking it to instead be sent to the U.S.
A further
58 confirmed and probable cases were reported.
As of
today 5 passengers from the Ruby Princess have died. Six baggage
handlers at Adelaide Airport have tested positive causing the airport to close
and 100 other staff required to self isolate.
Total cases globally as of 31
March 2020: 750,890 and 36,405 deaths.
Total cases in Australia: 4359 and 18
deaths
Total cases in New Zealand: 600 and 1
death
(figures from WHO)
Sources:
https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/coronavirus-timeline/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_Australia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_New_Zealand
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_Australia
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