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Coronavirus: death toll rises, millions more confined
The new coronavirus that appeared late December has claimed 563 lives, infected more than 28,000 people in mainland China and spread to more than 20 countries.
Here is a timeline.
New virus
Health authorities in Wuhan, an industrial city in central Hubei province, first document the new illness on 8 December.
On 31 December, China alerts the World Health Organization (WHO) to cases of pneumonia in the city.
Several infections are traced to a Wuhan market, which is shut on 1 January.
As infections rise, Chinese officials say on 7 January they have identified a new virus from the coronavirus family. It is named 2019-nCoV.
First death
China announces its first death in Wuhan on 11 January.
Two days later the first case outside China is reported in Thailand, originating in Wuhan.
Japan reports its first case, also from Wuhan, on 16 January.
The United States, Nepal, France, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan confirm cases over the following days.
The US starts screening flights from Wuhan, to be followed by Asian countries.
Human transmission
By 20 January, nearly half of China's provinces are affected, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
A Chinese infectious disease expert confirms the illness can be transmitted between humans.
Epicentre quarantined
Wuhan is placed under quarantine on 23 January, with transport links cut there and in other Hubei province cities, affecting more than 56 million people.
The WHO says the outbreak is an emergency in China but not yet globally.
Beijing cancels events for the upcoming Lunar New Year. Several landmarks are closed.
The first two deaths are reported outside Hubei.
On 24 January, the first cases are recorded in Europe, in France.
Public shutdown
Beijing extends the Lunar New Year holiday to limit travel.
On 27 January, the US and Germany tell their citizens not to travel to China.
On 28 January, Germany and Japan announce the first two confirmed human-to-human transmissions outside China.
Evacuations
On 29 January, the US and Japan become the first of several nations to start evacuating citizens from Wuhan.
The coronavirus emerges in the Middle East, in the United Arab Emirates.
Some international airlines suspend their China flights. Foreign companies shutdown Chinese factories and shops.
International emergency
On 30 January, the WHO declares a "public health emergency of international concern".
Russia shuts its border with China.
On 31 January, as Britain, France and North Korea airlift their nationals, Italy declares a state of emergency.
The US says on 1 February it is banning the entry of foreign nationals who had recently travelled to China, a move followed by other countries.
First deaths outside China
On 2 February, Wenzhou -- around 800 kilometres (500 miles) from Wuhan -- becomes the second city to be locked down.
The Philippines reports the first coronavirus death outside China.
China says it will pump in 1.2 trillion yuan ($173 billion) to protect growth. Chinese stocks collapse on 3 February, the first day of trading since the holiday.
On 4 February, Hong Kong reports a coronavirus death, the second outside the mainland.
Singapore announces its first cases of local transmissions. Gaming centre Macao closes its casinos for two weeks.
The WHO says the outbreak does not yet constitute a "pandemic".
Cruise ship infections
On 5 February, Hong Kong announces a mandatory two-week quarantine for all travellers from mainland China.
Millions more on the Chinese mainland are told to stay at home.
Twenty people on a cruise ship off the Japanese coast test positive for the virus, with around 3,700 onboard.
Airbus closes an aircraft production facility in Tianjin near Beijing, and Vietnam joins countries banning arrivals from China. - Collected from "Prothom Alo"
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