Update On 2019-nCoV Or COVID-19 As Of February 12, 2020

As of February 12, 2020, 
there are 45,171 confirmed cases (2068 new) globally, 
and in China, there are 44,730 confirmed (2022 new), 
8,204 severe (871 new) and 1,114 deaths (97 new).
Outside of China, there are 441 confirmed (46 new)
 24 countries, 1 death. 

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 acute respiratory disease
reported by provinces, regions and cities in China,
as of February 12, 2020: 

 Countries, territories or areas with reported confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths  as as of 12 February 2020: 

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 

WHO’s strategic objectives for this response are to: 

• Limit human-to-human transmission including reducing secondary infections
among close contacts and health care workers,
preventing transmission amplification events,
and preventing further international spread from China*; 

• Identify, isolate and care for patients early,
including providing optimized care for infected patients; 

• Identify and reduce transmission from the animal source; 

• Address crucial unknowns regarding clinical severity,
extent of transmission and infection, treatment options,
and accelerate the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines; 

• Communicate critical risk and event information to all communities
and counter misinformation; 

• Minimize social and economic impact through multisectoral partnerships. 

*This can be achieved through a combination of public health measures,
such as rapid identification, diagnosis and management of the cases,
identification and follow up of the contacts,
infection prevention and control in health care settings,
implementation of health measures for travelers,
awareness-raising in the population and risk communication. 

RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE FOR THE PUBLIC 

During previous outbreaks due to other coronavirus
(Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),
human-to-human transmission occurred through droplets, contact and fomites,
suggesting that the transmission mode of the 2019-nCoV can be similar.
The basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission
of acute respiratory infections include the following: 

• Avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections. 

• Frequent hand-washing, especially
after direct contact with ill people or their environment. 

• Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals. 

• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette
(maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes
with disposable tissues or clothing and wash hands). 

• Within health care facilities,
enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals,
especially in emergency departments. 

WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travelers.
In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness
either during or after travel,
travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention
and share their travel history with their health care provider. 

SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION