First case of coronavirus reported in Netherlands and New Zealand

The first case of coronavirus has been reported in Netherlands and New Zealand. In a statement, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said a man who lives in the town of Tilburg had been diagnosed with the virus after traveling to Italy’s Lombardy region a few days ago. The institute said the man was placed in quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading. The global death toll is nearly 2,800, and China, where the outbreak originated, is the worst hit, with more than 78,000 cases and over 2,700 fatalities.

Meanwhile in New Zealand the Prime Minister in a statement said, that a citizen of New Zealand who is in his late sixties has been tested positive for the virus. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the person arrived this week from Iran, where the virus has been spreading rapidly. New Zealand therefore becomes the 48th country to have a confirmed case of the virus. The person who is in his 60s and arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday on Emirates flight EK450 from Tehran, via Bali. Earlier today Health Minister David Clark announced new measures to protect the country amid the worsening coronavirus outbreak including an Iran travel ban.