Coronavirus Covid-19

Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.

Smoking products such as water pipes often involve the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings.

Voreqe Bainimarama said the latest case was the mother of Fiji's first COVID-19 patient who remained in isolation in a stable condition.

The Prime Minister said after the first case was discovered on Thursday authorities moved to identifiy and isolate 11 members of the patient's household.

The group was transported to the isolation ward in Nadi Hospital where all those displaying symptoms were tested for COVID-19.

Mr Bainimarama said the initial patient's mother tested positive, making her the first locally-transmitted case in the country.

Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles, from University of Auckland's medical department says the main things to keep in mind are:

Guam's health department has tested dozens of people since the first cases on the island were confirmed on Sunday night.

Tuesday's cases include a relative of one of those confirmed to have the virus on Sunday, and another person who recently travelled to the Philippines.

All five confirmed cases are in isolation.

Suspected cases

The Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia say they both have one person each under investigation for Covid-19.

As world heads of government continue to grapple with the mounting challenges, Digicel is contributing to efforts to educate the public and stem the coronavirus spread.

COVID-19 is spread mainly person-to-person, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

At present there is no vaccine, so the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

Here we’ve compiled a list of easy steps to protect yourself and others:

A Savali News report said the rigorous precautionary screening measures have been mandated by the Ministry of Health to prevent the importation of the coronavirus COVID-19..

“The decision reached by Cabinet at its special meeting Sunday will eliminate any looming disruptions to the country’s imported food supplies and other essential needs,” said Secretary to Cabinet, Agafili Tomaimano Shem Leo.

And the Ports Authority is already on the move to ensure full compliance.

President Edouard Fritch said the carrier was one of French Polynesia's members of the French National Assembly, Maina Sage, who returned from Paris at the weekend.

Ms Sage was at home in self-isolation, Mr Fritch said.

Reports say she had met the French culture minister Franck Riester, who has also been infected.

Mr Fritch said before returning to Tahiti she had a medical check-up that showed no sign of the illness.

Amid concern over the spread of the virus, she then reportedly arranged for a test which came back positive.

The meeting was coordinated and facilitated by the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry under a request from Cabinet.

Representatives from Swire Shipping, Betham Brothers Enterprises Ltd (BBE), Transam, Pacific Forum Line (PFL), Petroleum Petrol Supplies (PPS) and Matson International met with the Ministry of Health last week to work towards a solution to ensure Samoa achieves a balance of protecting her boarders against the Coronavirus (COVID-19), while maintaining trade and more particularly essential supplies into the country such as food, petrol and others.

COVID-19 is starting to cause widespread disruption to sport across Europe, particularly in Italy, Germany, France and Spain.

Italy is the most-affected European nation, with 9,172 cases of infection reported as of Tuesday, and that has led to all sporting activities being postponed until April 3.

In Spain, fans have been prohibited from attending games at all levels over the next two matchdays, though that could change after the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) requested all action be postponed instead.

His visit comes as China recorded its lowest number of infections, just 19 on Tuesday, all in Wuhan apart from two who had arrived from overseas.

China has seen 80,754 confirmed cases, 3,136 of whom have died.

The visit was Mr Xi's first trip to the city since the outbreak began.

According to state media, Mr Xi arrived in Wuhan on Tuesday to inspect epidemic prevention and control work in the province.