Coronavirus Covid-19

They also received personal protective equipment (PPE) including medical masks, gloves and surgical gowns for doctors, nurses and patients to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

With Samoa on the cusp of declaring the end of its measles outbreak, having achieved a 46-day window since the last infectious period of measles and no new cases nor related deaths, the twin-island of approximately 200 000 people is now preparing for COVID-19.

Last week, a container ship carrying meat produce was turned away after failing health inspections although it has not been disclosed what the issue was, reports the Samoa Observer.

Siveni Chan Mow, manager of one of Samoa's oldest grocer, Chan Mow Wholesalers, said they were looking at over $US1 million in losses due to coronavirus restrictions.

He said there had been delays with poultry, meat, sugar and rice as well as other "made-in-China staples".

A vessel carrying produce has also been delayed due to mechanical failure.

Officials said 49 people had died in 24 hours, while more than 4,600 cases have been reported in total.

The country has now reported the most deaths outside of China, where the virus emerged in December.

The World Health Organization says nearly 100,000 people worldwide have contracted the coronavirus.

More than 3,000 people have died - the majority in China.

WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the spread of the virus "deeply concerning" and urged all countries to make containment "their highest priority".

Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday that sporting events that are allowed to go ahead in Italy will have to take place behind closed doors until April 3.

The decision came following a government decree, with Italy, which has the most cases of any European country, taking further preventative measures against the virus. There have been 2,502 confirmed cases in Italy, with 80 deaths.

The Samoa Ports Authority chief executive officer, So'oalo Kuresa So'oalo, said the IMUA II's normal route was from New Zealand via Fiji and then on to American Samoa.

Mr So'oalo did not give details about why the vessel was declined but underlined that the country's safety was the ultimate priority.

The Samoa Observer reports the ship's agent Swire Shipping would also not disclose information about the vessel.

The measles epidemic in November and December saw much of the country shut down as the country fought the outbreak, which killed 83 people. 

The chief executive of the Samoa Tourism Authority, Fa'amatuainu Lenata'i Suifua, says the emergence of Covid-19 has dealt another blow, as the measles recovery was about to begin. 

To prevent the arrival of coronavirus, the government has imposed travel restrictions and slashed the number of flights to the country.

Fa'amatuainu told RNZ Pacific about the effect it is having on Samoa's largest industry. 

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told Morning Report he got a report of a third positive test yesterday evening.

"We're getting all the information together and we'll update everybody at the same time at the update this afternoon," Bloomfield said.

He said the positive Covid-19 result was not of the partner of the Auckland woman who tested positive on Tuesday.

"The swab for the partner of the second case is being processed today, so the positive result we received last night is a different case."

A 53-year-old man who recently travelled to Singapore has tested positive, as well has a 39-year-old man who travelled from Iran.

This is the first case in NSW that appears to have come from Singapore.

There have been 11 cases in NSW to date. 

It follows two new cases yesterday of person-to-person transmission of coronavirus.

A 53-year-old health worker in western Sydney and a 41-year-old woman in Sydney have contracted coronavirus without leaving the country.

Its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the virus was "unique" but could be contained with the right measures.

Deaths globally have passed 3,000. Most are in China but over the past day there were nine times more new infections outside China than inside.

Dr Tedros insisted: "We can push this virus back". He also said stigma was more dangerous than the disease itself.

The WHO chief said the development of the Covid-19 disease globally was not a "one-way street" and could be combated if countries acted quickly and effectively - starting with containment measures.

His comments come as countries around the world battle to prevent the virus spreading further.

For a second day, more cases have been reported outside than inside China.

Iran and Italy have become major centres of infection, with people travelling from there spreading the virus further afield.

Several high-profile Iranian officials have become infected, the latest being Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar.

"It's what's happening in the rest of the world that's now our greatest concern," Dr Tedros said.