01 Feb 2020 | 08:45 AM UTC

Spain: Health officials confirm first case of novel coronavirus January 31 /update 1

First case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is confirmed in the Canary Islands on January 31; further spread of the virus possible in the near term

TIMEFRAME expected from 2/1/2020, 12:00 AM until 2/15/2020, 11:59 PM (Europe/Madrid). COUNTRY/REGION Spain

Read all related news alert(s):

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22 Oct 03:50 AM UTC —

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14 Oct 04:21 PM UTC —

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03 Oct 04:15 PM UTC —

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27 Sep 10:57 PM UTC —

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21 Sep 11:39 AM UTC —

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11 Sep 01:58 AM UTC —

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07 Sep 05:22 PM UTC —

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04 Sep 03:31 PM UTC —

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25 Aug 02:51 AM UTC —

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21 Aug 11:31 PM UTC —

Spain: Authorities advise Madrid residents to stay at home August 21 /update 41

14 Aug 05:07 PM UTC —

Spain: Authorities order nightclubs to close August 14 /update 40

28 Jul 02:11 PM UTC —

Spain: Additional COVID-19 restrictions to be imposed in Madrid from July 30 /update 39

19 Jul 07:42 AM UTC —

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14 Jul 05:22 PM UTC —

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13 Jul 10:48 AM UTC —

Spain: Court bars tightening of lockdown measures in Segrià municipality July 13 /update 36

09 Jul 09:46 PM UTC —

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05 Jul 05:30 PM UTC —

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04 Jul 02:26 PM UTC —

Spain: Authorities reintroduce lockdown in Segrià municipality (Catalonia region), including Lleida, July 4 /update 33

24 Jun 10:38 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities announce borders to reopen to non-EU arrivals from June 30 /update 32

20 Jun 10:22 PM UTC —

Spain: Authorities lift quarantine measures for arrivals from UK June 21 /update 31

14 Jun 10:22 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities to reopen borders to Schengen countries from June 21 /update 30

06 Jun 02:03 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions in Madrid and Barcelona from June 8 /update 29

04 Jun 01:19 AM UTC —

Spain: Government extends state of emergency until June 21 /update 28

25 May 05:16 PM UTC —

Spain: Authorities to lift quarantine for overseas travelers from July 1 /update 27

24 May 01:57 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities announce plans to reopen to tourists May 23 /update 26

23 May 02:06 PM UTC —

Spain: Authorities announce easing of some lockdown restrictions from May 25 /update 25

21 May 12:38 AM UTC —

Spain: Face masks compulsory in public spaces from May 21 /update 24

17 May 03:42 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities allow some airports to reopen from May 18 /update 23

12 May 11:28 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities implement 14-day mandatory quarantine for all incoming travelers May 15 /update 22

09 May 04:33 PM UTC —

Spain: Spain to ease COVID-19 lockdown restrictions from May 11 /update 21

07 May 05:04 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities extend state of emergency until May 24 /update 20

03 May 04:00 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities make wearing of masks compulsory in public transport as of May 4 /update 19

30 Apr 05:29 PM UTC —

Spain: Authorities extend state of alarm until May 9 /update 18

27 Apr 01:57 AM UTC —

Spain: Outdoor exercise permitted in easing of lockdown measures from May 2 /update 17

23 Apr 05:59 AM UTC —

Spain: Nationwide lockdown measures extended to May 9 /update 16

16 Apr 12:08 PM UTC —

Spain: Government confirms more than 180,000 COVID-19 cases nationwide April 15 /update 15

14 Apr 05:11 AM UTC —

Spain: Authorities relax some lockdown measures on April 13 /update 14

11 Apr 04:05 PM UTC —

Spain: Health officials confirm over 160,000 COVID-19 cases nationwide April 11 /update 13

04 Apr 07:39 PM UTC —

Spain: Government plans to extend state of emergency through April 26 due to COVID-19 /update 12

02 Apr 09:49 AM UTC —

Spain: Over 100,000 COVID-19 cases reported April 1 /update 11

30 Mar 04:36 PM UTC —

Spain: Confirmed COVID-19 cases top 85,000 as of March 30, overtaking China /update 10

28 Mar 08:27 PM UTC —

Spain: PM Sanchez directs nonessential workers to stay home until April 9 over COVID-19 concerns /update 9

27 Mar 12:42 PM UTC —

Spain: Government confirms 769 deaths in 24 hours March 27 /update 8

26 Mar 01:45 AM UTC —

Spain: State of emergency extended to April 12 /update 7

14 Mar 02:08 PM UTC —

Spain: Government activates state of alert nationwide amid COVID-19 March 14 /update 6

13 Mar 12:29 PM UTC —

Spain: Government places four localities on lockdown in Catalonia as of March 12 /update 5

11 Mar 05:55 AM UTC —

Spain: Government suspends flights to Italy and bans large indoor gatherings March 10 /update 4

10 Mar 03:01 AM UTC —

Spain: Educational institutes suspended in Madrid region and Vitoria March 9-25 /update 3

04 Mar 04:37 AM UTC —

Spain: Health officials confirm first COVID-19 fatality March 3 /update 2

31 Jan 08:52 AM UTC —

Spain: Iberia Airlines Madrid suspends flights to Shanghai due to novel coronavirus as of January 31

Event

The National Center for Microbiology (CNM) confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in La Gomera, (Canary Islands) on Friday, January 31. The patient was in contact with an infected patient in Germany prior to traveling to La Gomera. Four others were taken into the hospital for observation on the island.

Further international spread of 2019-nCoV is expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of 2019-nCoV was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan. Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in more than 20 countries and territories worldwide. Human-to-human transmission has been confirmed in Germany, Japan, the US, and Vietnam. Virus screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On January 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the ongoing novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak is a "public health emergency of international concern."

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Potentially impacted travelers are advised to monitor the situation, confirm travel itineraries and consider rebooking options, if needed, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments. Individuals are advised to take precautionary measures to reduce their risk of contracting the virus:

Avoid all contact with animals (dead or alive); avoid eating animal products that are undercooked; avoid all markets where animals are sold
Avoid all close contact with people displaying symptoms of the disease (e.g. difficulties breathing)
Frequently wash hands, wear a face mask
Individuals within China developing symptoms of pneumonia are advised to seek medical attention, avoid contact with other people, and wash hands regularly
Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments
Travelers returning from China developing symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to avoid spreading the disease.

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