Mongolia is restricting traffic in the capital city and all 21 provinces until March 16 after the country reported its first case of Wuhan coronavirus, the State Emergency Commission (SEC) said today.
"The capital Ulan Bator and all 21 provinces need to be quarantined from Tuesday until March 16 to curb the outbreak. In other words, any vehicle such as cars and trains are not allowed to enter or leave the capital or rural cities until next Monday," the SEC said in a statement.
The move came after a French national tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed Wuhan coronavirus case in Mongolia.
Panama has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus.
The patient is a Panamanian woman who had returned Sunday from Madrid. While only a few dozen cases have been confirmed in Latin America, the epidemic is growing in Europe. Spain is among four European countries with more than 1,000 cases each.
Panama's Health Minister Rosario Turner said yesterday the 40 year old woman's positive test was confirmed at the Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas.
The woman is isolated at home and will receive daily visits from health workers.
Burkina Faso has confirmed its first two cases of Wuhan coronavirus, Minister of Health Claudine Louge announced Monday evening during a press conference.
According to Louge, the two patients are a couple and the wife recently returned from France. The patients now are quarantined in a local hospital in Ouagadougou, capital of the country.
A third person who is a close contact is under observation, the minister added.
Turkish Cypriot health minister announced today the first coronavirus case in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).[break]
Health Minister Ali Pilli said a 65 year old tourist from Germany tested positive for Wuhan coronavirus.
Pilli told Turkish News Agency Cyprus that a group of 30 tourists from Germany's Balingen town arrived at a hotel in the city of Gazimagusa on Sunday with a private shuttle.
The infected woman was taken to a public hospital in Gazimagusa, the official said, adding that the hotel is quarantined now.
The tourist's health condition remains well and she is still receiving treatment, Pilli said. ■
A large-scale blocking pattern over North America is leading to a series of upper level disturbances tracking across the southern tier and off the East Coast this weekend, while a robust ridge of high pressure forms over the North Central U.S, and southern Canada.