In this photo illustration, a woman sprays disinfectant onto her hands in Berlin, Germany, on February 26. As the novel coronavirus spreads across Asia, people have rushed to stock up on sanitation and cleaning products. In major cities like Hong Kong, stores sold out of hand sanitizer, toilet rolls, face masks, disinfecting wipes, and more.
A global coronavirus: Travel bans, face masks, and fear
In this photo illustration, a woman sprays disinfectant onto her hands in Berlin, Germany, on February 26. As the novel coronavirus spreads across Asia, people have rushed to stock up on sanitation and cleaning products. In major cities like Hong Kong, stores sold out of hand sanitizer, toilet rolls, face masks, disinfecting wipes, and more.
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Updated 1612 GMT (0012 HKT) February 27, 2020

The novel coronavirus has gone global. What had begun as an outbreak in China is now threatening to become a worldwide pandemic, having reached every continent except Antarctica.

Since it was first identified in mid-December, the virus has killed more than 2,800 worldwide. Though the vast majority of those deaths have occurred in Hubei, the province at the center of the initial outbreak, new clusters are fast expanding outside of China, in countries as diverse as Iran, Italy and South Korea.

In the past week alone, 20 countries confirmed their first cases of the coronavirus, mostly in Europe and the Middle East.

On Wednesday, for the first time, there were more cases reported outside China that inside, according to data from the World Health Organization.

Globally, more than 3,200 cases have now been confirmed outside of China, bringing the total number to more than 82,000.

As anxiety and fear spreads around the world, international authorities are scrambling to contain the virus. Numerous countries are closing borders, placing cities on lockdown, and implementing stringent quarantine measures; Italy has effectively quarantined 100,000 people.

This rise in public fear has seen shops in Italy and other hard-hit regions sell out of medical supplies like face masks -- an echo of the same panic buying that had gripped Asia just earlier this month.

And though the WHO has yet to call the outbreak a pandemic, international experts are warning that people should get ready for such an escalation.

"Ultimately we expect we will see community spread in this country," said Nancy Messonnier, a director at the US Center of Disease Control and Prevention. "It's not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness."

Commuters in Beijing wear protective masks as they ride bikes and scooters across an intersection during rush hour on February 24. Nearly everyone in Beijing and across mainland China is wearing a protective mask outdoors, if they go out at all; some instead choose to stay home as much as possible, in line with the government's recommendation to self-quarantine and avoid public gatherings.
Commuters in Beijing wear protective masks as they ride bikes and scooters across an intersection during rush hour on February 24. Nearly everyone in Beijing and across mainland China is wearing a protective mask outdoors, if they go out at all; some instead choose to stay home as much as possible, in line with the government's recommendation to self-quarantine and avoid public gatherings.
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A child is covered with a plastic bag before getting into a taxi in Beijing on February 13.
A child is covered with a plastic bag before getting into a taxi in Beijing on February 13.
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A woman checks her son's forehead on January 27 in Wuhan, China. The coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, and the majority of cases in China remain concentrated in Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital. Wuhan has been under lockdown since January 23, with movement halted in or out of the city, and public transport limited within.
A woman checks her son's forehead on January 27 in Wuhan, China. The coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, and the majority of cases in China remain concentrated in Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital. Wuhan has been under lockdown since January 23, with movement halted in or out of the city, and public transport limited within.
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Staff disinfect a room in Hotel Mikazuki, in Japan's Chiba Prefecture, where Japanese evacuees from Wuhan stayed. 197 Japanese citizens had been flown out of the Chinese city, and stayed at the hotel for two weeks. They went home on February 13 after all testing negative for the coronavirus. Foreign nationals from at least 30 countries were flown out of Wuhan and other regions of China in January, amid growing travel restrictions and border closures.
Staff disinfect a room in Hotel Mikazuki, in Japan's Chiba Prefecture, where Japanese evacuees from Wuhan stayed. 197 Japanese citizens had been flown out of the Chinese city, and stayed at the hotel for two weeks. They went home on February 13 after all testing negative for the coronavirus. Foreign nationals from at least 30 countries were flown out of Wuhan and other regions of China in January, amid growing travel restrictions and border closures.
Masamine Kawaguchi/AP
With governments worldwide advising citizens to avoid close physical contact for fears of spreading the virus, even religious services have had to adjust. Catholic devotees in Paranaque city, the Philippines, line up on February 26 to have their head sprinkled with ash during Ash Wednesday services -- instead of the usual practice of having the ash rubbed in.
With governments worldwide advising citizens to avoid close physical contact for fears of spreading the virus, even religious services have had to adjust. Catholic devotees in Paranaque city, the Philippines, line up on February 26 to have their head sprinkled with ash during Ash Wednesday services -- instead of the usual practice of having the ash rubbed in.
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A worker from the Korea Pest Control Association, wearing protective gear, sprays disinfectant at a market in Seoul on February 24. South Korea has seen a spike in numbers as a new outbreak spreads across the country. There are now more than 1,500 cases nationwide, many of which are linked to a religious group in the south of the country.
A worker from the Korea Pest Control Association, wearing protective gear, sprays disinfectant at a market in Seoul on February 24. South Korea has seen a spike in numbers as a new outbreak spreads across the country. There are now more than 1,500 cases nationwide, many of which are linked to a religious group in the south of the country.
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A Chinese man wears a protective mask, goggles and coat on a nearly empty street on January 26 in Beijing, China. The outbreak hit during Chinese New Year -- China's busiest annual travel season. This year, celebrations were canceled, travel restrictions were implemented, and the typical festive atmosphere was replaced by one of fear and caution.
A Chinese man wears a protective mask, goggles and coat on a nearly empty street on January 26 in Beijing, China. The outbreak hit during Chinese New Year -- China's busiest annual travel season. This year, celebrations were canceled, travel restrictions were implemented, and the typical festive atmosphere was replaced by one of fear and caution.
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Workers spray disinfectant inside a toilet at a bus depot in Seoul, South Korea, on February 24. The majority of cases in South Korea have taken place in the southern city of Daegu, but infections have also spread to other places like Busan -- the country's second most populous city.
Workers spray disinfectant inside a toilet at a bus depot in Seoul, South Korea, on February 24. The majority of cases in South Korea have taken place in the southern city of Daegu, but infections have also spread to other places like Busan -- the country's second most populous city.
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A worker cleans a metro train in Tehran, Iran, on February 26. An outbreak in Iran has seen the country's coronavirus numbers spike; it now has more than 140 cases and 22 deaths. <br />Many other Middle Eastern countries have imposed travel restrictions and strict emergency measures, including closing borders with Iran. Within a week of the Iran outbreak, a number of nearby countries reported their first cases, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, and more.
A worker cleans a metro train in Tehran, Iran, on February 26. An outbreak in Iran has seen the country's coronavirus numbers spike; it now has more than 140 cases and 22 deaths.
Many other Middle Eastern countries have imposed travel restrictions and strict emergency measures, including closing borders with Iran. Within a week of the Iran outbreak, a number of nearby countries reported their first cases, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, and more.
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Workers clean a gate at Hong Kong's High Speed Rail Station on January 29. The city's government announced it will deny entry for travelers who has been to China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, except for local residents. Hong Kong has also closed many of its border crossings with mainland China, amid calls from residents for more stringent measures.
Workers clean a gate at Hong Kong's High Speed Rail Station on January 29. The city's government announced it will deny entry for travelers who has been to China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, except for local residents. Hong Kong has also closed many of its border crossings with mainland China, amid calls from residents for more stringent measures.
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A worker disinfecting a market in Seoul, South Korea, on February 24. South Korea is now the largest outbreak outside China.
A worker disinfecting a market in Seoul, South Korea, on February 24. South Korea is now the largest outbreak outside China.
Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images
A worker wears disposable latex gloves while serving food at a cafe in Milan, Italy, on February 24. Italy is now the largest outbreak outside Asia, and is at the heart of the European outbreak. Since Italy's outbreak, the virus has spread to many other nearby countries; Norway, Denmark, Austria, Romania, Georgia, and North Macedonia all reported their first cases within a week.
A worker wears disposable latex gloves while serving food at a cafe in Milan, Italy, on February 24. Italy is now the largest outbreak outside Asia, and is at the heart of the European outbreak. Since Italy's outbreak, the virus has spread to many other nearby countries; Norway, Denmark, Austria, Romania, Georgia, and North Macedonia all reported their first cases within a week.
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Temporary "mothers" Zhang Xiaoyan and Wang Simei feed the 2-month-old child of a coronavirus patient in China's Anqing City on February 20. The baby's mother was confirmed with coronavirus after all other adult members of her family were also infected -- leaving two children without caretakers. In response, six local nurses stepped in to act as the children's temporary "mothers."
Temporary "mothers" Zhang Xiaoyan and Wang Simei feed the 2-month-old child of a coronavirus patient in China's Anqing City on February 20. The baby's mother was confirmed with coronavirus after all other adult members of her family were also infected -- leaving two children without caretakers. In response, six local nurses stepped in to act as the children's temporary "mothers."
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A traditional market in Seoul is disinfected on February 26. The South Korean government raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level, with confirmed case numbers continuing to rise.
A traditional market in Seoul is disinfected on February 26. The South Korean government raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level, with confirmed case numbers continuing to rise.
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A worker at Manila's international airport cleaning chairs at the boarding area on February 23. The Philippines has three confirmed cases and one death from the coronavirus. The country has issued travel restrictions in response to the Asia outbreak; most recently, it announced a ban on travelers from the North Gyeongsang Province of South Korea, where numbers of cases have been climbing.
A worker at Manila's international airport cleaning chairs at the boarding area on February 23. The Philippines has three confirmed cases and one death from the coronavirus. The country has issued travel restrictions in response to the Asia outbreak; most recently, it announced a ban on travelers from the North Gyeongsang Province of South Korea, where numbers of cases have been climbing.
Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images
A customer wearing a protective face mask and gloves reads a cleaning product label in a grocery store in Milan, Italy, on February 25. Italian authorities are now scrambling to respond to the outbreak, after the prime minister was forced to admit that a hospital had mishandled the region's first coronavirus case and had contributed to the virus' spread.
A customer wearing a protective face mask and gloves reads a cleaning product label in a grocery store in Milan, Italy, on February 25. Italian authorities are now scrambling to respond to the outbreak, after the prime minister was forced to admit that a hospital had mishandled the region's first coronavirus case and had contributed to the virus' spread.
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People wear face masks in Tokyo on February 23. Japan came under international scrutiny after the Diamond Princess cruise, docked in Yokohama, was placed under quarantine for weeks with infected passengers on board.
People wear face masks in Tokyo on February 23. Japan came under international scrutiny after the Diamond Princess cruise, docked in Yokohama, was placed under quarantine for weeks with infected passengers on board.
The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
An airport employee scans people's body temperatures in Bolivia on February 26. Brazil reported its first case of the coronavirus that day -- the first case in Latin America. Other nearby countries are now attempting to block the possible spread of the virus.
An airport employee scans people's body temperatures in Bolivia on February 26. Brazil reported its first case of the coronavirus that day -- the first case in Latin America. Other nearby countries are now attempting to block the possible spread of the virus.
Juan Karita/AP
A medical staff member in the Wuhan Children's Hospital in Wuhan, China -- the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. At the isolation ward of infected children, many young patients were afraid of seeing the medical staff wrapped in protective suits. A nurse in the hospital came up with the idea of drawing cartoons on the protective suits and inviting children to color them, to make them feel more at ease.
A medical staff member in the Wuhan Children's Hospital in Wuhan, China -- the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. At the isolation ward of infected children, many young patients were afraid of seeing the medical staff wrapped in protective suits. A nurse in the hospital came up with the idea of drawing cartoons on the protective suits and inviting children to color them, to make them feel more at ease.
Xinhua/Cai Yang/Getty Images
A man wearing a respiratory mask and gloves in Milan, Italy, on February 23. He is in Casalpusterlengo -- one of the ten small towns placed under lockdown as new coronavirus deaths sparked fears throughout the Lombardy region of Italy. The travel restrictions have effectively quarantined 100,000 people in the region.
A man wearing a respiratory mask and gloves in Milan, Italy, on February 23. He is in Casalpusterlengo -- one of the ten small towns placed under lockdown as new coronavirus deaths sparked fears throughout the Lombardy region of Italy. The travel restrictions have effectively quarantined 100,000 people in the region.
Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images
Chinese children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection at the airport in Beijing on January 30. People in China aren't taking any chances. Apart from just face masks, they have turned to other ways to protect themselves from the virus in public, like wearing full-body plastic ponchos, shower caps, goggles, gloves, and more.
Chinese children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection at the airport in Beijing on January 30. People in China aren't taking any chances. Apart from just face masks, they have turned to other ways to protect themselves from the virus in public, like wearing full-body plastic ponchos, shower caps, goggles, gloves, and more.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Sumo wrestlers in Osaka, Japan, on February 23. The Osaka Grand Sumo Tournament will start on March 8. But many other sporting events and major public gatherings have been canceled across Asia as the coronavirus spreads. There was speculation that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games could be canceled as well -- but organizers told CNN preparations for the Games were continuing as planned.
Sumo wrestlers in Osaka, Japan, on February 23. The Osaka Grand Sumo Tournament will start on March 8. But many other sporting events and major public gatherings have been canceled across Asia as the coronavirus spreads. There was speculation that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games could be canceled as well -- but organizers told CNN preparations for the Games were continuing as planned.
Taketo Oishi/AP
A Chinese man is seen in the side mirror of his scooter as he wears a protective mask in Beijing on February 22. More than 780 million people across China -- nearly half the country's population -- are still under some kind of travel restriction. These restrictions range from complete lockdowns, to limited entry in and out of certain neighborhoods.
A Chinese man is seen in the side mirror of his scooter as he wears a protective mask in Beijing on February 22. More than 780 million people across China -- nearly half the country's population -- are still under some kind of travel restriction. These restrictions range from complete lockdowns, to limited entry in and out of certain neighborhoods.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images