Cronology on Coronavirus


Wuhan Map




The following is a chronology of the 2019 coronavirus novel (2019-nCoV) infection that began on December 2019:

  • The virus, which started in Wuhan, China, causes pneumonia and other symptoms such as fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

  • Dec 31, 2019 - 2019-nCoV first reported to infect Wuhan province, China.

  • Jan 23 - China imposes a quarantine order in Wuhan, following the outbreak of coronavirus. The airport was closed and all flights from Wuhan were canceled.

  • Jan 25 - Three positive cases of coronavirus confirmed in Malaysia involve three Chinese nationals entering Malaysia via Johor.

  • Jan 25 - Another confirmed positive 2019-nCoV case, bringing the total number of those confirmed infected in the country to four.

  • All confirmed positive involved those from Wuhan, China who reportedly arrived in Johor Bahru on Wednesday (Jan 22) by bus from Singapore.

  • Jan 29 - Three more positive 2019-nCoV cases were reported, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to seven.

  • The three cases involved a four-year-old child being treated at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital, Langkawi; a 52-year-old man treated in the isolation ward of Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Bahru and a woman.



Dr. Noor Hisham




  • Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said all seven cases involved Chinese nationals.

  • Jan 29 - Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Malaysia is ready to bring home its people who are currently in Wuhan if allowed by the Chinese government.

  • Jan 29 - Malaysian Ambassador to China, Raja Datuk Nushirwan Zainal Abidin confirmed that 82 Malaysians who have so far been identified as in Wuhan and surrounding areas, are free from koranavirus infection.

  • Jan 30 - A special committee for humanitarian aid missions to repatriate Malaysians from Hubei province, China has been activated following the 2019-nCoV infection. The committee is coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Malaysian Armed Forces and the National Security Council.

  • Jan 30 - Another positive 2019-nCoV case is reported, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to eight. The eighth case involved a 49-year-old woman who is currently being treated at the Permai Hospital Isolation ward, Johor Bahru.

  • All eight cases are import cases involving Chinese citizens.



World Health Organization




  • Jan 31 - The World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva on Thursday declared a global health emergency following global concerns over the 2019-nCoV infection.

  • Jan 31 - AirAsia extended the temporary cancellation of all flights from Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Phuket to Wuhan, China until the end of February.

  • Jan 31 - nine cases of human to human infection were detected in four countries namely Germany; Japan; Vietnam; United States and Thailand.

  • Based on the latest data, a total of 9,929 2019-nCoV cases were confirmed in 24 countries. A total of 9,782 infections were reported in China with 213 people dying in the republic.

  • Apart from China, the countries involved are Thailand; Japan; Singapore; Hong Kong; South Korea; Taiwan; Australia; Malaysia; Macau; United States of America; France; Finland; Germany; Vietnam; UAE; Canada; Italy; United Kingdom; Philippines; Nepal; Cambodia; Sri Lanka; and India,