Data from 1p3A, as of 03/25

【03/27 Update】Over the past two days, Chinese airlines announced the routes affected by the “one airline, one country, one route, one flight per week” policy. Details are below:

  • Air China:
Air China
  • China Southern:
China Southern
  • China Eastern
China Eastern
  • XiamenAir
XiamenAir
  • Hainan Airlines, Capital Airlines
Hainan Airlines, Capital Airlines
  • Juneyao Air
Juneyao Air
  • Spring Airlines
Spring Airlines

【03/26 Update】Three major updates:

On March 25, Trump’s cash-payment bill passed the Senate unanimously. It was set for a House vote on Friday, and once passed, the payments could officially go out【already in effect】. For details and how to claim it, see below:

On March 26, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a notice to strictly control flights arriving in and departing from China. In short, “each airline may keep only one route in each country, with only one flight per week,” and load factors are generally capped at 75%. This policy officially takes effect on March 29! If you already booked an award ticket or paid cash for a ticket and planned to head back to China, pay close attention to whether your airline has canceled or changed your booking. For the full notice, see the National Immigration Administration’s post:

Also on March 26, the National Immigration Administration announced that starting at 0:00 on March 28, 2020, foreign nationals would be restricted from entering China (temporary suspension of entry for foreign nationals holding currently valid Chinese visas and residence permits; suspension of entry for holders of APEC Business Travel Cards). See here.

In light of the rapid global spread of COVID-19, China has decided that, beginning at 0:00 on March 28, 2020, foreign nationals holding currently valid Chinese visas and residence permits will be temporarily barred from entry. Entry for foreign nationals holding APEC Business Travel Cards is also suspended. Port visas, 24/72/144-hour transit visa-free policies, Hainan visa-free entry, Shanghai cruise visa-free policy, the 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao entering Guangdong, and the visa-free policy for ASEAN tour groups entering Guangxi are also suspended. Entry with diplomatic, service, courtesy, and C visas is not affected. Foreign nationals coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific, or technological activities, or for emergency humanitarian reasons, may apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates abroad. Entry by foreign nationals holding visas issued after this announcement will not be affected.

Note: Hong Kong and Macao residents traveling with Home Return Permits, and Taiwan residents traveling with Taiwan Compatriot Permits, are temporarily not affected when entering mainland China.

【2020.3 Update】As the outbreak has developed, it has increasingly become “globalized.” The situation in the US has also become concerning, and COVID-19 caused by SARS-COV-2 has already “spread” across multiple states.

It is advisable to avoid traveling to states with severe outbreaks or other crowded places. If you must go, wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face with your hands. If possible, wear a mask as well (make sure the wire along the top edge is pressed tightly so the mask covers your nostrils, and do not touch the outside of the mask with your hands).

Previously, I had been looking for a more accurate website tracking the US outbreak and found the official US tools rather underwhelming. Here is a useful third-party tool I recommend:

This article was originally published in 101 News and updated continuously in the author’s spare time. As the situation evolved and the outbreak expanded, it began affecting many readers’ travel plans, so it is now being published as a standalone post for reference.

Contents [Hide]

Important Information

North America Outbreak Tracking Tools

Global Outbreak Tracking Tools

Stocking Up and Protection in the US

[collapse title= "Tools that are no longer useful"]

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Travel Related

Update 36: Starting 03/28, China will temporarily suspend entry for foreign nationals holding valid Chinese visas or residence permits

On March 26, the National Immigration Administration announced that starting at 12:00 a.m. on March 28, 2020, it would restrict entry by foreign nationals (temporarily suspending entry by foreign nationals holding currently valid visas to China and residence permits, and suspending entry by foreign nationals holding APEC Business Travel Cards). See here.

In light of the rapid global spread of COVID-19, China has decided that, effective 12:00 a.m. on March 28, 2020, it will temporarily suspend entry by foreign nationals holding currently valid visas to China and residence permits. Entry by foreign nationals holding APEC Business Travel Cards is also suspended. Port visas, 24/72/144-hour visa-free transit, Hainan visa-free entry, Shanghai cruise visa-free entry, the 144-hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macau entering Guangdong, and the visa-free policy for ASEAN tour groups entering Guangxi are also suspended. Entry by holders of diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visas will not be affected. Foreign nationals coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific, or technological activities, or for emergency humanitarian needs, may apply for visas at Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. Entry by foreign nationals holding visas issued after this announcement will not be affected.

Note: Hong Kong and Macau residents holding Home Return Permits, and Taiwan residents holding Taiwan Compatriot Permits, are temporarily not affected when traveling to mainland China.

Update 35:  Passenger flights to and from China will be strictly limited to “one route per airline per country, one flight per week”

On March 26, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a notice to strictly control flights to and from China. In short, “each airline may retain only one route in each country, and may operate only one flight per week.” This policy will officially take effect on March 29! If you already booked a ticket with points or cash and were planning to “escape the outbreak,” pay close attention to whether your airline has canceled or changed your ticket. For the detailed announcement, see the official WeChat post:

Update 34: Stimulus check bill

On March 25, Trump’s stimulus payment bill passed the Senate unanimously. It was set to go to the House for another vote on Friday, and if passed, stimulus payments could officially begin. For details and a guide to claiming the money, see below:

Update 33: On March 21, the National Immigration Administration introduced entry quarantine measures across China

The outbreak in China had already begun to stabilize, and Hubei had gone many days with zero growth in suspected and confirmed cases. At that point, all newly confirmed cases in China were imported from abroad. On March 21, the National Immigration Administration published a WeChat post detailing entry quarantine measures across different parts of China. If needed, see:

Update 32: This year’s Tax Day has been postponed to July 15

Update 31: On March 17, all 50 U.S. states had confirmed cases

West Virginia reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on March 17, meaning the outbreak had now reached all 50 states in the U.S.

Source: https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx

Update 30: On March 14, the U.S. officially declared a national emergency

This came later than many would have liked, but better late than never. More prevention measures likely followed, and it also helped raise public awareness in the U.S. Hopefully the outbreak would end soon and everyone would stay safe and healthy.

At the same time, after the U.S. announced entry restrictions on Europe starting March 14, countries around the world also began tightening their own border controls.

Update 29: Italy begins a nationwide lockdown; the situation in Europe is increasingly concerning

As of March 10, Italy had more than 10,000 confirmed cases. In response to the worsening outbreak, the Italian government repeatedly escalated its prevention measures and began a nationwide lockdown. H/T: Sina News.

Because Europe is effectively “borderless,” the situation in other European countries also became increasingly concerning. In addition to Italy, France, Spain, and Germany had each surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases. It was advisable to avoid non-essential travel to Europe in the near term, and if travel was unavoidable, be sure to take proper personal precautions.

Update 28: All temporary Fangcang hospitals in Hubei have closed

On March 10, the last Fangcang shelter hospital in Hubei was closed. Large temporary shelter hospitals can quickly isolate and treat patients with mild symptoms. Early detection, early isolation, and early treatment can effectively lower the fatality rate (based on data outside Hubei).

Update 27: The outbreak situation in the U.S. is becoming increasingly concerning

The outbreak had already spread across multiple states. It was advisable to avoid states with severe outbreaks or other crowded places. If travel was necessary, wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face with your hands. Of course, if available, you could wear a mask (make sure to press the nose wire snugly so the mask fully covers your nostrils, and avoid touching the outside of the mask).

Update 26: North American airlines roll out domestic change/cancellation policies

After JetBlue introduced a change/cancellation policy for domestic U.S. flights, other airlines also began rolling out similar policies.

Update 25: North American airlines cancel flights to heavily affected areas

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea, Delta announced adjustments to its South Korea routes, see here:

  • From Feb. 29 through Apr. 30, flights between Minneapolis MSP and Seoul Incheon ICN will be canceled.
  • From Feb. 29 through Apr. 30, service from Seattle SEA, Detroit DTW, and Atlanta ATL to Seoul Incheon ICN will be reduced to five flights per week.
  • The launch date for Seoul Incheon ICN–Manila MNL service will be moved from Mar. 29 to May 1.

Following Delta, more U.S. airlines have started adjusting their routes.

Update 24: CDC raises South Korea, Italy, and Iran to Level 3 travel notices

NEW: Italy has also been raised to Level 3.

As South Korea's COVID-19 outbreak worsened, the U.S. CDC yesterday (Feb. 24) raised South Korea to Level 3, its highest travel notice level, recommending that travelers avoid nonessential travel, the same level as mainland China. Japan remains at Level 2, with a recommendation to practice enhanced precautions.

Update 23: Italy and Iran outbreaks are concerning

The situation in other countries and regions is also not encouraging, and these outbreaks have emerged only recently. If you have upcoming travel or transit plans, we recommend avoiding South Korea, Japan, and Italy. If you truly cannot avoid them, make sure your personal protection is in place.

  • As of the 23rd local time, Iran’s Ministry of Health reported 43 confirmed cases, with the death toll rising to 8. There were 758 suspected cases nationwide in Iran.
  • As of 12:00 a.m. local time on the 24th, Italy had reported a cumulative 157 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 2 recoveries and discharges, 1 additional death, and 3 total deaths.
  • As of 9:00 a.m. local time on the 24th, South Korea’s cumulative confirmed COVID-19 case count had reached 763. One week earlier, that number was 31. The outbreak in South Korea has surged dramatically.
  • As of 9:00 a.m. local time on the 24th, Japan had a cumulative 838 confirmed COVID-19 cases (including 691 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship).

Update 22: The outbreak situation in South Korea and Japan remains concerning

As of 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 22, South Korea reported 87 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide total to 433. All 17 of South Korea’s administrative regions had confirmed cases. Cases have also appeared in the South Korean military, and service members have been barred from taking leave.

  • South Korea’s prime minister announced that the country had entered an emergency stage.
  • South Korea’s total number of infections has even exceeded that of some prefecture-level cities in Hubei and some provinces in China. Given that South Korea is actually relatively small in area, this infection rate is already quite troubling.
  • Japan is also in a concerning position. Beyond the Diamond Princess cruise ship, there are signs that domestic transmission may also be accelerating.
  • We recommend avoiding travel to Japan and South Korea in the near term.

Update 21: Naming of the novel coronavirus and the disease

The novel coronavirus has been named: Sars-Cov-2

The disease it causes has been named: COVID-19

Update 20: Leishenshan Hospital delivered; many temporary shelter hospitals completed

On Feb. 8, Leishenshan Hospital was delivered, with capacity for 1600 beds.

In addition, many temporary shelter hospitals capable of housing large numbers of patients have been completed. If you want to see what they look like inside, you can refer to this WeChat article. The author says it was quite striking.

The role of temporary shelter hospitals is to centralize treatment for large numbers of mild cases, while Huoshenshan and Leishenshan are focused on severe and critical patients. The fatality rate of the novel coronavirus is indeed not especially high, but deaths have been reported across age groups. If patients with mild symptoms do not receive timely treatment and progress to severe illness, the fatality rate rises sharply. Too many severe cases can also overwhelm the healthcare system.

Update 19: One-stop immigration and border-entry information lookup service

This afternoon (Feb. 7), China’s National Immigration Administration launched a one-stop information lookup service for immigration and border-entry information during the outbreak prevention period, see the official WeChat post.

  • After following “National Immigration Administration” on WeChat, tap “Government Services” and select “One-Click Entry/Exit Info”
  • Search results include temporary entry restrictions for destination countries/regions and operating status at Chinese border checkpoints

Update 18: Real-time tools to check outbreaks near you or your destination

Here are two tools that can check outbreak conditions in real time around you or near your destination, which you can share with friends and family in China:

Your customized outbreak-prevention map
Quick lookup for novel pneumonia cases in neighborhoods

Update 17: As of 02/06, the U.S. has a cumulative 12 infections

As of 12:00 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2020, the U.S. had a cumulative total of 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Update 16: Huoshenshan Hospital completed

On Feb. 2 Beijing time, after 10 intense days of construction, Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital was officially handed over to the military medical team. Not only was the exterior completed, but the internal infrastructure and medical equipment were also fully installed. Stay strong, Wuhan!

The hospital has a total floor area of 33,900 square meters and is primarily used to treat confirmed patients. It is configured with 1000 beds, including intensive care, severe care, and general wards, as well as support departments for infection control, laboratory testing, special diagnostics, and radiology.

Watch the 110-second time-lapse aerial video here: see here. Leishenshan Hospital, with 1600 beds, was also nearing completion.

Update 15: WHO declares the outbreak a PHEIC

At 3:30 a.m. Beijing time on Jan. 31, the World Health Organization held a press conference and informed the world of its decision: China’s COVID-19 outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This was mainly based on two facts: the rising number of infections in China and the appearance of outbreaks in multiple countries.

At the same time, the WHO Director-General also said that travel and trade restrictions against China are not recommended.

WHO also called for support for countries with weaker healthcare systems; stronger development of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics; efforts to combat rumors and misinformation; and greater sharing of data, experts, and experience with WHO and the world.

References: NYTIMES and Dingxiangyuan

Update 14: Multiple airlines announce cancellations of China routes

Airlines including UA, AC, BA, and AA have announced cancellations on some China routes:

  • United Airlines (UA) announced cancellations on U.S.-China routes during the first week of February.
On January 28 local time, United Airlines announced that, in light of the novel coronavirus outbreak, it would suspend 24 round-trip U.S.-China flights during the first week of February. In a statement, United said: “Due to a significant decline in demand for travel to China, we will suspend some flights from February 1 through February 8 between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.” The affected airports include San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. United averages 12 U.S.-China flights per day and is the first U.S. airline to suspend some U.S.-China flights because of the outbreak. United said it will continue monitoring developments and adjust its schedule as needed. — @China Daily Weibo
  • Air Canada (AC) appears to be canceling flights for a longer period. See Reuters and here; the exact end date still awaits confirmation.
On the afternoon of January 28, Air Canada canceled flights to Wuhan and Shanghai. According to an alert issued by Air Canada, all flights from Canada to Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will be canceled until March 29 (timing still to be confirmed)
  • British Airways (BA) announced cancellations of round-trip flights between China and the UK. The exact timing is unknown. See CNN
Hong Kong (CNN Business) British Airways has suspended all direct flights between the United Kingdom and China in light of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. "

We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel," the company said in a statement Wednesday.

  • American Airlines (AA) announced cancellations on some U.S.-China flights. LAX flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai from 02/09 through 03/27 will be canceled. See Foxnews
On Wednesday, the airline temporarily suspended flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) . The airline said the cancellations would extend from Feb. 9 through March 27.

Update 13: China’s total confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed SARS

  • As of now (01/29), China’s confirmed novel coronavirus cases have already surpassed the number of SARS infections recorded in mainland China that year (in 2003, SARS infected 5328 people in mainland China and 8273 globally; see wikipedia).
  • Tibet Autonomous Region, the only region without a confirmed case, reported its first suspected case.
  • Current data suggests the novel coronavirus has a lower fatality rate than SARS, and more and more people have recovered. However, it appears to spread more easily than SARS.

Update 12: Taiwan announces entry restrictions on travelers from mainland China

Taiwan announced expanded restrictions on mainland Chinese travelers going to Taiwan; see this news reference. Reading closely, this effectively means a broad ban on entry to Taiwan for mainland Chinese nationals, regardless of where they enter from, including restrictions affecting mainland students studying in Taiwan and mainland spouses. The issue is that most of Taiwan’s confirmed cases at the time were Taiwanese nationals returning from Hubei. If you are a mainland Chinese national and already booked a ticket to arrive in or transit through Taiwan, you will very likely be turned back, regardless of where your trip originated.

On January 26 local time, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center commander and health minister Chen Shih-chung held a press conference to announce control measures and issued a press release. The measures are as follows:

1. A full ban on travelers from Hubei Province in mainland China (including mainland students) entering Taiwan.

2. Applications from mainland Chinese nationals outside Hubei for tourism, social exchange, professional exchange, medical beauty, health checkups, etc. will be temporarily suspended. Special cases will be reviewed individually (epidemic-prevention exchange, humanitarian medical treatment, and on-site service for professional exchange). Those who have already received entry permits will have their arrival postponed.

3. Mainland students’ entry to Taiwan will be postponed for 2 weeks.

4. Business travelers entering from mainland China must comply with 14 days of self-health management.

5. Mainland spouses returning to Taiwan from Hubei must have restricted residence and comply with home quarantine, with local authorities proactively conducting health monitoring for 14 days.

Update 11: Los Angeles reports the 4th U.S. case

According to the latest information, Los Angeles reported the fourth case in the United States, and Arizona reported the fifth. Another shocking piece of news at the start of the year was Kobe’s death in a helicopter crash. R.I.P

Update 10: California reports the 3rd U.S. case

The United States reported its third confirmed case, located in Orange County in Southern California (the first two cases were in Seattle and Chicago). See CNN

A few additional reminders:

  • Beijing reported an infected 9-month-old infant. Earlier domestic reports had already identified infected children ages 2 and 9.
  • The head of China’s National Health Commission said the incubation period is about 10 days on average, as short as 1 day, and can be as long as 14 days. People may also be contagious during the incubation period, which differs from SARS.

The above information comes from People’s Daily and CCTV News.

Update 9: Children can also be infected

Hebei reported one infected 2-year-old, and Shanxi reported one infected 9-year-old. Sources: People’s Daily and CCTV News.

The virus is no longer in the earlier “children are not easily infected” category. Regions around the country have also activated top-level response measures to prevent gatherings.

  • If you’re in China and going out to crowded places, in addition to reminding elderly family members to wear masks, don’t forget to have children wear masks too. The best practice is still to stay home as much as possible, avoid gatherings, promote “virtual gatherings” and a “mask culture,” and protect yourself and your family.
  • Readers in the U.S. should also remind family members back in China.

Update 8: Chicago reports the 2nd U.S. case

The U.S. CDC has confirmed that the second imported U.S. case of the Wuhan coronavirus has been diagnosed in Chicago. See CNN

Update 7: Hubei “locked down”

  • As of now, within Hubei, a total of 13 areas have been “locked down”: Wuhan, Ezhou, Huanggang, Chibi, Xiantao, Qianjiang, Xianning, Zhijiang, Jingmen, Huangshi (including Daye and Yangxin County), Dangyang, Enshi, and Xiaogan.
  • There have now been reports of “family cluster transmission,” and two railway employees in Tianjin have also been infected.

The information above is from CCTV News and People’s Daily.

  • So for friends in China, be sure to stay home as much as possible, go out less, and avoid gatherings (if you’re too bored at home, you can browse our credit card guides); wear a mask when going out, embrace “mask culture,” and encourage your elders to wear masks outside.
  • If you have recently been to Wuhan or had contact with a suspected Wuhan patient, you should first self-isolate at home. If symptoms appear, contact your local CDC or disease-control department promptly.

Update 6: Wuhan “locked down”

  • From the afternoon into the evening of the 23rd, several cities around Wuhan—Ezhou, Huanggang, Chibi, Xiantao, Lichuan, Tianmen, and Qianjiang—began implementing “lockdown” measures.
  • China’s civil aviation authority required that beginning at 12:00 a.m. on January 24, 2020, passengers who had already purchased airline tickets and voluntarily requested refunds should receive them free of charge through airlines and agents, with no fees collected.
  • Gao Fu, head of China’s CDC, said that the virus had been successfully isolated from stalls illegally selling wild animals at the Huanan Seafood Market. This is strong evidence that the outbreak originated from wild animals.

The information above is from CCTV News and People’s Daily.

  • Support for Wuhan has begun across the country, and many medical workers have volunteered to help there. Salute to the healthcare workers going against the tide to save lives.

Stay strong, Wuhan!

Update 5: Wuhan begins transportation controls

@ According to People’s Daily on Weibo:

【For everyone’s awareness! #Wuhan bus, subway, ferry, and long-distance passenger transport suspended starting on the 23rd#】Wuhan’s command center for prevention and control of the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak announced that starting at 10:00 a.m. on January 23, 2020, all city buses, subways, ferries, and long-distance passenger transport in Wuhan would suspend operations; residents should not leave Wuhan without special reasons, and airport and train station routes out of Wuhan are #temporarily closed#.

Highways and waterways were also gradually “closed” on the afternoon of the 23rd.

Update 4: First U.S. case appears in Seattle

The first case in the U.S. appeared in Seattle, Washington. The patient had previously visited areas around Wuhan. See New York Times

101 reminds readers that for upcoming travel, it is advisable to avoid Hubei (Wuhan). If travel is necessary, we recommend wearing an n95 mask when going out, washing your hands frequently, and avoiding crowded places whenever possible. If you are in China and otherwise healthy, we suggest staying away from hospitals for the time being.

Update 3: Real-time outbreak tracking link

Real-time outbreak tracking: Real-Time Updates on the National Novel Pneumonia Outbreak — DXY

In addition, major airlines, hotels, and high-speed rail operators have introduced waiver policies for travel to Wuhan or for travelers from Wuhan, allowing related trips to be canceled for free. It may be worth keeping an eye on those policies.

Update 2: The new pneumonia can spread person-to-person

There are indeed confirmed cases of person-to-person transmission. Reference link

Zhong Nanshan: One patient with the novel coronavirus infected 14 medical workers.

Update: Many new cases have been reported in multiple places

Many new cases have recently been reported. In addition to Wuhan, cases have also been found in places including Beijing and Guangdong. Beyond Japan and Thailand, South Korea has also reported one confirmed patient. Notably, all of these patients had previously visited Wuhan. It is also worth noting that quite a few patients have already recovered and been discharged. For specifics, please refer to official information from local health commissions and the CDC. The following news is quoted from People’s Daily:

Recently, outbreaks of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus have occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and several other areas. As of 6:00 p.m. on January 20, a cumulative total of 224 cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported domestically, including 217 confirmed cases (198 in Wuhan, 5 in Beijing, and 14 in Guangdong); there were 7 suspected cases (2 in Sichuan, 1 in Yunnan, 2 in Shanghai, 1 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and 1 in Shandong). Japan reported 1 confirmed case, Thailand reported 2 confirmed cases, and South Korea reported 1 confirmed case.

Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security announced that, since the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) originating in Wuhan, China, has spread to Thailand and Japan, all travelers arriving in the United States directly from Wuhan or via a connection have been subject to enhanced health screening starting January 17.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO), New York Kennedy Airport (JFK), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which receive the largest numbers of travelers arriving from Wuhan, will be the first to implement the health screening measures.

The CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine said, “The investigation into this novel coronavirus is ongoing. We are monitoring the situation closely and will respond as conditions change.”

According to the CDC, based on currently available information, the 2019-nCov virus still poses a low risk to the American public, but the federal government is taking proactive preventive measures.

The federal government will send an additional 100 staff to the three airports above to reinforce existing quarantine personnel.

In response to the emergence of the novel coronavirus, on January 11 the CDC issued a Level 1 travel health notice for travelers going to Wuhan, and also alerted healthcare workers and public health agencies that the federal government is developing new guidance.