Two new cases of coronavirus confirmed in UAE

Two people, from Bangladesh and the Philippines, have been infected but are in a 'stable condition'

A South Korean woman, left, wearing a mask exits a store in central Seoul. EPA

A football fan walks past a thermal camera used to detect signs of the corona virus ahead of the AFC Champions League Group E match between FC Seoul and Melbourne Victory. Getty Images

A medical worker producing traditional Chinese medicine electuary at a hospital in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. AFP

Dutch passengers from the Westerdam cruise ship arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. EPA

Dutch passengers from the Westerdam cruise ship arrive home. EPA

Workers wearing face masks sort and package eggs at a factory, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Rongcheng, Shandong province, China. Reuters

A health worker sprays disinfectant outside a bus to protect from the recent coronavirus outbreak, at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. Reuters

A worker in protective gear checks a passenger after she disembarked the Diamond Princess cruise ship at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan, 21 February 2020. Passengers have been disembarking since 19 February following a two-week-long quarantine period after around 600 passengers and crew were infected with the novel coronavirus. The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has so far killed more than 2,000 people with over 76,000 infected worldwide, mostly in China. EPA

Shanghai Ballet dancers wearing masks practise in a dance studio in Shanghai. Reuters

A worker wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant against the coronavirus in front of the Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea. Lim Hwa-young/Yonhap via AP

Pedestrians wearing protective masks walk past a mural featuring fruits in Hong Kong, China. Bloomberg

This photo taken on February 20, 2020 shows doctors looking at a lung CT image at a hospital in Yunmeng county, Xiaogan city. AFP

A worker wearing protective gears disinfect chairs as a precaution against the coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul. AP Photo

A patient suspected of carrying the new coronavirus, named COVID-19, arrives at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, South Korea. EPA

Latest: UAE confirms two new cases of coronavirus bringing total to 13

Health authorities in the UAE confirmed two more people have been infected with Covid-19, bringing the country's total number of new coronavirus cases to 11.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention made the announcement on Friday saying the patients included someone from the Philippines, aged 34, and another from Bangladesh, aged 39.

The pair caught the illness after coming into contact with a Chinese patient in the UAE, the ministry said, adding their health condition "is stable".

Three of the 11 people to test positive for the virus in the UAE have made a full recovery so far.

They include a 73-year-old woman, a 41-year-old man and his eight year-old son, all of whom are from China.

The first four of the UAE’s nine cases occurred in a Chinese family on holiday in the Emirates. The mother, father, nine-year-old girl and grandmother from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, were confirmed to have the virus after visiting a local health clinic a week into their trip.

They arrived in the UAE on January 16 and first sought treatment on January 23, after the grandmother developed flu-like symptoms. All four family members subsequently developed the disease.

Five further cases were later diagnosed in three Chinese citizens, one Indian and a Filipino. The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the Indian citizen became ill after “interacting with a recently diagnosed person”.

The number of cases of the illness continue to spiral in China, albeit at a slower pace than in previous days.

There have now been 75,400 cases in mainland China, with 2,236 deaths.

Outside the country, there have been more than 1,100 cases.

Covid-19 is one of seven known coronaviruses which can infect people – four of which result in symptoms no more serious than the common cold.

The exceptions include Sars, which has a fatality rate of 14 to 15 per cent; Mers, which kills about 35 per cent of people it infects; and the new virus, which has a fatality rate of around 2 per cent.

Like Sars and Mers, the Covid-19 can lead to pneumonia.

Recovered coronavirus patient Liu Yujia with China’s consul general in Dubai, Li Xuhang, and Dr Hussein Al Rand, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Wam / AP

Timeline of coronavirus cases in the UAE

January 29

The UAE announces its first four cases of the new coronavirus in a family from Wuhan.

Authorities say they are stable and under close observation.

And officials are retracing the family's movements to identify people with whom they may have come into contact with.

The mother, father, nine-year-old girl and grandmother arrived in the Emirates on January 16 and first sought treatment on January 23 after the grandmother developed flu-like symptoms. All four family members subsequently developed the disease.

February 1

A fifth case is announced in the UAE, having been detected in a male patient from Wuhan. He is in a stable condition and receiving medical care, according to The Ministry of Health and Prevention.

February 2

Dr Hussein Al Rand, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Prevention announces the family of the fifth case is clear of infection. The man remains in a stable condition in hospital.

February 8

Two new cases are confirmed in the UAE, bringing the total number of people in the country with the illness to seven.

They include a Filipino, who is the first non-Chinese person to test positive for the illness in the UAE. The other case is in a Chinese citizen.

February 9

Health authorities announce a Chinese woman becomes the first patient in the UAE to recover from coronavirus.

Liu Yujia, 73, contracted the virus in China, then travelled to the UAE, where she began to experience symptoms. She was among the first four cases who tested positive for the virus in the UAE.

February 10

The UAE announces its eighth case in an Indian national, who became ill after “interacting with a recently diagnosed person” according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

One coronavirus patient is in intensive care, with six in a stable condition, according to the Ministry.

February 14

Two more patients make a full recovery. The 41-year-old man and his son, who is eight, were among the first four cases detected in the UAE in late January. It is understood the fourth patient, the mother, remains under medical care.

This brings the total number of recovered patients in the UAE to three.

February 16

The UAE confirms its ninth case of the virus in a 37 year-old Chinese citizen. The patient is in a stable condition.

February 21

Two new cases of Covid-19 are confirmed in the UAE. They include someone from Bangladesh, 39, and the Philippines, 34.