The death toll in the United States from the coronavirus rose to 12 late on Thursday when King County in the state of Washington reported the latest fatality, according to Reuters news agency.
Of the 12 US deaths, 11 have come in Washington state and one in California.
Many of the cases in Washington have been linked to an outbreak at a nursing facility in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, including six deaths.
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The news comes as the US state of Texas reported two new cases in Harris County on Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle, bringing to at least 14 the new cases in the entire state.
Across the United States, there are now at least 99 cases confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although other websites have reported that infections have passed 110.
Meanwhile, officials in the state of California are scrambling to deal with a cruise ship carrying 3,500 passengers and crew, following reports of suspected cases on board.
The Grand Princess has been ordered to stay back from the California coast on Thursday, until all those on board are tested.
Ireland also reported its first coronavirus transmission not associated with travel to Italy, bringing the number of cases to 13, more than double a day earlier.
Globally, more than 95,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease, the vast majority in China, with 3,015 deaths in China and 267 deaths across the globe, many in Italy and Iran.
This is Ted Regencia monitoring the coronavirus updates from Kuala Lumpur.
Here are all the latest updates.
Friday, March 6
00:50 GMT Friday – Beijing reports 4 new coronavirus cases from Italy
Beijing reported four new cases of coronavirus on March 5, all imported from Italy, the city’s municipal health commission said in a statement on Friday.
The city now has a total of 422 cases. Coronavirus cases are now rising across the globe at a more rapid rate than inside China.
Across China, the cases have now reached 80,565 with 3,015 deaths, according to a WHO report on Thursday.
00:25 GMT Friday – US state of Maryland confirms three cases
Governor Larry Hogan of the US state of Maryland has announced that three people from the state have been infected with the coronavirus.
In statement posted on social media, Hogan said the three individuals contracted the disease while traveling overseas. He said they are in “good condition”.
We have been actively preparing for this situation over the last several weeks across all levels of government. I encourage all Marylanders not to panic, but to take this seriously and to stay informed as we continue to provide updates.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) March 5, 2020
23:09 GMT Thursday – French lawmaker hospitalised after contracting coronavirus
Reuters news agency is reporting that a member of France’s National Assembly has been hospitalised in intensive care after contracting coronavirus.
France’s lower house of parliament made the announcement late on Thursday, but did not identify the lawmaker.
Two other persons working in the dining hall of the assembly were also infected.
France has so far reported 423 cases of the virus as of late on Thursday, up by 138 in one day, according to the national health service. There have been seven deaths so far in France.
20:00 GMT Thursday – Palestinian gov’t confirms seven virus cases, declares two-week tourist ban
The Palestinian government confirmed the number of coronavirus cases in the occupied West Bank had risen to seven and declared a two-week ban on tourists visiting cities and sites including Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity.
The health ministry said the cases had been confirmed in the Bethlehem area south of Jerusalem.
“They are now being treated in quarantine,” a statement from minister Mai al-Kaila said.
Click here to read all the updates from March 5.
SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies