Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has affected more than 55 countries in six continents at the time of writing. From calmly continuing with life as normal to quarantine, face masks and a flurry of shopping to stock up on essentials, the response to this global outbreak has been mixed.
Advice from the World Health Organization is clear: wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, keep at least a metre away from anyone coughing, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, avoid touching your face, and call ahead for medical advice if you experience symptoms of a fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Face masks are not officially recommended for the public, but some people are opting to wear them.
Here's a look at some of the most striking images of a world dealing with the uncertain threat of a new virus.
A participant at the Venice Carnival opts for two masks. The event was shut down because of Italy's Coronavirus outbreak, which had infected more than 2,000 people and killed 52 at the time of writing.Image: REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri
Love in the time of Corona: A couple take a stroll on Valentine's Day in Singapore, which has won international praise for containing the virus. Over 100 people have been infected but there have been no deaths to date. Image: REUTERS/Edgar Su
Quiet streets in the Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, Shanghai. The outbreak originated in China and has hit the country hardest, with over 75,000 cases reported.Image: REUTERS/Aly Song
A holiday in Tenerife took an unexpected turn for these guests as the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, which was on lockdown after cases of Coronavirus were detected there.Image: REUTERS/Borja Suarez
A woman in Yichang, Hubei province, pulls up groceries delivered by community workers. Wuhan, the largest city in the province, endured a lockdown of over a month to contain the spread of the virus.Image: REUTERS
Confinement: Sisters Yao Yicheng, 6, and Yao Yihang, 4, had not been outside their Shanghai home for three weeks when this photo was taken.Image: REUTERS/Aly Song
Crowd-free: Players line up in an empty stadium as fans were banned from a Europa league match in Milan.Image: REUTERS
Virtual education: A professor and students take part in an online class in Beijing. With many schools and universities closed, students are turning to the e-learning to continue their education.Image: REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
'Coffin home': Simon Wong, 64, outside his claustrophobic 2-square-metre dwelling in Hong Kong, where high housing prices force many residents into tiny, window-less homes. Schools have shut in the city and many residents are staying indoors.Image: REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
