There have been nearly 200,000 infections reported worldwide and multiple governments have imposed national lockdowns to slow the spread.

The coronavirus pandemic is triggering job losses and 1 million people could be laid off in April alone, a former White House economist warned.

Several countries including Japan, China and Australia, have introduced stricter precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

WHO recommends that new infectious diseases not be associated with geographic locations; people's names, a species/class of animal or food; cultural, population, industry or occupational references or terms that incite undue fear.

On Wednesday, Brazil's national security adviser, Augusto Helano, confirmed that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, marking 15 Brazilian delegates to the U.S. with positive tests.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has now said quarantine facilities will be reviewed in order to improve amenities and facilities.

Early voter turnout numbers were up in all three states that chose to hold primaries despite concerns caused by the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

The study ends "any speculation about deliberate genetic engineering," said Josie Golding, epidemics lead at the Wellcome Trust.

Over-crowded and understaffed prison facilities offer a perfect environment for COVID-19 to spread quickly, with potentially devastating results.

The government hopes the move will help ease hospitals and medical staff who have been pushed to the limit by the pandemic in Europe's worst affected country.

The president has engaged in a spat with Beijing over who is to blame for the pandemic, which has now spread to all 50 U.S. states.