Switzerland confirms first case of coronavirus

In Switzerland today, a 70-year old man tested positive for the coronavirus in the southern canton of Ticino, right next to the border with Italy, say Swiss health authorities. This is the first case of COVID-19 in Switzerland, and authorities say the man was likely exposed in Italy.

"The infected person was in Italy about ten days ago and participated in an event near Milano," the Swiss health ministry said in a statement.

From Reuters:

Officials told a media conference it was not clear at which event the man had been infected. People the man had been in contact with were currently being identified and put in quarantine for 14 days.

Europe's biggest outbreak is currently in Italy, with more than 280 infections and seven deaths. It began spreading on Tuesday from its origins in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, to central Tuscany, the coastal region of Liguria and Sicily in the south.

Iran's coronavirus death toll is now at 16, the highest number of deaths from the outbreak outside China.

Dozens of nations, including South Korea and Italy, are stepping up emergency measures to try and slow the global spread of coronavirus.

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