Table 5.

Measures taken by various countries to prevent spread and mitigate the risk

United States of America (USA)
29 January	White House Coronavirus Task Force established to monitor, prevent, contain, and mitigate the spread of the pandemic in the USA [37]
31 January	Declared public health emergency[38]; Travel restrictions placed on entry from China [38]
6 March	The President signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (CPRSA) providing $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the outbreak [39]
12 March	All 50 states are permitted to perform tests by a doctor's approval, from the CDC or commercial laboratories[40] and appointment of Admiral Brett Giroir of the U.S Public Health Service to oversee testing, funding for two companies developing rapid tests, and a hotline to help laboratories find needed supplies [41]
13 March	National emergency was declared, making federal funds available to respond to the crisis [42], Drive-through testing began [43]
16 March	President Trump’s Coronavirus guidelines for America [44]
19 March	Lockdown in California [45]
20 March	Barred entry of foreign nationals who had been to 28 European countries within last 14 days [46]
22 March	Nationwide schools closed [47], Lockdown in New York [45]
27 March	A US$ 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill was passed and signed by the President [48]
30 March	More than half of US states underwent lockdown [45]
China:
22 January	Response to Public Health Emergency launched by Hubei [49]
23 January	The Central government of China imposed a lockdown in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province; Public transport suspended. The Wuhan airport, railway stations and metro were closed, not allowing residents to leave the city without permission [50]; Public Health Emergency response announced by mainland province of Zhejiang [51]
29 January	Mainland China has initiated Public Health Emergency response [52]; Quarantined whole Hubei Province [53]; Curfew laws implemented in Huanggang,Wenzhou and other mainland cities [54]
South Korea:
4 February	An unlicensed Covid-19 test authorized by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [55]; Travel denied to foreign nationals from Hubei Province into South Korea [56]
23 February	All kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools were announced to delay the semester start [57]
26 February	Entire country opened drive-through testing [58]
Italy:
31 January	State of emergency declared, flights to and from China suspended [59]
22 February	The Council of Ministers announced a new decree-law to quarantining more than 50 000 people from 11 different municipalities in Northern Italy [60]
4 March	Nationwide schools and universities closed [61]
10 March	Prime Minister imposed Nationwide quarantine lockdown [62]
11 March	All commercial activities except pharmacies and supermarkets ordered to shut down [63]; €25billion allocated by the government [64]
1 April	Drive-through testing began [65]
Iran:
22 February	All concerts and other cultural events cancelled for one week by Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance [66]; Closure of educational institutions in several cities and provinces announced by the Ministry of Health and medical education [67]
5 March	Checkpoints placed between cities to limit travel [68]
16 March	Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Jamkaran Mosque in Qom city, and Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad closed [69]
Germany:
28 February	New health security measures enacted to regulate air and sea travel that required passengers from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran to report their health status before entry [70]; Federal police stepped up checks within 30 km of the border [70]
16 March	Bavaria declared a state of emergency for 14 days and measures to limit public movement and additional funds for medicine supplies were introduced [71]; All flights from Iran and China stopped by German Ministry of Transport [72]; Travelling in coaches, attending religious meetings, visiting playgrounds or engaging in tourism prohibited [73]
17 March	Immediate travel ban into the European Union for 30 days for non-EU citizens was announced by Merker[74] followed by widening travel restrictions to EU citizens from Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Spain [75]
20 March	Bavaria became the first state to declare a curfew [76]
22 March	Gathering of more than 2 people forbidden by the government for at least 2 weeks with a minimum distance of 1.5 m between people in public [77]
Spain:
10 March	All direct flights from Italy to Spain cancelled [78]
13 March	Bars, restaurants and “non-alimentary” shops ordered to shut down by Government of the Community of Madrid [79]
15 March	Nationwide lockdown imposed by the Spanish government [80]
16 March	Spanish government announced the closing of its land borders [81]
India:
3 March	Issuing of new visas and visas already issued for nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan suspended by the Indian government [82]
4 March	Compulsory screening of all international passengers arriving in India announced by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare [83]
11 March	All visas to India suspended by the government; All Indian nationals coming from COVID-19 hit nations after 15 February needed to be quarantined for 14 days [82]
15 March	65 laboratories of the Department of Health Research and the Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) started testing samples of people who exhibited flu-like symptoms and samples from patients without any travel history or contact with infected persons [84]
17 March	The Government of India issued an advisory urging all states to take social distancing measures as a preventive strategy [82]
22 March	Janata curfew (people's curfew) imposed [82]
23 March	Use of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID19 for high-risk cases recommended by National Task Force constituted by ICMR [85]
25 March	Nationwide lockdown for 21 days [86]; Indian airspace closed [87]
26 March	Finance minister announced US$24 billion stimulus package [88]