India reported its first cases since the initial outbreak. One case was detected in New Delhi, while the other was from Telangana. Another confirmed case was later detected in Jaipur, bringing the total number to six.[14][15]
Indonesian president Joko Widodo announced the first two confirmed cases in the country.[16] The two people contracted the virus from a Japanese individual in Depok, who later tested positive in Malaysia. The mother and daughter are now hospitalized in North Jakarta.[17][18]
Spain confirmed the first death in the country, a person who died on 13 February, making him the earliest recorded death in Europe.[31] The country reported 31 more cases, bringing the total number to 151.[32]
Sweden confirmed 15 more cases, bringing the total number to 30.[33]
Ukraine confirmed its first case, a person having traveled from Italy via Romania.[34]
Hong Kong confirmed a case of human-to-animal transmission involving a pet dog.[37]
Hungary confirmed its first cases, two Iranian students who were asymptomatic.[38]
Iraq confirmed its first death from the coronavirus.[39]
Cases in Japan had topped the 1,000 mark (including 706 cases on the cruise ship Diamond Princess which the World Health Organization classifies as being located "on an international conveyance" and not in Japan) with the first confirmed case in Yamaguchi prefecture.[40]
Palestine reported its first cases in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Seven staff at a hotel were reported to be infected by visiting tourists from Greece.[47] These tourists were the same ones who the Israeli bus driver was infected from.[48]
South Africa records its first case in the KwaZulu-Natal province.[49]
Switzerland reported its first death from the virus.[50]
The United Kingdom's total increased to 90. The UK also later confirmed the total number of cases had increased further up to 116, as well as recording the first death in the country, an older person with underlying health conditions.[51]
Bhutan announced its first case, an American tourist who had recently also traveled to India after leaving the United States on 18 February.[53][non-primary source needed][54]
Argentina confirmed its first death, also the first in South America, a 64-year-old man who had traveled to Paris.[61]
Maldives confirmed its first cases, two overseas hotel employees.[62]
Malta reported its first three cases, an Italian family who were residents in Malta. They had gone on holiday to Northern Italy and had been in self-quarantine before being tested for the coronavirus. They were now in isolation at Mater Dei Hospital.[63]
Moldova confirmed its first case, a person taken to hospital after arriving on a flight from Italy.[64]
Egypt confirmed its first death (and the first death in Africa)—a German national who was hospitalized on 1 March and then suffered respiratory failure caused by acute pneumonia on 7 March.[70][non-primary source needed]
Brunei's health ministry confirmed a first case of a local man who returned from Kuala Lumpur on 3 March. Symptoms began on 7 March and preliminary tests indicated the person was positive.[72]
Canada recorded its first COVID-19-related death.[73]
Bolivia confirmed its first cases, two women who had been in Italy, arriving in the country without showing any symptoms.[78]
Burkina Faso confirmed its first cases with two infections, a couple who had returned from France in February.[79]
The Democratic Republic of Congo reported its first case, a foreigner who flew into Kinshasa from Belgium who tested positive on arrival and was isolated.[80] It was later confirmed by the Ministry of Health that the information they had originally released was incorrect and that the first case was rather a Congolese citizen returning from France, who had contacted the Health Services two days after his arrival in Congo and had been quarantined in a local neighborhood.[81]
Jamaica confirmed its first case, a Jamaican national who traveled to the country from the United Kingdom.[82][non-primary source needed]
French Polynesia reported its first case. The person was Maina Sage, a member of the French National Assembly.[88]
Guyana confirmed its first case, from a 52-year-old woman suffering from underlying health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.[89] The woman died at the Georgetown Public Hospital.[90]
Honduras confirmed its first two cases, one from Spain and one from Switzerland.[91]
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.[95] The declaration followed extensive criticism that the WHO response had been weak and inappropriately favorable towards the government of China.[96][97]
Guam confirmed its first three cases, two people who arrived from Manila and one other person with no recent travel history.[137]
Ireland confirmed 40 new cases, the largest to date. 169 total confirmed cases and 2 deaths.[138] The government requested all pubs and bars to close permanently from midnight, in advance of the then-upcoming 17 March Saint Patricks Day public holiday.[139]
Uzbekistan confirmed its first case, a citizen who had returned from France.[140]
Montenegro reported its first two cases. One infected was from Podgorica, and the other from Ulcinj.[150] Montenegro was the last country in Europe without any confirmed cases.
Sint Maarten confirmed its first case, a 26-year-old local resident who traveled to UK and Miami.[151]
Ireland confirmed 302 new cases, the largest increase to date, and three deaths. This gave a total of 2,121 confirmed cases and 22 deaths. The government issued strict guidelines beginning at midnight where people had to stay at home with specific exceptions, such as essential employees for essential businesses. Notably, residents would be allowed to leave solely for going to the grocery store, pharmacy, for a medical appointment, or for exercise with a maximum 2km (1.2mi) radius from their house where social distancing must be practised and exercise time must be kept short.[205]
Italy confirmed a new highest single-day death toll with 919 deaths (surpassing Spain's total released earlier in the day), increasing the country's total to 9,134. Overall, confirmed cases of infection rose by 5,959 to 86,498.[206]
Spain recorded the highest single-day death toll worldwide to date, with 769 deaths. There were now 64,059 confirmed cases, up from 56,188.[207]
The United States confirmed at least 101,242 cases based on figures collated by Johns Hopkins University, overtaking China (81,782) and Italy (80,589). The US death toll surpassed 1,500.[208][209]
News reports citing a government document reported that a 57-year-old woman, who tested positive for the coronavirus disease on 10 December 2019 and was described in The Wall Street Journal on 6 March 2020, may have been patient zero in the coronavirus pandemic.[210][211]
The first oil refinery shutdowns in India and Europe were announced while global refinery runs dropped in response to plunging demand as countries worldwide implemented lockdowns.[212]