BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua)-A total of 118,223 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide in 114 countries, areas or territories as of 0500 GMT on Wednesday, and the death toll has reached 4,291, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The latest updates on the development of the novel coronavirus epidemic in the world are as follows (all times Beijing):

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="899"] People are seen wearing masks outside the special isolation ward set up to provide treatment to novel coronavirus patients at Kochi Medical college, in Kerala, India, March 9, 2020. (Str / Xinhua)[/caption]

3:47 pm, March 11

COVID-19 cases in India rise to 52 with 2 new cases

NEW DELHI-Number of novel coronavirus cases in India Wednesday rose to 52 with two new cases reported, according to India's federal health ministry.

"Total number of positive cases of coronavirus are now 52," a statement issued by India's federal ministry of health and family welfare said. "Of these 36 are Indian nationals and 16 are citizens of Italy."

3:30 pm

Turkey confirms first COVID-19 case

ANKARA-Turkish health minister on Wednesday announced the first case of the novel coronavirus in Turkey.

A male citizen was tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday evening, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="900"] People wearing face masks enter the Dr. Sulianti Saroso hospital, where the patients infected with COVID-19 being treated in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 2, 2020. (Xinhua / Du Yu)[/caption]

1st person dies of COVID-19 in Indonesia, gov't says

JAKARTA-The Indonesian government announced on Wednesday the country's first death from COVID-19.

The government's spokesperson for all coronavirus-related matters Achmad Yurianto said that the deceased who was a woman in her 50s from a foreign country had diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and lung disease.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="900"] Athletes start to race at 2020 Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles, the United States, March 8, 2020. (Photo by Qian Weizhong / Xinhua)[/caption]

2:22 pm

Number of COVID-19 cases in US tops 1,000

NEW YORK-The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 1,001 with 28 deaths by 11:30 pm EST Tuesday (0330 GMT on Wednesday), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The US Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) reported 696 as of 4 pm Monday (2000 GMT).

2:45 pm

Vietnam confirms 35th novel coronavirus case

HANOI-Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed a new case of novel coronavirus infection in its central city of Da Nang, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 35.

2:15 pm

7 more COVID-19 cases reported in Canada

VANCOUVER-The Canadian province of British Columbia confirmed seven new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total to 39 in the province.

The seven cases included two people who work at a care center in the city of North Vancouver, where a resident died of COVID-19 on Monday, said provincial health officer Bonnie Henry at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="900"] US President Donald Trump participates in a campaign rally in Lexington, Kentucky, the United States, on Nov. 4, 2019. (Xinhua / Hu Yousong)[/caption]

1:56 pm

Coronavirus likely to become major issue in 2020 US presidential campaign

WASHINGTON-Coronavirus is looming as a major issue in the 2020 US presidential campaign as six states were holding primaries on mini-Super Tuesday for voters to select their prefered presidential candidates this year.

Former US Vice President Joe Biden and veteran Senator Bernie Sanders, two major candidates in the Democratic presidential race, have cancelled their rallies scheduled for Tuesday night over coronavirus concerns in separate announcements, the first disruptions the outbreak has caused in the presidential primary.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="900"] A student walks past the Willoughby Girls High School which is closed after a student tested positive for COVID-19 in Sydney, Australia, March 9, 2020. (Xinhua / Bai Xuefei)[/caption]

12:29 pm

Australia's COVID-19 cases rise to 112

CANBERRA-The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has risen to 112 on Wednesday, with 12 more cases reported, according to the Department of Health.

11:25 am

Australian PM announces major medical response to COVID-19

CANBERRA-The Australian government has extended its travel ban to Italy and announced a 2.4-billion-Australian-dollar (1.55-billion-US dollar) medical response to COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy detailed the emergency health package on Wednesday after it was signed-off by the government.

A trader works at New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States, on March 9, 2020. (Xinhua / Wang Ying)

11:16 am

Global financial market swoons on oil price dive, coronavirus angst

BEIJING-Broader stock sell-offs and a massive oil price tumble have roiled the global financial market since the start of the week, fueling panic that the world economy would sink into a potential downturn amid the fast-evolving spread of COVID-19 worldwide.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="900"] Photo taken on March 11, 2019 shows flowers with which citizens mourn for victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Ishinomaki city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua / Ma Caoran)[/caption]

10:50 am

Memorial events cancelled amid virus concerns as Japan marks 9th anniversary since triple disasters

TOKYO-Japan on Wednesday marked the ninth anniversary of a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami, which obliterated swathes of the nation's northeastern seaboard leaving more than 15,000 people dead and triggering the worst nuclear crisis since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

But due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, a ceremony held in Tokyo and supported by the government was cancelled for the first time since 2012, although Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will deliver a national address from his official residence and observe a moment of silence.

Algerian sport events in closed doors over COVID-19 concerns

ALGIERS-Algerian Ministry of Sports and Youth on Tuesday said all local sport events will take place behind closed doors, while all international competitions that are due in the North African nation have been postponed as part of authorities efforts to thwart the spread of the coronavirus.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="900"] A person wearing a mask walks across the Millennium Bridge in London, Britain, on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Tim Ireland / Xinhua)[/caption]

10:26 am

UK health official tests positive for COVID-19

LONDON-A UK health official has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating at home, UK's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said on his Twitter account Tuesday evening.

"Really sorry to hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus," said Hancock, referring to Nadine Dorries, minister for patient safety, suicide prevention and mental health. ■