The first three cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in Iceland, with all three patients returning from northern Italy, Iceland's health authorities said.
Earlier this week, the country's chief epidemiologist directed all travellers coming from Italy starting from 29 February to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days.
Italy has become a hotbed of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe with 34 deaths and 1,577 people infected.
In the Middle East, Iran has registered the biggest number of COVID-19 cases with more than 40 deaths and at least 600 people infected.
The new coronavirus was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December. It has since spread to over 50 countries, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring it a global health emergency. The virus has infected more than 79,000 people in China, with the death toll there exceeding 2,800 people. Outside China, the number of infected is approaching 4,700, with at least 67 people dead.
