Number of coronavirus infections in Bahrain hits 17

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Bahraini Health Ministry said Tuesday the number of people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus has reached 17.

It said in a statement that nine Bahrainis and Saudis coming from Iran via Dubai were infected with the virus and health procedures are being followed at Bahrain International Airport, especially for passengers arriving from infected countries.

Authorities announced Monday the first infected case was a passenger from Iran.

The coronavirus outbreak, officially known as COVID-19, was first detected in December in Wuhan, China, the capital of central Hubei province. It has caused more than 2,600 deaths, with more than 77,000 confirmed cases in China.

Outside mainland China, the coronavirus has spread to more than 30 other countries including the U.S., U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain, and India.

Following the global spread of the virus, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak an international health emergency.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara