After the first European cases of the novel coronavirus were identified in France, the German authorities have now confirmed it has also entered their country. In a press conference, the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety gave more details.

Who is the patient?

The patient is a male from the town of Sternberg, 30 kilometers outside Munich. He works for German car-parts supplier Webasto. He is in an isolation ward but Bavarian officials said he is in a "medically good state." 

How did he contract the illness?

Andreas Zapf, head of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, said both cases came after a visit to Webasto's headquarters in the nearby town of Stockdorf by one of the company's Chinese employees between 19 and 23 January. 

The Chinese employee had fallen ill on the flight home to Shanghai and was later confirmed as infected. Webasto CEO Holger Engelmann said: "Both colleagues are doing quite well, considering the circumstances. They are both being treated in hospital and we are in contact with them."

What measures is the government taking?

Germany's health minister Jens Spahn tweeted that a case of the virus was expected and that the official response shows authorities are well prepared.

The German government has sent advice on how airports and hospitals across the country should act if the novel coronavirus spreads. Some German states have already increased checks at airports.

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