Washington, February 27 (RHC)-- U.S. health officials say they’ve identified the first case of a coronavirus infection by a person who had not traveled to any of the affected regions of the world, nor had known contact with anyone else who did.  

The case in Northern California came as governments worldwide took increasingly severe measures to stop the transmission of the virus, which causes respiratory trouble and is sometimes fatal. 

In Saudi Arabia, officials have banned Muslim pilgrims from entering the country to visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.  In South Korea, the number of coronavirus cases has passed 1,700, making it the largest outbreak outside of China.  The U.S. and South Korea on Wednesday called off joint military exercises indefinitely. 

Meanwhile, Japan says the 2020 Summer Olympics are still scheduled to take place in the capital Tokyo.