The coronavirus pandemic has spread to at least 178 countries and territories, with the worldwide death toll from the virus surpassing the 37,800 mark on March 31.

Among the more than 780,000 cases recorded globally are government officials, celebrities and sports personalities as authorities around the world grapple to contain the spread of the virus.

High-profile events including the annual Met Gala - often referred to as fashion's biggest night out - has been postponed indefinitely from its scheduled date in May, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in the United States. 

The Cannes Film Festival, due to be held in France in May, has also been postponed, with organisers now looking at June or July dates.

Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress and singer Rita Wilson, British actor Idris Elba, and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, are some of the best-known people to be infected so far. 

Who else has been affected? 

Celebrities : 

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson: The popular Hollywood couple announced on March 11 that they were infected and were admitted to a Gold Coast hospital in Australia. 

Luis Sepulveda: The best-selling Chilean writer, who lives in northern Spain, said he was infected. Reports say he showed symptoms of the coronavirus in February after returning from a literary festival in Portugal.

Kristofer Hivju: The 41-year-old actor, who played Tormund on Game of Thrones, tested positive for the new coronavirus on March 17. Known for his fiery red hair and beard, he said he and his family were in self-isolation at home in Norway.

Daniel Dae Kim: The South Korean-American actor best known for the television series Hawaii Five-0, said on Thursday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Kim, speaking from his home in Hawaii, announced the news in an Instagram posting and video.

Placido Domingo: On March 22, the Spanish opera singer said he had tested positive for coronavirus and had gone into self-isolation with his family. 

Andy Cohen:  is an American radio and television talk show host, producer, and writer who tested positive for the Coronavirus on March 20.

Idris Elba: The British actor and musician said he has tested positive for COVID-19 on March 16 in a video posted on social media and that, although he had no symptoms so far, he was isolating himself from others. 

Athletes :

James Dolan: The 64-year-old New York Knicks owner has tested positive for the coronavirus. He is the first known major professional sports owner in the US to have contracted the COVID-19. Dolan also owns the NHL's New York Rangers and is executive chairman and CEO of the Madison Square Garden Company.

Serhat Guler: On March 25, the Turkish Boxing Federation said national team member Serhat Guler and trainer Seyfullah Dumlupinar tested positive for the coronavirus after returning from an Olympic qualifier in London. 

The statement said the federation was awaiting test results from two other athletes who showed symptoms.

Marco Sportiello: The goalkeeper for Italian football team Atalanta tested positive for coronavirus on March 24.

Jason Collins: On March 24, Collins, who played 13 National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons from 2001 to 2014 and spent seven-plus years with the Brooklyn Nets, said on Twitter he believes he caught coronavirus on March 4 when the Nets hosted the Memphis Grizzlies.

Ottawa Senators: An unidentified Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the first known case in North America's National Hockey League. The Senators said the player has mild symptoms and is in isolation, and that they were notifying anyone who had close contact with him.

Deportivo Alaves: The Spanish football club confirmed a total of 15 positive coronavirus cases, including three players from the first-team squad and seven members of the coaching staff. None of those affected have displayed any symptoms, the La Liga side said in a statement on March 18. 

Blaise Matuidi: The Juventus and France midfielder has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Turin-based Serie A club said in a statement on March 17. Juventus said Matuidi, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, was in self-isolation at home and not showing any symptoms.

Daniele Rugani: Juventus player and Italian defender Rugani also tested positive.

Mikel Arteta: On March 12, the 37-year-old Arsenal manager was the first in England's football Premier League to be diagnosed with the coronavirus. 

Callum Hudson-Odoi: On the same day, the 19-year-old Chelsea winger also said he was infected. 

Paulo Dybala: The Italy-based Argentinian footballer announced his diagnosis on Friday. Italy is the worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic, with 10,000 people dead.

Rudy Gobert: The NBA Utah Jazz basketball star triggered criticism after mockingly touching the microphones and voice recorders at a media event on March 9, three days before he was diagnosed. 

Donovan Mitchell: Another NBA Utah Jazz player also announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day as Gobert.

Christian Wood: The Detroit Pistons forward is "under the care of team medical staff and in self-isolation" since testing positive, the NBA team said on March 15.     

Brooklyn Nets: Four players on the NBA Brooklyn Nets basketball team tested positive for the coronavirus on March 17.

Fernando Gaviria: The Colombian cyclist confirmed on March 12 that he contracted coronavirus while racing during an event in the United Arab Emirates, and was admitted to a hospital in the Gulf nation. 

Dmitry Strakhov: Strakhov became the second cyclist at the UAE Tour to be diagnosed with the virus on the same day.

Sampdoria: Five footballers from the Italian club have tested positive, along with the team's doctor. 

Dusan Vlahovic: The Serbian striker for Fiorentina, another Serie A club, is also infected.

Marcus Smart: The Boston Celtics guard tested positive as the number of confirmed cases in the NBA continues to grow.

Paulo Dybala: The Juventus and Argentina football forward had tested positive for coronavirus but has no symptoms.

Marouane Fellaini: The former Manchester United football player who currently plays for the Chinese Super League has COVID-19, he said on Instagram.

Source : https://www.aljazeera.com/