- Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus have topped 200,000 worldwide, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
- All 50 states and the District of Columbia have confirmed cases. More than 110 people infected with the virus have died in the United States, a toll that experts expect to rise quickly.
- China — the original epicenter of the crisis — is reporting very few new cases.
- In Germany, a top health official warned that as many as 10 million people could be infected in coming months, while Iran announced the largest single day rise in fatalities since the outbreak began.
An article in the Canberra Times updates the latest on the world’s coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 190,000 people and killed more than 7,500.
Check this coronavirus live meter to find out the country-wise toll
The United States
In the US, New York City residents have been told they should be prepared for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order within days, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
De Blasio said no decision had been made yet, but he wants city and state officials to make a decision within 48 hours, given the fast spread of the coronavirus.
The US administration is urging the country’s construction companies to donate their inventories of safety masks to hospitals and forgo new orders.
US Vice President Mike Pence said the single-use N95 masks, which are designed to filter 95% of airborne particles and commonly used in the construction industry, are “perfectly acceptable” for hospital use.
The Trump admiration is allowing people in the US to delay paying their taxes.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and President Donald Trump also said during a White House briefing that they want to send cheques to people in the next two weeks in an effort to curb the economic impact of the pandemic
Serbia
Serbia has introduced a country-wide dusk-to-dawn curfew for all citizens and banned people older than 65 from leaving their households as part of an emergency law intended to fight the spread of coronavirus in the Balkan country.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced one of Europe’s harshest measures on Tuesday, saying they were intended to save lives. He said that the army is taking over hospitals, border checkpoints and 17 immigration centres in Serbia.
Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said late on Tuesday that European Union leaders had agreed in a conference call to the Commission’s proposal for an entry ban to the bloc, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Britain, with “very, very limited exceptions” for 30 days. Germany will implement the decision immediately.
The countries also agreed on the need to ensure continued cross-border travel for commuters, she said.
Merkel said that there will be “grave, very grave consequences” for European economies as a result of the outbreak and that was one of the reasons to safeguard the flow of goods.
Mexico
Trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange was halted for 15 minutes after the key index fell by 7.12 per cent, triggering an automatic halt.
The fall contrasted with sharp gains in US markets happening at the same time.
Italy
Italy, the second hardest-hit country after China in the world’s coronavirus pandemic, has announced a new figures that show it has one-third of the world’s total deaths from the new virus.
Italy, on March 17, added more than 3500 new positive cases, bringing its total to 31,506. In addition, another 345 people with the virus have died, bringing Italy’s total deaths to 2503.
Italy, which has the world’s second-oldest population after Japan, has been blindsided by the virus that appears to be much more deadly for the elderly and the infirm.
The Doctors Without Borders charity says Italy lacks key medical equipment like protective gloves or masks. “Nearly 1700 healthcare workers, or 8% of the total COVID-19 cases in Italy have been infected whilst tirelessly caring for the rising number of severely ill patients who require long-term hospitalisation,” the group said.
France
As clocks around France struck noon, the police patrols commenced, stopping anyone outside to try to contain the spreading virus.
France’s government ordered the confinement as the number of virus cases topped 6600, including 148 deaths.
Spain
Spain, the fourth hardest-hit country, has requested medical supplies from China. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke as Beijing was preparing its first shipment of aid to the European country, according to the Chinese embassy in Madrid.
Sanchez said the call for Chinese aid had been made a week earlier and that it was a subject he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone call on March 17.
A spokesman from China’s embassy in Spain said authorities in Beijing were readying a shipment of test kits, surgical masks and protection glasses.
South Africa
South Africa says a cruise ship has been quarantined outside the port of Cape Town as a precaution after a crew member of a cargo ship who shared a flight with some passengers showed coronavirus symptoms.
Brazil
Brazil has recorded its first death related to the new coronavirus outbreak, according to Sao Paulo state’s government. Authorities do not know where the patient was infected. Brazil has 234 confirmed cases of the virus, more than half in Sao Paulo.
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Source: The Canberra Times
