South Korea has reported a cluster of new cases in its capital Seoul. Cases have also surged past 1,000 in the U.S., which saw its first deaths in New Jersey and South Dakota.
While the number of global cases has climbed to more than 119,000, including around 4,000 deaths, more than 66,000 people have recovered from the infection, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.
Cases of the virus, which was first detected in China’s Wuhan city in the Hubei province, have been reported in Brunei on the Asian island of Borneo, as well as Mongolia, Guernsey of the Channel Islands and Panama, in the past couple of days.
“WHO reiterates that measures that restrict the movement of people during this outbreak should be proportionate to the public health risk, short in duration and reviewed regularly as more information about the virus, the disease epidemiology and clinical characteristics becomes available,” the World Health Organization noted in its latest statement.
Earlier this week, the director-general of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, acknowledged that while “the threat of the pandemic has become very real”, the COVID-19 virus would be “the first pandemic in history that could be controlled.”
Nearly 67,000 have recovered from the infection
More than 54,000 of the nearly 81,000 infected people across China have recovered from the virus, including around 49,000 in the Hubei province.
Italy, which currently has the highest number of cases outside China, has reported more recoveries than deaths, with around 1,000 having fully recovered from the virus, according to the country’s Civil Protection Agency. Around 600 deaths have been reported in Italy.
“We need to remember that with decisive, early action, we can slow down the virus and prevent infections. Among those who are infected, most will recover,” the director-general of the WHO noted on Monday.
“Of the 80,000 reported cases in China, more than 70% have recovered and been discharged,” Ghebreyesus added.
“It’s also important to remember that looking only at the total number of reported cases and the total number of countries doesn’t tell the full story.
“Of all the cases reported globally so far, 93% are from just four countries. This is an uneven epidemic at the global level,” he said.
The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates the spread of the COVID-19 virus across the world, as of March 11.
U.S. sees first deaths in New Jersey and South Dakota
At least five more deaths were reported in the U.S., including the first fatalities in the states of New Jersey and South Dakota. The total death is now at 31, including 24 in state of
The latest death in New Jersey, which this week declared a state of emergency, state governor Phil Murphy posted on his official Twitter account.
The patient was a 69-year-old male with underlying health conditions. The state currently has 15 presumptive positive cases, which are cases that have had positive results in a public lab but awaiting confirmation from testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There currently at least 31 “persons under investigation” (PUI) for possible exposure and infection, the department added.
South Dakota also reported its first death by a person infected with the virus. The patient was a man in his 60s from Pennington County in western South Dakota, while four others tested positive in the state on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, New York continues to count more infected people, with around 30 new cases reported on Tuesday, and Governor Andrew Cuomo has deployed the National Guard to deliver food to the homes within the state’s containment zone in New Rochelle, which has had a cluster of cases, with around 108 infections so far, the governor’s office said in a statement.
The governor is also reportedly being pressured by the student government of the City University of New York (CUNY) to close its school buildings and “transition to online classes and provide any additional resources needed to combat this outbreak,” CUNY’s university student senate said in a statement.
Cases in California, where passengers from the recently quarantined Grand Princess cruise ship disembarked this week, have also been climbing, with at least 157 infected people, and more likely to be diagnosed following more testing to be done in the coming days.
Italy’s death toll sees sharp climb
Italy, where nearly 60 million people are in lockdown following a mandate by Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte in a bid to contain the spread, reported at least 168 deaths on Tuesday.
The latest death toll is Italy’s largest surge in fatalities since the virus was first reported in the country in February, according to the country’s Civil Protection Agency.
The once tourist-filled streets of the country are now much quieter than usual, with all public gatherings forbidden and all sporting events, including all domestic soccer matches, as well as schools and universities suspended until April 3.
Several countries have already announced flight cancellations for Italian routes.
Nearly 70 percent of Germany could be infected
Up to 70 percent of the German population may eventually be infected by the virus, German chancellor Angela Merkel noted at a press conference on Wednesday.
“The virus has arrived in Europe, it’s there, we must all understand that,” Merkel said at the briefing, noting that there still is no vaccine available for the virus.
“According to experts, 60 to 70 percent of the population could be infected if this remains the case,” she said.
“Our solidarity, our reason, our warmth for each other is already being put to the test, and I hope that we will pass this test,” Merkel said regarding protecting those most vulnerable to infection, including the elderly or those with underlying illnesses.
Germany has reported around 1,600 confirmed cases, including three deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
A crisis management meeting among state officials is planned for Thursday. The country’s federal health minister, Jens Spahn, warned there would be further restrictions in place across the country in the coming months in a bid to fight the outbreak.
Elsewhere in Europe, the U.K. saw its sixth death by an infected individual on Wednesday, while cases climbed to 382, with the country’s under-secretary for health Nadine Dorries among the new cases.
Spain, where cases have now surpassed 2,000 (usurping France as the European country with the second-highest number of infections), has banned all activities that involved more than 1,000 people, including sporting events.
Infections spike again in South Korea
Cases in South Korea, which recently saw a reduction in daily new cases, have surged by 242 within a day, reporting around 7,700 infections as of Wednesday.
Most of the cases are still concentrated around Daegu, which has reported some 5,700 cases.
The majority of cases in the country have been linked to a religious cult known as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (SCJ) after several members were reported to have been infected by an infected member who attended an SCJ venue in Daegu. SCJ, which has around 200,000 followers, holds services in large masses with people seated in close proximity for long periods.
A cluster of cases has also begun to form in Seoul, which currently has around 190 incidences.
Around 90 of the new cases from this week, including 62 in Seoul, were said to have been linked to a call center located near a public transportation hub that connects Seoul with Incheon and other major cities in the country.
“The mass infections at the call center could be the beginning of a fresh tide that leads to a widespread regional outbreak,” the mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, said at a press briefing.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub. Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before; during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste. Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
If you feel unwell (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and call local health authorities in advance. Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask usage
Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning. Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask. Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of mask. Do not reuse single-use masks.
