covid-19 outbreak
368 die in Italy in 24hrs
Agencies, Washington, Doha, Milan
Italy reported 368 new deaths in 24 hours from the coronavirus outbreak as the world saw more reported cases outside of mainland China than inside, marking a new milestone in the evolution of the global pandemic. Italys death toll hit 1,809 on Sunday while the number of positive cases rose to 24,747 from 21,157 on Saturday, the countrys civil protection authority said.
Governments around the world have stepped up restrictions on the movement of their citizens to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed nearly 5,800 people with over 153,000 infected globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Chinas National Health Commission yesterday reported 16 new confirmed cases and 14 deaths, as of end of Sunday,
bringing the total number of cases in the country to 80,860, of which more than 67,00 patients have recovered.
While China, the early epicenter of the outbreak, has still had more total confirmed cases than any other nation, infection rates in several other countries have surged in recent days. Italy, Europes hardest hit country, now has more than 24,000 cases, Iran has almost 14,000, Spain has at least 7,000 and the United States has now reported more than 3,400 cases.
The combined global caseload stands at 169,446 as of Monday morning, with the death toll passing 6,500, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking cases reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and additional sources.
The United States and countries across Europe are closing schools, entertainment venues and all but essential services, as they step up efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Governments are limiting travel - both inward and outward - to curb the movement of people. South Korea and China, both wary of imported infections, have tightened requirements for international arrivals.
Spain became the second European country to impose a nationwide lockdown after 2,000 new cases were confirmed and the number of reported deaths doubled.
France has shuttered non-essential businesses in a bid to curb the spread of the virus that had infected more than 5,000 in the country by Sunday and killed 127 a jump of 900 cases and 36 deaths in 24 hours.
More than 400 people are in hospital in serious condition, causing fears of hospitals being overrun.
Iran announced more than 100 people have died in the past 24 hours, with the confirmed cases nearing 14,000. Tehran said its fight against coronavirus is being severely hampered by US sanctions.
