By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Numbers rise by the hour, and by 16:03 GMT coronavirus confirmed cases across the world had hit 445,815 and deaths 19,786 with Italy recording 6,820 deaths, Spain (3,434), and China (3,285).
At 1100 GMT, the numbers had stood at 427,940 cases and19,246 deaths, based on a tally compiled by the media from official sources.
Declared cases have been registered in 181 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December 2019.
However, the tallies, using data collected by AFP offices from national authorities and information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), are likely to reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.
Many countries are now only testing cases that require hospitalisation, according to Gulf Today.
Italy, which recorded its first coronavirus death in February, has to date declared 6,820 fatalities, with 69,176 infections and 8,326 people recovered.
Like Italy, Spain now has more fatalities than China with 3,434, as well as having 47,610 infections and 5,367 recoveries.
China – excluding Hong Kong and Macau – has to date declared 3,281 deaths and 81,218 cases.
The other worst-hit countries are Iran with 2,077 fatalities and 27,017 cases; France 1,100 deaths and 22,302 cases; the United States 600 deaths and 55,225 cases.
Since 1900 GMT on March 24, Cameroon and Niger have announced their first deaths while Libya, Laos, Belize, Grenada, Mali, and Dominica reported their first cases.
By continent,
- Europe has listed 226,340 cases, 12,719 deaths.
- Asia 99,805 cases, 3,593 deaths.
- US and Canada together 57,304 cases, 624 deaths.
- Middle East 32,118 cases, 2,119 deaths.
- Latin America and the Caribbean 7,337 cases, 118 deaths.
- Oceania 2,656 cases, nine deaths.
- Africa 2,382 cases, 64 deaths.
In for the long run
The pandemic has bludgeoned global stock markets, and the US – the world’s biggest economy – has prepared a stimulus package of about $2 trillion.
China reported its first local infection in four days on March 22. While the number of cases in the mainland has slumped dramatically since the crisis began last December, there are fears of “imported” cases from other hotspots like Europe.
France, Italy, Spain, and other European countries have ordered people to stay at home, threatening fines in some cases, while Australia on March 22 told citizens to cancel domestic travel plans.
Britain told pubs, restaurants and theatres to close and warned citizens to stop panic-buying.
And India went into total lockdown on March 24.
While the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are the hardest hit by the virus, the WHO has warned that young people are also vulnerable.
Accurate COVID-19 figures are difficult to reach because many of the victims suffered from other illnesses, and infection rates are uncertain because of a lack of testing in many countries.
The coronavirus has infected more than 2,000 across Africa, too, where healthcare systems are limited and social distancing measures – like the ones being adopted in North America and Europe – are difficult in crowded cities.
The Middle East also remains on high alert, where Iran – which suffered a major outbreak – reporting 2,077 deaths. But the Islamic Republic has refused to join the rest of the world in imposing heavy restrictions.
Latin America
Colombia begins a period of “mandatory preventive isolation” on March 25, meaning people all over the country will have to stay in their homes.
Exceptions include medical appointments, shopping for essential goods like food, medicine and cleaning products, and going to the bank.
Paraguay is the latest Latin American country to close its borders. The government announced on March 24 that they would remain sealed until March 29 following a second death in the country from coronavirus.
Mexico has called on businesses to stop employment that involves the movement of people from their homes to their workplaces.
The country has entered the second stage of coronavirus transmission, meaning it has detected a case that has been passed from person to person locally, rather than coming from abroad.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has criticised the media for “fear-mongering” and called on mayors and governors to roll back restrictions introduced to curb the spread.
He said people aged over 60 were at risk, but most people – including himself – had nothing to fear. Over 2,200 cases of the virus have been reported in the country.
Bolsonaro has been accused of having a cavalier attitude to the pandemic.
Asia
India is ill-prepared to deal with a huge outbreak of infections and is on day one of its lockdown, which prompted panic-buying.
The health ministry says India has 519 Covid-19 cases and nine deaths. Why so low in a country of 1.3 billion. Very low testing rates could be to blame, making it a possible pandemic hotspot.
China’s Hubei province is lifting all travel restrictions today – a significant milestone for 60 million people locked down since January.
Wuhan – where the global outbreak began – will ease restrictions on April 8.
South Korea said all arrivals from the US would need to self-isolate for two weeks, from March 27. South Korea’s imported cases jumped by 34 to 101 on March 24, its biggest single-day rise as it battles a second wave of infections.
European arrivals already face a two-week quarantine and virus tests.
Malaysia is extending its two-week lockdown. With just under 1,800 confirmed cases, the country is the worst-hit in South East Asia, recording 17 virus deaths.
Pakistan, which has 991 confirmed cases and seven deaths, said it had recorded its first coronavirus death due to local transmission. The victim, a Lahore resident, had no travel history.
In Central Asia, people in Uzbekistan face fines for not wearing masks in public and Kazakhstan’s main cities are under quarantine.
Turkmenistan says it has yet to record a single case – perhaps not surprising for one of the most secretive states in the world.
Around the Middle East
In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani has warned that his government is set to impose tough new measures against the coronavirus. He said they would include restrictions on movement and were likely to be “difficult” for the public.
Despite being by far the hardest-hit country in the region, Iran has so far resisted lockdowns. It has reported 2,077 deaths linked to Covid-19 and 27,017 cases, although the actual figures are thought to be far higher.
In Israel, the government has approved new restrictions that will take effect at 17:00 (15:00 GMT) on March 25. Israeli media reported that people were likely to be required to stay within 100m (330ft) of their homes.
Five people have died in Israel and another 2,030 have been infected.
Emirates Airline, based in Dubai, has become the largest international carrier to completely ground its fleet in response to the pandemic.
It came after the authorities in the United Arab Emirates, which has reported 248 confirmed cases and two deaths, closed all its airports.