Italy records the highest number of new deaths since the beginning of the epidemic. Â
 | Total cases | Deaths |  | Total cases | Deaths |
Global | 595,953 | 26,454 | |||
US | 101,657 | 1,702 | Spain | 65,719 | 5,138 |
Italy | 86,498 | 9,134 | Germany | 50,871 | 351 |
China | 81,933 | 3.299 | India | 887 | 20 |
Source: John Hopkins University & Medicine Corona Resource Center, updated at 10:55 PM EST
While COVID-19 cases worldwide surpassed 500,000, America has taken over the tragic supremacy, with more confirmed cases than any other country. Scientists warn that this is just the beginning. The global cases climbed from 400,000 to 500,000 in just two days.
Italy also surpassed China reporting 5,909 new cases and 919 new deaths. Italy recorded the highest number of new deaths since the beginning of the epidemic. Â
The U.S. now leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases: A series of missteps and lost opportunities dogged the nation’s response. Among them: a failure to take the pandemic seriously even as it engulfed China, a deeply flawed effort to provide broad testing for the virus that left the country blind to the extent of the crisis, and a dire shortage of masks and protective gear to protect doctors and nurses on the front lines, as well as ventilators to keep the critically ill alive. Read more…
South Africa launched 21-day lockdown: As South Africa prepares to go into a 21-day national lockdown to stem the coronavirus outbreak, poorer residents fear being exposed to worsening violence and scams as security companies jack up patrols in wealthier neighborhoods. Read more…Â
The new coronavirus is finally slamming Russia: Russia who reported just 7 cases on March 10 has now reported 840 infections, about two-thirds of them in the Moscow region. Read more…
France close to its breaking point with 3809 new cases and 299 new deaths: A spike in coronavirus patients means hospitals in and around Paris will reach saturation point within 48 hours, the head of the French Hospital Federation said on Friday, with the peak not expected until April. Read more…
Afghanistan importing its epidemic: Thousands of Afghans are returning each day from the badly affected Iran to the border city of Herat and beyond in Afghanistan where they have little capacity to test for or treat COVID-19. Read more…
New COVID-19 Forecasts: In a forecast based on new data analyses, based on observed death rates estimates are that US hospitals could be overwhelmed in the second week of April and deaths from the disease might range between 38,000 and 162,000. Read more…
False belief kills and sickens many in Iran: Iranian media reported that nearly 300 people have been killed and more than 1,000 sickened so far by ingesting methanol across the Islamic Republic, where drinking alcohol is banned. Read more…
Mother-to-baby transmission cannot be ruled out: According to a study conducted among 33 pregnant women with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, 3 neonates were found infected. Read more…
Children may spread virus more easily than adults: In a study published in Lancet, they observed that the majority of children were asymptomatic, leading to a dangerous situation in community-acquired infections. Read more…
A modelling study on the impact of physical distancing in Wuhan, China: The study showed physical distancing measures were most effective if the return to work was at the beginning of April. Read more…
U.S. may soon face a dire shortage of doctors and nurses: With rapidly increasing cases in the country, the medical workforce is more strained than ever. Doctors and nurses are reporting gear shortages with high levels of stress and they consider getting infected with the coronavirus as an inevitability. Read more…Â
CPAP machines were seen as ventilator alternatives, but could spread COVID-19: Officials and scientists have known for years that when used with a face mask, such alternative devices can possibly increase the spread of infectious disease by aerosolizing the virus, whether used in the hospital or at home. Read more…
Is social distancing the right word? Experts prefer physical distancing and the World Health Organization agrees. Read more…
Many scientists lament Trump’s embrace of risky malaria drugs for coronavirus: When President Donald Trump recently touted the common malaria treatments hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as potential remedies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), he ignited unprecedented demand for the drugs—and set scientists’ teeth on edge. Read more…
Can the new coronavirus be transmitted via paper money? Cash can be contaminated with potential bacterial pathogens, but there is little information about viruses on cash in general—and nothing about contamination with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read more…
India bans export of key malaria drug amid coronavirus outbreak: Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government on Wednesday banned export of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, with immediate effect to ensure sufficient availability of the medicine in the domestic market. Read more…
E.P.A. drastically relaxes rules for polluters: The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced a sweeping relaxation of environmental rules in response to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing power plants, factories and other facilities to determine for themselves if they are able to meet legal requirements on reporting air and water pollution. Read more…
What the U.S. needs to do to flatten the curve of infections: This interactive model with epidemiologists shows why quickly returning to normal could be a historic mistake that would lead to an explosion of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Read more…
Migrant farmworkers blocked at borders leading to food crisis: European governments have declared food supplies a matter of national security, but border lockdowns have cut off seasonal harvest workers from Eastern Europe. The crisis has forced a rapid reassessment of how to supply labor to farms. Read more…
Chinese coronavirus test kit recalled in Spain: A Chinese government regulatory group said today that it has launched an investigation into Bioeasy, a coronavirus test kit maker that sent supplies to Spain, that were later recalled. Read more…
China cuts international flights, bars foreign residents: China will drastically cut its international flight routes and bar entry to returning foreigners based in the country to stem the spread of the coronavirus, authorities said Thursday. Read more…Â
(Dr. Sandhya Sukumaran is a globally renowned public health expert focusing on zoonotic diseases and One Health. Based in Washington, DC, she engages in consultancies for international organizations like WHO, World Bank, and FAO as well as advises governments and other forums.)
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