While the infection cases in China are dropping in number, other countries are facing the opposite. (Image via Taraf.ID)

More countries report COVID-19 infection as China's number drops

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Medical and Health
Feb 23, 2020
2075
A piece of good news came from China. The Middle Kingdom reported a sharp fall in new mortality and confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Saturday. While this might sound good, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that it is too early to make predictions as the outbreak is still going viral in other countries, especially the neighboring ones.

While per Friday, China reports only 397 cases, down from 889 on Thursday, the number leaped in other regions. In total, China reported 75,569 new cases and 2,239 mortalities to the WHO. The disease remains mild in 80 percent of the patients, severe or critical in 20 percent, and fatal in 2 percent.

The most recent data showed that only 31 new cases were reported outside Hubei, the lowest since China’s National Health Commission started compiling nationwide data a month ago.

South Korea (S. Korea) reported on Saturday that instead of going down, the number of new confirmed cases doubled to 433. The local authorities warned that the number might significantly increase to more than 1,000 patients on Sunday as S. Korean people are gathering to church.

Italy, the worst European country stricken by the COVID-19, reported that two people passed away due to the virus. About 50,000 residents in Codogno, southwest of Milan, are advised to stay indoors, and mass gathering is forbidden. Schools and shops are temporarily closed as well.

While reporting no cases this week, Iran stated on Saturday 10 new confirmed cases and two mortalities, bringing the infection number to 29 and the death toll to six.

Indeed, the WHO is glad that China is regaining its ground; yet, worries about the confirmed cases in other regions without prior travel records to the Middle Kingdom. Chief of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the WHO’s biggest concern is that COVID-19 might spread to countries with weaker health systems.

The WHO is gathering US$675 million to support these “weaker” countries, especially 13 countries in Africa judging from their links to China.

Moreover, the new findings might find it even more difficult for the world to handle COVID-19. For example, the symptomless condition and longer incubation period. While previously, the disease took 14 days to manifest, the new finding showed that a man took 27 days.

The Chinese scientists also reported a female Wuhan resident who traveled 675km and infected five relatives. The infected did not show any symptoms.

However, China remains resilient. The deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, Chen Yulu, said that China’s economy will continue as usual despite the epidemic, and the country will prevail.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Pi3xKz

Medical , Health , Disease , Pulmonary , Pneumonia , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Outbreak , Global , Economy , Asia , China