China continues its downward trend, with just 19 cases of COVID-19 being reported on Monday
The President of People’s Republic of China – Xi Jinping today, i.e., Tuesday, March 10, 2020, arrived in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province, to inspect the prevention and control with regards to spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The visit comes as China continues its downward trend, with just 19 cases of COVID-19 being reported on Monday, March 9, 2020. During the visit, Xi Jinping visited medical workers, military commanders, community workers, public security officers, grassroots and frontline cadres, as well as volunteers, patients and residents.
Besides, Wuhan’s last makeshift hospital, Wuchang Fangcang Hospital has also been closed as the number of cases are declining in China. At the time when outbreak was at peak, 14 buildings, including sports stadiums and convention centres, were converted into makeshift hospitals, adding more than 20,000 beds to treat patients and prevent the spread of the virus.
The Prime Minister of Italy – Giuseppe Conte ordered people to stay home and seek permission for essential travel. The announcement came after death toll rose to 463 from 366 on Monday. Italy is the second most affected country after China.
Speaking on the restrictions, Conte said, “We’re having an important growth in infection… and of deaths. The whole of Italy will become a protected zone.”
He further added, “We all must give something up for the good of Italy. We have to do it now. This is why I decided to adopt even more strong and severe measures to contain the advance… and protect the health of all citizens.”
Terming the measures as “I Stay Home”, Conte said that schools, universities, sporting events, etc. will remain suspended.
People with a valid work or family reason that cannot be postponed will be allowed to travel. Passengers departing on flights and those arriving by flight will have to justify the reason of their travel. Steps are being taken to check temperature of people at Railway Stations. The cruise ships are also not allowed to dock at ports.
Taking it to twitter, the Director-General of the World Health Organization – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted, “Response to #COVID19 is not about containment or mitigation – which is a false dichotomy. It’s about both. All countries must take a comprehensive blended strategy for controlling their epidemics and pushing this deadly virus back.”
Response to #COVID19 is not about containment or mitigation – which is a false dichotomy. It’s about both.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 9, 2020
All countries must take a comprehensive blended strategy for controlling their epidemics and pushing this deadly virus back.
Talking about other parts of the world, the Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that everyone arriving in Israel will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. The number of infected cases in the United States (U.S.) has reached 500. Canada has confirmed the first death caused by COVID-19. The Minister of Culture of the French Republic – Franck Riester has become the first member of the Government to be infected with the virus.
Passengers are being offloaded from the cruise ship Grand Princess at an unused Port of Oakland dock in California, after the ship spent days circling waters off San Francisco. At least 21 people on ship have tested positive with COVID-19. The ship is owned by the same operators as the Diamond Princess. The passengers will be taken to military bases in California and elsewhere for testing and quarantine after disembarking.
Also, Germany has reported its first two deaths of COVID-19. Britain too reported 2 fatalities. Iran has temporarily released 70,000 prisoners over concerns of the outbreak in prisons. Mongolia announced to bar people from entering or leaving its cities for 6 days.
Notably, the President of U.S. – Donald Trump has not been tested for the coronavirus even though 2 lawmakers with whom he has recently come into contact are in self-isolation after attending a conference where a delegate was confirmed with the virus.
Clarifying the speculations, the White House Spokeswoman – Stephanie Grisham said in a statement, “The President has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms. President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him.”
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other charities have pledged U.S. $ 125 million to help speed the development of treatments for the coronavirus. Known as ‘COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator’, it will focus on new and re-purposed drugs that can treat patients immediately.
Globally, more than 4,009 people have died of this COVID-19 and 113,358 have been infected. Of these 4,009 deaths, 3136 have happened in China, 463 in Italy, 237 in Iran, 54 in South Korea, 28 in Spain, 24 in U.S., 21 in France, 9 in Japan, 7 in cruise ship Diamond Princess, 5 in United Kingdom (U.K.), 4 in Iraq, 3 each in Hong Kong, Netherlands and Australia, 2 each in Germany, Switzerland and San Marino and 1 each in Canada, Egypt, Thailand, Taiwan, Argentina and Philippines.
