Daily US Times, Milan: Italy has seen the biggest death rise in a single day since the outbreak has begun. At least 475 people died yesterday, making the death toll to nearly 3,000.
The worst-hit country after China has confirmed 35,713 cases with more than 4,000 having successfully recovered.
The most affected region of Italy is Lombardy, which has recorded 319 deaths in a single day day.
The virus erupted in China late last year. At least 8,758 people have died, mostly in China, but Italy has been adding more numbers to the figure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says there have been 200,000 confirmed cases – 80% – have occurred in Europe and the Western Pacific region, which includes much of Asia.
Many countries have take sweeping measures, including canceling major events, social distancing to help slow transmission and reduce pressure on the health systems.
On Wednesday, WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “But to suppress and control epidemics, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace.”
Italy has been on lockdown for almost two weeks as authorities try to prevent the spread of the virus.
People are asked to stay home, but the number of deaths has continued to spiral.
”This was probably due to the “astonishing” number of cases within the health systems,” WHO’s emergencies director, Mike Ryan, said ”as well as the high number of elderly people in the population at large.”
Meanwhile, the first human trial of a vaccine began in the US earlier this week.
Dr Tedros hailed the beginning of the first vaccine trial so soon after the emergence of the virus as “an incredible achievement”, though experts warn that it will be many months before it is clear if it will work.
How bad is Europe’s situation?
Spain has confirmed 13,716 coronavirus cases so far with 598 deaths. At least 17 residents of a nursing home in Madrid have died, where dozens of cases of Covid-19 have been reported. An inquiry is to be launched into the deaths.
The number of confirmed cases in France grew by more than 16% on Tuesday, reaching 7,730. The death toll of the country increased to 175, with 7% of the dead aged under 65.
The death toll in the UK has also increased to 104.
Germany reported 8,198 cases and 12 deaths so far. Chancellor Angela Merkel urged the citizens to abide by restrictions aimed at combating the pandemic.
“Since German reunification, actually, since World War Two, there has never been a challenge for our country in which acting in solidarity was so very crucial,” she said in a TV address.
Belgium also reported 1,386 cases with 14 deaths.
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