COVID-19, Over 2,000 Confirmed Cases Outside China...Spreading Worldwide (Comprehensive)

[Image source=World Health Organization (WHO)]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, the number of confirmed cases outside China has surpassed 2,000. Italy, which had remained in single digits until now, saw a sharp increase to 152 confirmed cases, and the death toll in Iran rose to eight. Even Israel, previously known as a COVID-19 clean area, reported confirmed cases, putting European and Middle Eastern health authorities on high alert.

According to foreign media including The New York Times (NYT), as of 10 a.m. on the 23rd (local time), the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside China reached 2,194. South Korea and Japan each exceeded 700 and 800 cases respectively, while Italy’s confirmed cases, which were only about three until mid-last week, surpassed 150, and Iran also exceeded 40, showing a rapid increase. The number of deaths outside China also rose to 27.

Italy’s confirmed cases increased sharply by 76 in one day, reaching 152. Additional deaths were reported, bringing the total death toll to three. Until early this month, Italy’s confirmed cases were limited to three: two Chinese tourists who traveled to Rome and one Italian citizen repatriated from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The infection routes of confirmed cases spreading mainly in Lombardy in northern Italy remain unclear. Within Italy, criticism has arisen that the government should have more strictly blocked Chinese tourists. Earlier, the Italian government completely suspended direct flights to and from mainland China at the end of last month but did not block tourists entering via other European countries or ports. Austria confirmed the infection of two train passengers arriving from Italy and suspended train operations on the same day.

In the UK, four additional confirmed cases were reported on the same day, raising the total to 13. The new confirmed cases include two British and two Irish nationals who boarded the cruise ship Diamond Princess, which was docked and quarantined at Yokohama Port in Japan, and returned on a chartered flight dispatched by the UK government. Previously, the UK Department of Health had repatriated 30 British and two Irish passengers from the Diamond Princess on a chartered flight, all of whom tested negative for the virus and showed no symptoms. However, with confirmed cases found among passengers who were asymptomatic and had tested negative, UK health authorities transferred the confirmed patients from general medical facilities to the National Health Service (NHS) infection centers for epidemiological investigation.

COVID-19 is also spreading in the Middle East. In Iran, where two confirmed cases were first reported on the 19th of this month, the cumulative number of confirmed cases surged to 43, with eight deaths. The number of suspected cases increased to 785. After the first confirmed case was identified in Qom, a religious city in central Iran famous for Shia Muslim pilgrimages, the virus spread rapidly. Iranian authorities confirmed that the first reported deceased patient was involved in trade and had traveled to China on business, focusing efforts on blocking the infection route. Turkey and Pakistan, which share borders with Iran, closed their borders to prevent the spread of infection.

Israel, which had prided itself as a COVID-19 clean area, reported two confirmed cases. On the same day, the Israeli Ministry of Health announced that one Israeli who boarded the Diamond Princess and returned home tested positive for the virus. Another Israeli who returned from the Diamond Princess on the 21st was also confirmed positive.