China Leads in Cases, Followed by Italy, USA, Spain, Germany
Infections Also Reported in Turkey, Indonesia, India
Deaths Surpass 10,000... First Death Reported in Colombia
Former Real Madrid President Lorenzo Sanz Dies While Receiving Treatment
One in Four Americans Under Movement Restrictions
Cases Increasing from Reverse Inflow in Korea, Hong Kong
"Refrain from Overseas Travel," Authorities Urge
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is rapidly spreading worldwide.
According to the COVID-19 outbreak status compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of the afternoon of the 22nd Korea time, the total number of confirmed cases worldwide approached 307,341. It has been 82 days since the first outbreak was reported at the end of last year.
China, the epicenter, has the highest number with 81,393 cases, followed by Italy with 53,578, the United States with 26,747, Spain with 25,496, and Germany with 22,364.
In Turkey, which connects the continents of Europe and Asia, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is rapidly increasing. Turkey is close to Italy, the epicenter of COVID-19 spread in Europe, and borders Iran, the largest outbreak country in the Middle East, making it a region with a high risk of COVID-19 spread. The Turkish Ministry of Health announced on the 22nd (local time) that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 277 from the previous day to 947. The total number of deaths is 21.
In India, with a population of 1.3 billion, voluntary movement restrictions were imposed for 14 hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the 22nd. Currently, India has 341 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths. At the largest prison in West Bengal, India, when visits were banned due to the COVID-19 situation, inmates attempted to set fire to the prison, and the police suppressed the situation by firing tear gas.
In Indonesia, 64 additional confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total to 514. The number of deaths is 48.
In the United States, movement restrictions are being introduced one after another. Following California, New York, Illinois, and Connecticut, New Jersey also issued a stay-at-home order for residents, and Oregon announced similar measures. Although the level and enforceability of the stay-at-home orders vary by state, local media reported that one in four Americans is subject to stay-at-home orders.
◆Worldwide Death Toll Exceeds 10,000= The cumulative number of deaths due to COVID-19 has reached 13,049. Italy has the highest number with 4,825 deaths, followed by China with 3,144, Iran with 1,556, Spain with 1,381, and France with 562.
The first COVID-19 death in South America occurred in Colombia. According to AP News, a Colombian government official announced on the 21st (local time) that a 58-year-old male taxi driver who had transported tourists from Italy died after being infected with COVID-19.
In Spain, former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died on the 22nd while receiving treatment for COVID-19. He was born in 1943 and was 77 years old.
Queen Elizabeth II and others moved their schedule forward by a week and left Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle on the 19th, following health authorities' announcement that the spread of COVID-19 in London is several weeks faster than in other regions.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a national message on the evening of the 22nd, stating that "(the spread of COVID-19) is very strong and accelerating" and "in just 2 to 3 weeks, it could become like Italy." He also warned that the National Health Service (NHS), the public healthcare system, could reach saturation as soon as two weeks from now.
◆Increase in Imported Cases Causes Emergency= Some Asian countries are on high alert due to patients imported from overseas.
According to the South China Morning Post on the 22nd, 44 people in Hong Kong were confirmed to have COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 317. Among the 44 new confirmed cases, 28 are presumed to have been infected after recently visiting foreign countries.
In South Korea, among the 98 new confirmed cases reported the previous day, 15 were related to overseas importation. Eight cases came from Europe, three from the United States, one each from Canada, the Philippines, and Iran, and one case passed through Colombia and the United States.
The Central Disease Control Headquarters stated, "Cases imported from overseas, such as Europe, continue to occur," and urged, "Please postpone or cancel non-urgent overseas travel."
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