Spain Death Toll Reaches 3,434, Surpassing China
Italy Fatality Rate Rises Sharply to 10% Range
US Cumulative Confirmed Cases Surpass 60,000
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Europe shows no signs of slowing down, Spain's cumulative COVID-19 death toll has surpassed that of China. Italy, which had previously surpassed China in cumulative deaths for the first time, has seen its death toll surge to nearly double that of China. The United States has also exceeded 60,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
According to foreign media such as CNN, on the 25th (local time), Spain reported 443 new COVID-19 deaths in a single day, bringing the total death toll to 3,434. Spain's cumulative death toll ranks second in the world after Italy, surpassing China (3,281). The total confirmed cases reached 47,611. On the same day, Italy's death toll increased by 683 from the previous day, with a cumulative death toll of 7,503, nearly double that of China. Compared to the 74,386 confirmed cases, Italy's fatality rate soared to 10.1%, marking the first time it has risen into the double digits.
The coffins of COVID-19 victims waiting for cremation at a crematorium in Piacenza, northern Italy [Image source=Yonhap News]
Besides these countries, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Europe has rapidly increased. The numbers are as follows: Germany (37,098), France (25,233), Switzerland (10,897), the United Kingdom (8,264), the Netherlands (6,412), and Austria (5,588). According to Worldometer, a site that aggregates COVID-19 data worldwide, the total number of confirmed cases across Europe has surpassed 240,000.
In the UK, public fear is growing as Prince Charles, first in line to the throne, tested positive for COVID-19, and a 37-year-old diplomat stationed in Hungary died after contracting the virus. In Spain, Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo tested positive for COVID-19, and prior to that, the virus rapidly spread among cabinet members, including Irene Montero, Minister of Equality, and the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The governments of France and Germany have announced early release of some prisoners to reduce the risk of infection among inmates.
Employees of a large supermarket in New York, USA, stocking groceries in preparation for panic buying demand [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
The spread of COVID-19 in the United States also shows no signs of slowing. According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the U.S. reached 62,873, surpassing the 60,000 mark. Since the 20th, the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. has been rapidly increasing, changing the leading digit daily. On the same day, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a 60-day ban on the movement of military personnel returning to the homeland or being deployed overseas to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), urged countries to take more aggressive and proactive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. During a virtual press briefing held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Ghebreyesus said, "Many countries have introduced unprecedented measures such as school closures and nationwide lockdowns, but these alone are not enough to curb the spread of COVID-19." He emphasized, "Governments must actively identify and isolate suspected cases, conduct testing, and trace contacts to continue proactive measures."
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