COVID-19 Global Death Toll Surpasses 30,000... "10,000 in Italy"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The global cumulative death toll from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has surpassed 30,000. Following Italy, which exceeded 10,000 deaths, Spain, China, and Iran have also reported high numbers.

As of 6:30 a.m. KST on the 29th, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the number of deaths due to COVID-19 reached 30,438. The number of confirmed cases was recorded at 657,691.

The region where the death toll from COVID-19 is rising the fastest is Europe. AFP reported on the 28th (local time) that the cumulative death toll in Europe exceeded 20,000. According to the report, there were 20,059 deaths and 337,632 confirmed cases in Europe, accounting for 50-60% of the global deaths and confirmed cases. Although European countries such as Italy, France, and Spain have extended lockdown measures including movement restrictions and strengthened response measures, the spread has not stopped.

Italy, where the situation is most severe in Europe, has surpassed 10,000 cumulative deaths. The Italian health authorities announced that as of 6 p.m. on the day, the cumulative death toll reached 10,023, an increase of 889 (9.7%) compared to the previous day. Italy is the first country worldwide to reach a cumulative death toll in the ten-thousands. The cumulative number of confirmed cases was tentatively recorded at 92,472, an increase of 5,974 (6.9%) in one day.

The Italian health authorities expect the peak of the COVID-19 spread to come soon. Silvio Brusaferro, head of the Italian health authorities, said, "We have confirmed that the infection rate has definitely decreased since the 20th," but added, "However, it has not yet turned into a declining phase."

Following Italy, Spain, which has the second fastest spread of COVID-19 in Europe, reported over 800 deaths in one day. The Spanish Ministry of Health announced that as of the day, the number of COVID-19 deaths increased by 832 in one day to 5,690. Confirmed cases surged by 8,189 to 72,248. France also surpassed 2,000 deaths. The French Ministry of Health reported that as of the day, COVID-19 deaths and confirmed cases increased by 319 and 4,611 respectively, reaching 2,314 deaths and 37,575 confirmed cases. Germany recorded 56,202 confirmed cases and 403 deaths.

Additionally, other European countries reported confirmed cases as follows: Switzerland 13,377, the Netherlands 9,762, Belgium 9,134, Austria 8,188. Deaths were reported as: the Netherlands 639, Belgium 353, Switzerland 242, Sweden 105. According to Worldometer, the UK has surpassed 17,000 confirmed cases and 1,000 deaths.

The number of confirmed cases is increasing fastest in the United States. At the same time, the U.S. had 119,748 confirmed cases, approaching 120,000. The numbers for other countries were: Italy 92,472, China 81,999, Spain 72,335, Germany 57,695. France and Iran were in the 30,000s, while the UK and Switzerland were in the 10,000s.

The COVID-19 outbreak began in late December last year in Wuhan, China, and spread worldwide. Initially, the spread was centered in Asia, but from late February, it rapidly spread globally, showing a sharp increase in the U.S. and Europe. On the 26th, the U.S. became the country with the highest number of confirmed cases.