Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 660,000, Deaths Exceed 30,000 (Comprehensive)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) worldwide has surpassed 660,000, with deaths exceeding 30,000. In the United States, where more than 10,000 new cases are reported daily, the cumulative number of confirmed cases has exceeded 120,000. Italy, which has the highest number of deaths globally, has reported over 10,000 cumulative deaths, accounting for about one-third of the world's total deaths.

According to foreign media including Bloomberg News, on the 28th (local time), the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 120,000. According to COVID-19 statistics from Johns Hopkins University, the cumulative confirmed cases in the U.S. reached 124,665 on that day, increasing by nearly 20,000 in a single day. The cumulative death toll rose to 2,191. In just two days, the death toll rose from around 1,000 to 2,000. Fifteen states in the U.S. have been declared major disaster areas, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert advising residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from domestic travel for 14 days starting that day.

Italy, which has the highest number of deaths worldwide, recorded a cumulative death toll of 10,023. The cumulative confirmed cases stood at 92,472, the second highest after the U.S. Italy's fatality rate soared to 10.84%. The spread of COVID-19 across Europe, centered on Italy, shows no signs of slowing down. Following Italy, cumulative confirmed cases continue to rise across Europe, including Spain (72,248), Germany (56,202), France (37,575), and Switzerland (14,076).

Japan, which had reported relatively fewer COVID-19 cases compared to neighboring countries, has also surpassed 2,500 cumulative confirmed cases, with over 400 cases reported in Tokyo alone, indicating a rapid increase in infections. According to NHK, as of the afternoon of that day, the cumulative confirmed cases in Japan totaled 2,511, with 430 cases reported in Tokyo alone. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated at a press conference the previous day, "Based on the cases in the U.S. and Europe, the number of infections may surge more than 30 times over the next two weeks."