Given the progression of the virus, the EU raised its alert level to “moderate to high” on Monday after a final balance of 2,100 confirmed cases in 18 countries.
The new coronavirus epidemic, which surpassed on Monday the 3,000 dead, continues to make progress in the world, which forced the European Union (EU) to increase its alert level in the context of global fear about its consequences for the economy.
The COVID-19 epidemic – the name of the disease that causes the virus– It weakens in China, where there are drastic quarantine measures that affect more than 50 million people, but in the rest of the world the spread of the disease is accelerating.
Map and special about the coronavirus in the world
“In the last 24 hours, there were about nine times more new cases of COVID-19 registered outside of China than in China,” the director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a news conference.
In China, where the virus appeared at the end of 2019, authorities announced on Monday 42 new deaths, bringing the balance in the country to 2,912 dead.
A passenger wears a mask while using the underground transport system in London. Photo / EFE
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The 202 new cases of contagion reported – which have the total above 80,000 – are, on the other hand, the weakest daily increase since January.
Italy recorded 500 cases on Sunday, a spectacular figure that brings the number of infections to about 1,700. At least 34 people have died in this European country, especially in the northern regions: Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto.
Before the progression of the virus, the EU raised its alert level to “moderate to high” on Monday after a final balance of 2,100 confirmed cases in 18 countries. A third death announced in France raises the death toll in the block to at least 39.
The unusual image of fear of contagion occurred on Monday in Germany, where Interior Minister Horst Seehofer refused to shake hands with Chancellor Angela Merkel, one of the actions recommended by professionals to avoid contamination.
In other parts of the world, on Monday a second contaminated one was pointed out in Egypt, a country that announced in mid-February the first case in the African continent, just as tourists began to return after years of disturbances over the 2011 revolution.
The United States reported a second death, with a total of 21 cases, to which another 47 of people repatriated from abroad are added. In the Americas, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic and Ecuador have infected people.
In South Korea, the second most affected country, on Monday there were another 600 cases and eight new deaths, for a total of 4,300 contamination and 26 deaths.
The leader of the religious movement responsible for half of the cases apologized for the responsibility of his organization in the propagation.
Recession Risk
The evolution of the epidemic causes fear of a global economic crisis. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Monday lowered its global growth forecast in 2020 from 2.9% to 2.4% and warned of worse figures if it aggravates the epidemic.
The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, spoke of a recession risk in Germany and Italy, while his Economy counterpart, Paolo Gentiloni, called for a coordinated response to support the European economy.
Stock markets remained stagnant on Monday after a disastrous week, in which markets suffered their worst falls since the 2008 financial crisis.
Sports and cultural events have also been affected by the outbreak. The Louvre Museum, an emblematic place of tourism in Paris, closed on Monday for the second day because the staff applied a right not to work in case of danger.
The epidemic also affects the sports calendar. The Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix, scheduled on March 8, was canceled, and that of Thailand on March 22, postponed.
The WHO, which increased this weekend to a “very high” (maximum) threat of the coronavirus, also said that believing protected would be “a fatal mistake.”
The United Nations agency recalled that the symptoms are benign for the majority of patients, important (pneumonia) for 14% and that 5% of affected people are in critical condition.
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