148 Have Died From COVID-19 In Italy Where The Outbreak Is Showing No Sign Of Slowing Down
The increase in both the number of deaths and confirmed cases in Italy is the largest since the coronavirus outbreak began in Europe in mid-February.
By Sadho Ram — 06 Mar 2020, 02:38 PM
The coronavirus disease outbreak is surging across Europe with Italy being the worst hit, where it's showing no sign of slowing down
As of Friday, 6 March, a total of 148 people have died in Italy contagion that has infected 3,858 there.
Of the 148 dead, 41 died over the past 24 hours, the Civil Protection Agency said on Thursday.
According to Reuters, the accumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Italy was 3,089 on Wednesday. However, it jumped to almost 800 in a day to reach 3,858 confirmed cases.
The increase in both the number of deaths and the number of confirmed cases is by far the largest since the coronavirus outbreak began in Europe in mid-February, Reuters reported.
Medical staff wearing protective suits carry the coffin containing the body of a woman after she passed away in her room at the Garden hotel in Laigueglia, northwest Italy, on 1 March.
Image via Times Of IsraelThere are confirmed COVID-19 cases in all of Italy's 20 regions
While the outbreak is said to be focused on a handful of hotspots in the north of Italy, there are 44 in central Lazio around Rome, and 45 in southern Campania around Naples.
"We are asking the country for unity, we are all in the same boat and we need to work together otherwise it will be hard to overcome this crisis," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte was reported as saying.
Schools across the country have been ordered to close until 15 March with cinemas and theatres ordered to remain close for longer periods, according to Reuters.
Photo shows empty tables outside a restaurant at St Mark's Square, which is usually full of tourists after Italy adopted a decree with emergency new measures to contain the coronavirus.
Image via Manuel Silvestri/ReutersMeanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that countries are not taking the coronavirus crisis seriously enough
According to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a "long list" of countries were not showing "the level of political commitment" needed to "match the level of the threat we all face", France24 reported.
"This is not a drill," the WHO chief warned, "This epidemic is a threat to every country, rich and poor".
In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health has released a travel advisory, asking Malaysians to temporarily postpone travel to affected countries
Among the countries and regions listed by the MOH, there are three regions in Italy, which are Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna, with Hokkaido in Japan, and Tehran, Qom, and Gilan in Iran.
