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Coronavirus: latest developments worldwide
PARIS, Feb 12, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The death toll reaches 1,113 in the
epidemic of novel coronavirus — now dubbed COVID-19. The number of new cases
falls. Businesses report hits to profits and output.
Here are the global developments in the crisis in the past 24 hours.
– 1,113 dead –
Another 97 people die in China, raising the national toll to 1,113, with
more than 44,600 people now infected.
But the 2,015 new infections confirms a downward trend following the figure
of 2,478 on Tuesday and 3,062 on Monday.
“I think it’s at its peak in mid- to late-February,” says Zhong Nanshan, a
renowned scientist at China’s National Health Commission.
In Geneva, where the World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting a
conference on the virus, its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says there is a
“window of opportunity” to fight the virus. “If we invest now, we have a
realistic chance of stopping this outbreak,” he says.
– COVID-19 –
At the conference the WHO also announces a new name for the epidemic:
COVID-19, in keeping with guidelines aimed at avoiding linking disease to an
animal or a geographic location.
CO stands for “corona”, VI for “virus” and D for “disease”, while 19 is for
the year, as the outbreak was first identified on December 31.
– More infections aboard cruise ship –
An additional 39 people aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan’s
coast test positive for the coronavirus, raising the total number of cases to
174 — the biggest cluster outside China.
Some 3,600 passengers and crew now face a second week of quarantine aboard
the liner.
– Businesses hit –
French global luxury goods group Kering warns the coronavirus outbreak
poses a real threat and has hit sales badly in China, one of its top markets.
The South Korean unit of General Motors, the biggest US car company,
announces a partial suspension of operations next week due to shortages of
parts from China.
This follows Japanese auto giant Nissan and South Korea’s Hyundai Motor,
which have already suspended some operations.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1954 hrs