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HEALTH-VIRUS-CHINA-TOLL
Global virus toll tops 4,000: AFP tally
BEIJING, March 10, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The global death toll from the new
coronavirus passed 4,000 on Tuesday, according to AFP figures, as China
reported 17 new deaths.
The toll reached 4,011 in the outbreak that has spread to over 100
countries with more than 110,000 cases of infection.
The epidemic has disrupted global travel and forced the cancellation of
everything from conferences to sporting events.
But in China, new cases have steadily declined in recent weeks, in a sign
that the country’s unprecedented lockdown measures appear to be working.
There were just 19 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, the lowest number
since the government started tallying infections on January 21, according to
the National Health Commission.
All the new infections were in the virus epicentre, the central city of
Wuhan, except for two imported cases brought in from overseas.
This means there were no indigenous cases in the rest of the country.
The 17 new deaths were all in central Hubei province — 16 in Wuhan, the
capital of the province — bringing the country’s nationwide toll to 3,136.
It is the lowest daily toll since late January.
More than 80,750 people have now been infected in China, which has imposed
unprecedented lockdown measures to try to control the spread of the virus.
But fears are growing that as cases of the disease grow overseas, China’s
progress could be undermined by the virus being brought back into the country
from other nations.
There have now been 69 imported cases, according to Chinese health
officials.
The World Health Organization said Monday that more than 70 percent of
those infected with the new coronavirus in China have recovered, adding that
the country was “bringing its epidemic under control”.
And there were tentative signs in recent days that some of the measures to
restrict the movement and gathering of people could be lifted, with some
regions reopening schools or announcing dates to resume classes.
Most of the 16 makeshift hospitals opened in Wuhan have been closed —
with the last two expected to shut Tuesday.
And Shanghai Disney said it was reopening its shopping and entertainment
Disneytown zone in the “first step of a phased reopening”, although the
amusement park remains closed.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 0805 hrs