With over 95,000 people infected with Covid-19, the world is focusing its efforts on containing the outbreak.

As of March 4th, the Covid-19 pandemic had affected 84 countries and territories worldwide, infecting 95,180 people and claiming the lives of at least 3,254 globally. However, the world has also witnessed nearly 51,500 cases of recovery from the dangerous disease after a period of intensive treatment.

China reports no new deaths from Covid-19.

The vast majority of infections and deaths from the novel coronavirus worldwide are in China. To date, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China has reached approximately 80,300, with 2,981 deaths. However, local authorities assert that, thanks to decisive and effective anti-epidemic measures, the number of new infections and deaths per day in mainland China is showing a sharp decline.

Since March 3rd, 28 out of 31 provinces and municipalities in China have reported no new positive cases of Covid-19. In the past 24 hours, up to early this morning, March 5th, mainland China only reported 12 new positive cases of the coronavirus, and no deaths from the disease.

Local authorities are raising concerns about the risk of "importing" cases from abroad into mainland China. CNN, citing statistics from China's General Administration of Customs, reported that as of March 3rd, more than 6,700 foreigners entering China had exhibited symptoms, with 779 of those classified as suspected COVID-19 cases and 75 confirmed positive for the coronavirus.

Chinese provinces and cities have now implemented stricter management measures for their citizens returning from other epidemic zones around the world, as well as for all foreigners residing in or traveling through severely affected areas such as Japan, South Korea, Iran, or Italy before entering mainland China.

Workers wearing protective gear are disinfecting subway trains in Tehran, Iran. Photo: AP

Italy is currently the European country most severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The country has recorded over 3,000 positive cases of the coronavirus and 107 deaths. Covid-19 has been reported in 19 out of 20 regions of Italy, but the majority of cases are concentrated in the north of the country.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned that Italy's healthcare system risks being overwhelmed by the surge in new infections. Local authorities announced the closure of all schools for 10 days starting March 4th to control the spread of the deadly virus.

South Korea uses location tracking app to monitor people quarantined at home.

In South Korea, which has the second-highest number of Covid-19 positive cases in the world after China, local authorities have come up with an innovative measure to ensure that those self-isolating at home due to suspected Covid-19 infection comply with requirements: using an application based on the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The app will track people in quarantine, and if they leave their registered location, the system will sound an alarm. The app is expected to be rolled out this weekend in Daegu and the neighboring North Gyeongsang province, which accounts for over 90% of South Korea's 5,621 COVID-19 cases. As of the morning of March 5th, the death toll from the disease in the country stood at 35.

To ease the burden on the healthcare system, the South Korean government has implemented a system of classifying confirmed coronavirus cases so that severe cases require hospitalization while those with milder symptoms can be monitored at home or at facilities designated by authorities.

In Daegu and North Gyeongsang, there are currently over 3,000 COVID-19 patients self-isolating while awaiting hospitalization because medical facilities have run out of beds.

Iran activates a 300,000-strong medical team to combat the epidemic.

In Iran, another global hotspot for the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health announced the activation of a team of 300,000 medical professionals and personnel tasked with containing the spread of the coronavirus. The number of new infections and deaths from the disease in the Islamic Republic has surged since the weekend.

In the past 24 hours alone, Iran has recorded 586 new cases of Covid-19 and 15 more deaths, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 2,922 and the total number of fatalities to 92. However, Iranian medical professionals have also helped treat and cure 552 patients.

The US reports two more deaths from Covid-19.

US health authorities reported two additional deaths from Covid-19 on March 4th alone. As of this morning, the US has a total of 154 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, with 11 deaths reported.

However, at a press conference on the afternoon of March 4th, Vice President Mike Pence affirmed that the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the American community "remains relatively low." He emphasized that Americans do not currently need to buy masks. However, he noted that the elderly are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus, especially those with underlying health conditions.

Covid-19 continues to spread rapidly in Europe.

In Europe, Poland and Slovenia reported their first cases of Covid-19, while Spain recorded its first death from the dangerous disease.

France has recorded 285 cases of infection, including 4 deaths. 15 out of 16 German states have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, but there have been no deaths among the 262 infected individuals.

New Zealand has confirmed its second case of Covid-19, a patient who had traveled to northern Italy. This individual is currently self-isolating at home.

Australia announced a surge in coronavirus cases to 50, the majority of whom had returned from Iran.

The World Bank is providing $12 billion in aid to combat the pandemic.

The World Bank (WB) announced a $12 billion financial support package to help countries combat the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the WB and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to avoid the risk of virus spread, a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from around the world will be held online in April.