Many countries have to take emergency measures to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic.
There are now multiple Covid-19 outbreaks besides the main one in China. Many countries have had to apply emergency measures to deal with the epidemic.
China’s renewed hopes of containing the Covid-19 outbreak are being dashed by a series of new outbreaks elsewhere in the world, most notably in South Korea, Italy, Japan and Iran, that threaten to turn the epidemic into a Wuhan-like crisis. Many countries are taking drastic emergency measures to control the outbreak.
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| Caring for Covid-19 patients in China. Photo: NYT. |
China continued to report a decline in new cases outside the epicenter of Hubei today.However, new cases outside China are really worrying global health officials, with South Korea today reporting its fourth death from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and 123 new cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 556. Earlier yesterday, the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in South Korea more than doubled, with most of the cases linked to a religious organization in South Korea's fourth-largest city of Daegu and a nearby hospital.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as of this morning, 18 patients had recovered. The government has kept the virus alert level at “yellow,” the third highest on the alert scale, but will implement measures at the highest “red,” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged people not to panic last night, pledging that the virus can be controlled if people cooperate with the government.
“Instead of being overly fearful, please follow the government’s instructions. That is to ensure hygiene rules including hand washing and disease prevention. I am sure we will overcome the current situation with everyone’s solidarity.”
Italy - the European country most seriously affected by the epidemic, with the number of new infections increasing fourfold yesterday, to 79 people with 2 deaths.
Italian authorities on February 22 passed a "strong" decree to prevent the further spread of the epidemic. The government decree stipulates that people are prohibited from entering or leaving areas with outbreaks, and activities are under police supervision. If necessary, the military will be mobilized and criminal measures will be applied to violations; educational activities (movement of students) in Italy and abroad will be stopped, all public activities in Lombardy and Veneto will be suspended. The decree also states that schools, shops and museums will be closed, work will be suspended at private and state-owned enterprises that do not affect essential services, competitions will be suspended and movement will be restricted.
Although these measures have greatly affected people's lives, many people agree and support them: "The SARS-CoV-2 virus is really serious, so we need to take measures to protect ourselves. I need to protect my health and my family's health."
“Closing public activities is effective in controlling the virus. I strongly support it.”
Iran also reported 10 new cases yesterday, bringing the total number of infections to 29 and 6 deaths, raising concerns about the outbreak in the country as well as neighboring countries in the Gulf. This morning, Japan recorded 1 more case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 775.
As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads rapidly in many other countries around the world, the US yesterday raised its travel warning level for Japan and South Korea. The World Health Organization said it is developing support plans for countries vulnerable to the pandemic but with weaker health systems, including 13 countries in Africa./.
