Italy may surpass China’s death toll
CORONA RAGES Southeast Asian nations record sharp rise in cases; Australia, NZ take firm measures
MILAN/BRUSSELS: Italy is on track to surpass China in the number of coronavirus-related deaths, a gruesome milestone that is being blamed on the country’s large elderly population, its overwhelmed health care system and the delayed imposition of a complete lockdown in its epicentre, Lombardy.
The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 219,000 people and killed over 8,900. Some 84,000 have recovered so far.
Italy registered 2,978 deaths on Wednesday after another 475 people died. Given Italy has been averaging more than 350 deaths since March 15, it is likely to overtake China’s 3,249 dead when Thursday’s figures are released.
UN and Italian health authorities have cited a variety of reasons for Italy’s high toll, key among them its large elderly population, who are particularly susceptible to developing serious complications from the virus. Italy has the world’s second oldest population after Japan’s and the vast majority of Italy’s dead - 87% - were over age 70.
In addition, virtually all of Italy’s dead had one or more underlying medical condition, such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension or renal insufficiency.
Russia, meanwhile, has reported its first coronavirus death, a 79-year-old woman who died in a hospital in Moscow. Russia has registered 147 cases of the coronavirus and nine recoveries.
Two Southeast Asian countries have reported their biggest one-day jumps in confirmed cases of the coronavirus, as returnees from a religious ceremony in Malaysia push the totals up. Indonesia reported 82 new cases for a total of 309. The total includes 25 deaths and 15 people who have recovered.
Thailand reported 60 new cases, bringing its total to 272. It has registered one death and discharged 42 recovered patients.
Malaysia still leads the region with 900 cases, including 110 new ones reported on Thursday. It has had two deaths.
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore have reported cases involving people who attended a mass rally of 16,000 Muslims outside Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia at the beginning of March.
Pakistani authorities closed shrines of Sufi saints and visits to museums, archaeological and tourist sites were banned as cases jumped to 301, mostly in pilgrims returning from Iran.
Australia is banning incoming passengers who are not citizens, permanent residents or direct family members of residents.
New Zealand also is closing its border to people who aren’t citizens or residents from Friday.