Spain counts 832 virus deaths in its deadliest 24 hrs

6,00,000 people infected globally

Berlin, March 28: The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide topped 600,000 on Saturday as new cases stacked up quickly in Europe and the US and officials dug in for a long fight against the pandemic. The latest landmark came only two days after the world passed half-amillion infections, according to a tally by John Hopkins University, showing that much work remains to be done to slow the spread of the virus.

On Saturday, there were more than 615,000 cases worldwide, of which 131,000 people have recovered and 27,000 have died. While the US now leads the world in reported infections — with more than 104,000 cases — five countries exceed its roughly 1,700 deaths: Italy, Spain, China, Iran and France.

“We cannot completely prevent infections at this stage, but we can and must in the immediate future achieve fewer new infections per day, a slower spread,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in quarantine at home after her doctor tested positive for the virus, said in an audio message. “That will decide whether our health system can stand up to the virus.”

With 832 death on Saturday, Spain registered a depressing new record in a single-day, with the Army being handed emergency powers to transfer bodies because undertakers are unable to cope. With another 8,000 confirmed infections, Spian’s infection count is above 72,000, and its death toll stands at 5,690. In Italy, more than 10,000 people have died since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Spain’s director of emergencies, Fernando Simón, saw a ray of hope, noting that the rate of infection is slowing and figures “indicate that the outbreak is stabilizing and may be reaching its peak in some areas.”