290m students worldwide face weeks at home

O Countries take precautionary measures by shutting schools, universities as fight against coronavirus intensifies

ROME: Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus (Covid-19).

More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which by yesterday, had reached some 80 countries and territories.

Switzerland reported yesterday its first death from the outbreak, a 74-year-old woman, while Bosnia confirmed its first two cases.

The vast majority of global deaths and infections are in China, where the virus first emerged late last year, prompting the country to quarantine entire cities, temporarily shut factories and close schools indefinitely.

As the virus spreads, other countries have also implemented extraordinary measures, with Unesco saying on Wednesday that 13 countries have closed schools, affecting 290.5 million children, while nine others have implemented localised closures.

While temporary school closures during crises are not new, Unesco chief Audrey Azoulay said: “The global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and, if prolonged, could threaten the right to education.”

Italy on Wednesday ordered schools and universities shut until March 15, ramping up its response as the national death toll rose to 107, the deadliest outbreak outside China.

South Korea, second to China in terms of infections with cases jumping past 6,000 yesterday, has postponed the start of the next term until March 23.

In Japan, nearly all schools are closed after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for classes to be cancelled through March and spring break, slated for late March through early April.

Schools have also shut in Iran, where 92 people have died from the disease.

The German health minister said the outbreak was now a “global pandemic”, a term the World Health Organisation has stopped short of using, meaning the virus is spreading in several regions through local transmission.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency following the state’s first coronavirus fatality and a cruise ship was kept offshore after passengers and crew members developed symptoms.

A 71-year-old man who had been aboard the same ship during its previous voyage to Mexico died after contracting Covid-19.

The vessel belongs to Princess Cruises, the same company which operated a coronavirusstricken ship held off Japan last month on which more than 700 people on board tested positive, with six dying from the disease.

Infections are now rising faster abroad than they are in China, where 31 more deaths and 139 new cases were reported yesterday.

China’s toll now stands at 3,012, with over 80,000 infections.

Japan will quarantine all arrivals from China and South Korea for two weeks, the Yomiuri daily reported, without specifying when the measures will take effect.

New measures in Italy, where 11 towns with 50,000 have been under quarantine, include a month-long nationwide ban on fan attendance at sports events, and advising people to avoid greetings like kissing on the cheek or shaking hands. – AFP