Global body count exceeds 40,000

ITALY AND SPAIN NOW ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN HALF OF ALL THE COVID-19 DEATHS REPORTED WORLDWIDE

NEW YORK/MILAN/MADRID: Global deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic topped 40,000 on Tuesday while the number of infections crossed the 800,000-mark as a grim reminder of the World Health Organization’s warning that a “long-term battle” awaited the world.

Hard-hit Italy and Spain now account for more than half of all the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) deaths reported worldwide and the US has the most confirmed cases. Italy’s death toll rose to nearly 11,600 — the highest in the world by far — even as its rates of new infections were slowing. Spain’s coronavirus deaths jumped by a record number on Tuesday as the country’s medical system strained to care for its tens of thousands of infected patients.

Deaths climbed rapidly in the United States, which also overtook China’s reported virus death toll of 3,300. In the new epicentre of the outbreak, New York’s governor begged for health care reinforcements, saying up to 1 million more workers were needed, as New York City saw a 16% increase in deaths in six hours. “This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard,” cautioned Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Western Pacific. “We need every country to keep responding according to their local situation.”

Countries across the globe have introduced restrictions and curbs to fight the pandemic that has threatened the globalised world. According to an AFP tally, more than 3.6 billion people – or 46.5% of the world’s population -are now either under orders or have been asked to stay at home.

China — where the outbreak first emerged — reported 48 additional coronavirus cases for March 30, all from abroad, authorities said.