New Delhi (NVI): Global stock markets suffered huge losses today amid the worsening outbreak of novel coronavirus worldwide, wiping out any gains for the year so far.
Multiple outbreaks of the novel coronavirus outside of mainland China have continued to worsen, as experts warn we may be approaching pandemic levels.
In South Korea, more than 893 cases have been confirmed, which rose up from 31 a week ago. At least seven people have died so far, and the virus has spread throughout the country, though the worst outbreak remains in the southern city of Daegu.
Outside of Asia, one of the worst outbreak is in Italy, where around 100,000 people in the northern regions of Lombary and Veneto are facing travel and other restrictions as the country struggle to contain a sudden spike in cases that has so far seen at least 219 confirmed cases.
World Health Organization landed in Italy to support Italian authorities in understanding the situation, according to media reports.
The WHO team’s focus will be on “limiting further human-to-human transmission” after a rapid rise in cases. At least 229 people have been infected with the virus, and seven people have died in the Southern European nation.
Meanwhile, a fourth passenger, in his 80s, from the cruise ship Diamond Princess quarantined in Japan has died from the coronavirus.
China’s National Health Commission’s recorded confirmed 77,658 cases in the mainland, and 2,663 deaths. The novel coronavirus has now infected at least 80,067 people worldwide and killed 2,698.
