KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — More than half of all the novel coronavirus cases recorded outside of China have died in Italy, the world’s second-worst Covid-19 death toll.
The European nation yesterday recorded its highest daily death toll from Covid-19, up by 368 to 1,809. More than 2,000 people in Europe have succumbed to the deadly new virus.
Similar European virus hotspots include France and Spain. Cases have also spiked in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Denmark.
The number of officially recorded novel coronavirus cases globally stands at 163,930, with 6,420 deaths across 141 countries and territories at 1700 GMT Sunday, AFP reported.
China – excluding Hong Kong and Macau – where Covid-19 emerged late last year, has so far seen 80,844 positive cases, 3,199 deaths, and 66,911 recoveries.
China declared 20 new cases and 10 new fatalities between Saturday and Sunday, a fraction of the latest Italian figures, according to data sighted by AFP.
In Iran, the world’s third-worst toll after China and Italy, 724 people have died. Officials have urged people to avoid public gatherings, as is the case with most countries around the world, besides imposing crackdowns on international travellers from Covid-19 hotspots.
The disease has now affected all global regions, save for Antarctica, affecting the stock market, businesses, flights, school and university lessons, as well as sporting and cultural events.
Almost 500 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Malaysia.
