Global COVID-19 Total Races Past 1 Million Mark
spread, alongside sporadic imported cases, the WHO said.
“This trend is of grave concern in a continent in which health systems are fragile, with a high prevalence of HIV and malnutrition, and an increasing incidence of noncommunicable diseases,” it said.
With so many borders closed and air travel limited, countries are facing challenges with getting essential supplies and experts on the ground to battle the virus, the WHO said, adding that if the countries take bold steps to limit disease spread, including physical distancing and contact tracing, they still have a window of opportunity to contain outbreaks.
As of yesterday, WHO African region countries have reported 6,075 cases and 214 deaths.
Appeal for Latin America, Caribbean
CIDRAP reports that The WHO’s Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) yesterday appealed to donors for $95 million to help Latin American and Caribbean countries battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
PAHO Director Carissa Etienne, MD, warned that pandemic activity is accelerating in the region. “This new virus has shown that it can overload health services even in the most developed countries. We need to invest more to protect the most vulnerable, including health workers, and to save lives,” she said.
Brazil reported the first known case in South America on Feb 26, and since then, the virus has spread to 48 other countries in that part of the world, though the United States accounts for 86 percent of cases.
Brazil reported 1,138 new cases yesterday, up 25 percent from the previous day, and 41 more deaths, up 26 percent from the day before, PAHO said. The country now has 7,910 cases and 299 deaths.
Other Global Developments
· Iran yesterday reported 2,875 more cases and 124 more deaths, putting its respective totals at 50,469 and 3,160.
· The Philippines yesterday reported 332 more cases, raising its total to 2,633. President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday in an address to the nation warned that anyone breaking the lockdown on the island of Luzon may be shot, Newsweek He warned that the outbreak was getting worse, and, according to the report, his warning came in the wake of protests in the poor part of Manila over lack of government food aid.
· In Asia, Japan reported 202 more cases, 28 of them involving asymptomatic carriers; South Korea reported 89 more cases; Singapore reported 49 new cases, 8 of them imported; and Hong Kong reported 37 more patients, 30 of them with a travel history.
