The Chinese coronavirus that emerged in November 2019 continues to spread. It claims more victims in China and affects other countries including France. The latest toll is also worrying, with more than 80 dead. While 56 million Chinese remain in quarantine, several countries including France and the United States are trying to organize the evacuation of their nationals.
The world is currently dealing with a new type of coronavirus 80% similar to SARS of 2003. In China, panic seizes the authorities and the population. A few days ago, two major cities were sealed off, including Wuhan, the center of the infection. It is now a ghost town where transport has been paralyzed and where wearing a mask has become compulsory.
In recent days, the maximum health alert level was decreed in Hong Kong. The first three cases in Europe have also been identified. These are in France and, according to the authorities, there would be no reason to be afraid. Indeed, the cases have been brought under control and the virus is less virulent than expected . Nevertheless, its spread is wider than we thought with cases in nearly fifteen countries.
This January 27, 2019, the daily Channel News Asia delivered the last known report. There are now in the world 2,816 cases for 81 deaths, the number of suspected cases increases to 6000 . Cradle of the infection, China naturally has an overwhelming majority of infected (2,761) and all of the deaths. Moreover, almost all the provinces of this country are infected! The authorities have decided to extend the Chinese New Year holiday until February 2 to "limit the movement of people".
If no deaths have been recorded outside of China , the number of infected in other countries is also increasing. Hong Kong and Thailand are with 8 cases each the countries with the most cases after China. Then we find Australia, Macao and the United States with 5 cases then Japan, Malaysia, Singapore with 4 cases. The other countries on the list are France, South Korea and Taiwan with 3 cases, Vietnam (2 cases) and Nepal (1 case).
While human-to-human transmission was confirmed less than a week ago, there is no doubt that new cases will appear every day. In the middle of Chinese New Year – which ends this Wednesday, January 29 – air travel is very numerous. While the vaccine race was launched in China, experts believe that the epidemic should last several months before being brought under control.
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