Surge in COVID-19 cases triggers Italy lockdown; US cases pass 500
A dramatic jump in Italy's COVID-19 cases and deaths made it the second worst-hit country behind China, as the country announced a massive lockdown affecting 16 million, and in the United States, the number of new cases steadily rose with at least four more states reporting their first cases.
In its latest daily update, the WHO said of 105,856 global COVID-19 cases, 24,727 have been reported from outside of China by 101 countries, and over 500 in the US.
Italy's health ministry reported 1,492 new cases, along with 133 more deaths, bringing its respective overall totals to 7,375 cases and 366 deaths. The new development pushes Italy ahead of South Korea as the country with the highest number of cases behind China.
The country also finalized a lockdown affecting all of Lombardy region, where 4,189 cases have been reported so far. It also affects 14 provinces in other regions, and taken together, the measures put about 16 million people—about one quarter of Italy's population—under quarantine. The measures are in effect until April 3 and prohibit weddings and funerals and shutter movie theaters, nightclubs, gyms, swimming pools, museums and ski resorts. Restaurants can remain open limited hours, but customers must sit three feet apart.
The steps are the strongest any country has taken outside of China. World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, on Twitter praised Italy's bold steps to slow the spread of the virus. "They are making genuine sacrifices," he said. "WHO stands in solidarity and is here to continue supporting you."
Meanwhile, cases rose sharply in other European Countries, with new cases lifting France and Germany over or toward the 1,000-case mark. France reported 177 new cases, along with three new deaths, raising its total to 1,126, including 19 deaths, while Germany's Robert Koch Institute is now reporting 902 cases.
In the Middle East, Iran's health ministry reported 743 new cases, plus 49 more deaths, lifting its totals to 6,566 cases, along with 194 more deaths. The virus has been reported from at least 30 locations, with Tehran, Qom, Gilan and Isfahan the hardest hit areas.
In Saudi Arabia, the country took two strong steps to curb the spread of the virus. It put the city of Qatif in the Eastern Province, where all the country's 11 cases have been reported, on lockdown, Gulf News reported. The city has a population of about 525,000. It also announced the closure of all schools and universities throughout the country until further notice, Reuters reported.
South Korea reported 367 new cases and 6 more deaths, raising its respective totals to 7,134 and 50. China reported 44 new cases, all but four from Hubei province, raising the overall total to 80,695, according to a daily update from the National Health Commission. It also reported 27 more deaths, putting the fatality count at 3,097. Japan's health ministry reported 30 more cases from six different prefectures, raising its total to 438 cases.
Meanwhile, the pace of new COVID-19 infections in the United States continued a slow but steady rise, running parallel to increased spread of the virus and increased testing capacity. An online dashboard from Johns Hopkins University shows 516 U.S. cases, up by nearly 100 cases from the 417 reported prior. The total includes 49 cases in people repatriated from Wuhan, China, or the Diamond Princess cruise ship that had been quarantined in Japan.
At least 34 states have reported cases, according to a New York Times tracker.
Washington state officials reported 136 cases, up 34 cases, and 18 deaths, up two more. Eight counties have reported cases.
Of the state's new cases reported, 12, plus both deaths, were reported by Public Health-Seattle and King County, which has now reported 83 of the state's cases. The people who died were both residents of the LifeCare Center, the affected nursing home. They include a woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s.
At least four more states have reported their first cases: Vermont, Missouri, Virginia and Connecticut. Vermont's case involves an adult with unspecified exposure, Missouri's patient is a resident who traveled to Italy. Virginia's first case is a U.S. Marine from Fort Belvoir, and a second case is a Fairfax resident who was on the same Nile River cruise linked to other U.S. cases. Connecticut's first case is a state resident who was likely exposed in California.
Also, a handful of already affected states reported more cases, including Oregon, which reported 11 more cases, raising its total to 14. The state's governor declared a state of emergency, which gives officials the authority to finalize agreements to expand testing to major health systems and prepare to activate the medical reserves corps.
In New York, the main hot spot on the East Coast, the state's governor announced 16 more cases, raising the total to 105. Of those, 82 are from Westchester County, where a large cluster of cases has been detected in New Rochelle. Twelve of the state's cases are from New York City.
California's governor also declared a state of emergency, saying the measure contains provisions to prevent price gouging for necessary supplies. The state has reported 88 cases, 24 from earlier evacuation flights, and one death.
Chicago officials reported a new case, the seventh from Illinois, involving a man in his 60s with an unknown exposure source who sought medical care and tested negative for flu.
In other developments, plans are underway to disembark passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship, waiting off the coast of San Francisco, and place them in federal quarantine, and federal officials issued warnings about cruise ship travel and about the risk of travel and large crowds to seniors and those with underlying medical conditions. Infected passengers needing acute medical care will be treated at California hospitals, and an additional 1,000 passengers from California will be evaluated in federally run quarantine in California. Nonresidents will be transported to federal facilities in other states.
The ship's crew will be quarantined and treated on the ship.
In a related development, the U.S. State Department urged citizens, especially those with underlying health conditions, to avoid traveling by cruise ships. It said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted an increased risk in travelers and said many countries have implemented strict screening measures, denied ship entries at ports, and prevented passengers from disembarking.
Tony Fauci, MD, who directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, urged elderly people and those with underlying health conditions to limit their exposure to travel and large crowds.
