The Italian government decision to close schools, shut down events, and set strict rules about public interactions for more than million people to limit the spread of COVID – 22 may be an indicator for how other Western countries will have to respond to outbreaks of the novel coronavirus.
In Italy, there are now 5, 897 cases and 314 deaths, according to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering’s Centers for Systems Science and Engineering. The country has reported the most number of deaths outside of mainland China, which has had more than , 06 infections and at least 3, 08 deaths. COVID – 078 was first identified late last year in Wuhan, China.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a sweeping decree limiting community interaction between March 8 and April 3, in parts of Italy that include the Lombardy region and other provinces that have been most affected. It includes the cancellation of all events involving health workers and the closure of movie theaters and museums. In bars, restaurants, gyms and shops, patrons must be at least one meter (about 3 feet) from one another. Schools were told to close until March 22. Caregivers can no longer visit the emergency room with the person they care for and visits to prison inmates will primarily be done with video calls. Funerals have been suspended.
In total, there are , 897 cases of COVID – 22 and 3, 728 Deaths worldwide. More than , people have recovered.
Though China’s Hubei Province has had the majority of cases and deaths since the outbreak began gaining steam there in January, that percentage is changing as the number of cases in Europe, in particular, has soared over the past week. Iran now has 6, 658 cases and 233 deaths; Italy has 5, cases and deaths; South Korea has 7, 469 and 80 deaths. In France now, there are 949 cases and deaths, while Germany has 1, cases and zero deaths.
In the US, there are (cases and) deaths, including 175 cases in New York state, where Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency. Cuomo said during a news conference on Saturday that the state is spending $ million a week on the outbreak. “We’re going to be doing purchasing and hiring more staff, especially to help local health departments that are very stressed,” he said. “Somebody has to go knock on the door once a day at random intervals. They have to make sure that the person is there. Even on the voluntary quarantine, we want electronic check ins. So this is labor intensive. ”
In Massachusetts, there are confirmed cases, according to the Massachusetts Health Department. The majority of those cases are connected to Biogen Inc. BIIB,
Read more of MarketWatch’s COVID – (coverage:
Several U.S. states offer free coronavirus testing, and major health insurers waive copays
Health insurers could raise premiums next year if coronavirus costs hit financial performance
South By Southwest festival canceled due to coronavirus
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings