COVID-19 epidemic update March 21: The world has more than 11,000 deaths, increasing shock in Italy and Spain

As of 2am this morning (March 21), according to official figures, the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Italy and Spain surpassed 4000 and 1,000, respectively, France recorded 78 deaths within 24 hours.

A child wearing a mask is walking near the Coloseum in Rome on March 10, 2020 after the decree to block all of Italy to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic - Photo: REUTERS

France, Italy, Spain and some other European countries have asked people to stay at home, threatening heavy fines for some cases of breaching the epidemic blockade. On the first day of application, France fined more than 4,000 people.

Europe currently has COVID-19 deaths that account for more than half of all global deaths.

* Another record-increasing day in the death toll in Italy

On March 20, Italy recorded 627 deaths from COVID-19, a new daily record increase in the country, bringing the total number of deaths above 4,000 despite government efforts to fight the epidemic. .

The COVID-19 death rate per day in the Mediterranean country is now higher than the official figures published by China at the time of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei.

Italy is becoming the new global hub for COVID-19. In less than four weeks, the country has recorded a higher death toll than the official statistics released by China since the outbreak in late December.

As of 2am this morning (March 21) Vietnam time, the total number of deaths in Italy was 4,032 people. The number of additional infections on March 20 here is 6,000, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases of Italy to 47,021.

Thus, this 60 million population country accounts for 36.2% of the global deaths from COVID-19 and the death rate from this disease is up to 8.6%, higher than most countries.

Graphics: NGOC THANH

* Spain nearly 20,000 cases, more than 1,000 people have died

The high death toll also occurred in another European country, Spain, when on March 20 the country had a total of 1,002 deaths after an additional 235 died in 24 hours.

The number of COVID-19 cases here is nearly 20,000, according to the Spanish Ministry of Health.

The number of infections soared and the number of deaths exceeded the 1,000 mark, making Spain one of the four most affected countries in the world with COVID-19.

Within the past 7 days, the number of deaths in Spain has increased 4 times.

* France has an additional 78 deaths in 24 hours

On March 20, France recorded an additional 78 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from COVID-19 of this country to 450.

France's General Director of Health, Dr. Jérôme Salomon, said the country currently has 12,612 cases, but warns this is "the minimum number" compared to the actual data of those infected.

Mr. Jérôme Salomon also said there are 5,226 people in the hospital and 1,300 of whom are in intensive care.

"Half of the patients are under 60 years old," he said, warning that the epidemic could also affect young people.

* Many US states issue orders requiring people to stay indoors

US President Donald Trump welcomed the governors' decision of New York and California states to order all residents to stay indoors.

"Those are really two hotspots," he said. But Trump also said he doesn't think there is a need to enforce a nationwide blockade.

Immediately after Trump's remarks, the Illinois and Connecticut governor also asked everyone to stay indoors and limit out.

Orders requiring residents of these homes put the three most populous US cities, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, in a blockade.

California, one of the most affected states in the US, has more than 1,000 cases and 19 deaths. The state of New York has so far recorded more than 7,000 cases and 38 deaths.

On March 20, Mr. Trump announced that the US and Mexico had agreed to limit unnecessary travel across the border between the two countries, starting from March 21.

* Cuba, Bolivia closed borders, Brazil sharply reduced growth forecast

According to AFP news agency, Cuba and Bolivia announced on March 20 that they would close the border with foreigners to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic.

According to AFP news agency, Cuba and Bolivia announced on March 20 that they would close the border with foreigners to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic.

Cuba's border closure takes effect from next Tuesday (March 24) and lasts for 30 days. Bolivia announced the closure of the border, suspending inter-provincial and inter-regional transportation activities by road and river until the end of this month.

The Bolivian government is also studying the possibility of a full quarantine order. The country has only 15 cases of COVID-19 but is expected to hold a general election on 3-5.

Brazil lowered its growth forecast for 2020 to nearly zero, to 0.02% on the basis of assessment of the negative impact of the disease.

Latin American countries are accelerating epidemic prevention measures when the total number of infections increases by more than 3,000, the number of deaths to 33 people.

* China did not have any domestic infections for the third day in a row

According to Reuters, the Chinese government announced on March 21 on March 20, the country did not record any new infections in the community (the third day in a row), although the number of imported cases remained. continue to increase.

Specifically, according to statistics of the National Health Committee, on March 20, China added 41 new cases, all from abroad, bringing the total number of "imported" COVID-19 cases to present at China is 269 cases.

In particular, the number of new cases increased the most in Beijing (14), Shanghai and 6 other provinces of China also recorded cases from abroad.

Regarding the number of deaths, as of the end of March 20, mainland China had 3,255 deaths, an increase of 7 from the previous day and all in Hubei province.

Source: tuoitre.vn