Coronavirus: Death toll crosses 3,000 in China, cases surpass 100,000 globally

China has reported 28 new fatalities from dely coronavirus outbreak, taking death toll in country to 3,070, Chinese health officials said on Saturday as rapid spre of epidemic hit a milestone, infecting more than 100,000 people globally. virus that first emerged in China in December last year has spre to 97 countries and has infected 102,180 people, including 80,651 in China, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus tracker.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Saturday said it received reports of 99 new confirmed cases of vel coronavirus infection and 28 deaths on Friday on Chinese mainland. 28 deaths were all reported in virus epicentre Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan, NHC said.

Meanwhile, 99 new suspected cases were reported it said, a significant milestone in China's over two-month-long fight against dreed virus as cases have for first time dropped below 100. overall confirmed cases on mainland have reached 80,651 by end of Friday. This included 3,070 people who h died of virus, 22,177 patients still undergoing treatment and 55,404 ors who were discharged after recovery, NHC said.

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Also on Friday, 24 imported cases (people coming to China from abro) of vel coronavirus infection were reported on mainland, including 17 in Gansu Province, three in Beijing, three in Shanghai and one in Guangdong Province. By end of Friday, 60 imported cases were reported, NHC said.

By end of Friday, 107 confirmed cases, including two deaths have been reported in Hong Kong, 10 confirmed cases in Macao SAR, and 45 in Taiwan, including one death have been reported. While cases of COVID-19 in China are on decline about 19,700 more cases were reported globally taking overall total of cases, including from China to over a lakh, state-run CGTN reported.

World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday that ditional five countries -- Philippines, New Zealand, Ireland, Czech Republic and Slovenia -- have seen local transmission of COVID-19. Outside China, a total of 97 countries and regions have reported. Bhutan, Cameroon, Serbia and South Africa have reported cases of COVID-19 for first time in past 24 hours as of Friday morning, WHO report said.

According to tracker, in US, at least 299 cases of coronavirus have been detected and 14 people have died due to it. In Italy, 4,636 have been detected and 197 have died. In Iran, 4,747 cases of COVID-19 have been reported and 124 people have died. 

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Coronavirus in India 

With 31 people w having tested positive in India for Coronavirus, top health officials on Friday emphasised that present wear in Delhi and NCR is conducive for spre of dely virus. This statement comes after a few doctors claimed that wear has or little role to play in new coronavirus (COVID-19) spre in India especially in rrn parts of country.

Dr. Rajesh Chawla, Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Critical Care, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, while speaking to a news daily stated that environment plays an important role in determining survivability and spreability of virus and coronavirus tends to grow more in low temperature and humidity. He ded that two things that are t favorable for this virus are sunlight and temperature above 26-27 degree Celsius. Thus, threat in sourn India is lesser than rth India or rastern parts of country, he stressed.

Health Ministry has also vised citizens from across country to avoid mass garings. In a tification issued on Friday morning, Ministry stated that all mass garings may be "avoided or postponed till disease spre is contained." tification furr stated that if mass garings are organized, states will have to take "necessary action to guide organizers on precautions to be taken as per risk communication material alrey sent so as to avoid any Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases and Influenza-Like Illness (ILIs) including Covid-19.

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