Coronavirus fatality rate is HIGHER than thought: Virus kills 3.4% of all patients, says World Health Organization, compared to 1% for ‘flu

Wednesday, March 4, 2020
By Paul Martin

WHO officials warned on Tuesday of shortages of protective equipment
Prices for masks have surged six-fold, respirators have tripled and gowns costs have doubled amid hoarding, shortages and price gouging
The WHO said protective equipment manufacturing needs to be ramped up by 40% worldwide to meet worldwide needs
About 3.4% of people who have been infected by coronavirus have died, making it well over three-times deadlier than flu

By NATALIE RAHHAL ACTING US HEALTH EDITOR
DAILYMAIL.COM
4 March 2020

The strain of coronavirus behind the a growing global crisis kills 3.4 per cent of all patients, the World Health Organization has warned.

Dr Tedros Adhanom, director-general of the UN body, said current figures show the infection is three times deadlier than flu.

The WHO also warned supplies of face masks and other protective equipment are ‘rapidly depleting’ because of a ‘severe disruption’ to the global supply chain.

Dr Tedros warned the shortages are leaving medics dangerously ill-equipped to care for patients with COVID-19, the disease which has struck 92,000 people worldwide.

Up to 90million masks, 1.6million sets of goggles and 76million pairs of examination gloves are needed to protect health care workers, it is estimated.

Shortages and supply hoarding have triggered huge price inflations on vital personal protective equipment (PPE).

Face mask prices have surged by six-fold, the cost of gowns has doubled and prices for N95 respirators have tripled.

‘Stocks are often sold to the highest bidder,’ said Dr Tedros. ‘We urgently need to increase production’ of PPE, he warned.

Manufacturing needs to be jump by 40 per cent to meet the growing demand, it is estimated.

It’s a pattern already emerging in the US, where more than 100 people are now infected.

US consumers have been panic-buying PPE, canned food and cleaning supplies in fear that they might have to shelter at home if the coronavirus starts spreading in their community.

Retailers – from local pharmacies to national chains – have reported shortages, and Amazon has been cracking down on price gouging for masks and other products.

The Rest…HERE

Leave a Reply

Join the revolution in 2018. Revolution Radio is 100% volunteer ran. Any contributions are greatly appreciated. God bless!

Follow us on Twitter