Coronavirus IS a pandemic, Germany says after 22% spike in cases overnight as Poland becomes latest country to record a case and Iraq confirms first death
German Health Minister declared global pandemic today after 44 new cases
World Health Organisation has stopped short short of calling crisis pandemic
But surge in cases in Europe, South Korea and Iran mean it may be matter of time
Polish man Zielona Gora in makes Poland 34th country with cases in Europe
Death of 70-year-old man in Iraq marks first fatality in Middle East outside of Iran
South Korea, the worst-hit country outside of China, now has over 5,500 cases
By CONNOR BOYD HEALTH REPORTER
DAILYMAIL.COM
4 March 2020
The coronavirus outbreak has turned into a global pandemic, Germany warned today after it was hit by a spate of new infections and Poland became the latest European country to report a case.
Health Minister Jens Spahn said the outbreak, which has been teetering on the verge of a pandemic for weeks, had now surpassed the level of epidemic and warned the worst was still to come.
Germany reported a 22 per cent spike in cases yesterday, taking the official toll from 196 to 240. There have been no virus deaths recorded in the country yet.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has so far stopped short short of calling the crisis a pandemic despite the outbreak fitting the bill.
The UN health body, which has previously described the siutation as a ‘public health emergency of international concern’, defines a pandemic as an epidemic that spreads throughout the world through local transmission.
As an increasing number of people who haven’t been to China continue to catch the virus, it seems it is only a matter of time until WHO officially declares it a pandemic.
The coronavirus outbreak has so far killed more than 3,200 people and infected over 94,000 worldwide.
It came after:
South Korea, the worst-hit country outside of China, soared by 516 in a single day, taking its toll to 5,621 and 34 deaths. Sick people in Daegu, at the heart of Korea’s crisis, have not been able to get hospital beds
A new case was recorded in Poland, making it the 34th European country to be hit
The death of a 70-year-old preacher in Iraq marks the first fatality in the Middle East outside of Iran
Iran has released tens of thousands of prisoners to avoid spreading coronavirus after its cases soared to more than 2,900 today, including 92 deaths
China’s ambassador to the United Nations declared the country is winning in the fight against coronavirus after daily cases hit a six week low
India today revealed its number of confirmed coronavirus cases has jumped to 28, up from just five overnight
Italy has banned kissing and hugging and ordered over-75s to stay in their homes for a month
