Chinanews.com, March 12. The latest WHO report shows that as of 10:00 on the European Central Time (17:00 Beijing time), the number of newly diagnosed cases of new coronary pneumonia outside China reached 37,371, with 1,130 deaths. As the epidemic continues to spread globally, WHO Director-General Tan Desai said on the 11th that the new crown pneumonia epidemic has the characteristics of a pandemic, and once again calls on countries to take urgent and positive action.

Data map: Tan Desai, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Photo by China Press Agency Peng Dawei

WHO: Outbreak has pandemic characteristics

Confirmed cases expected to climb further

Tan Desai said on the 11th that the spread and severity of the epidemic are deeply worrying. "Therefore, we estimate that the new crown pneumonia epidemic can be characterized as a pandemic."

"We will not use the word" pandemic "lightly, and describing the current situation as a pandemic has not changed WHO's assessment of the new crown virus threat, nor has it changed what WHO and all countries are doing Strategies to control disease epidemics.

He reiterated his call on all countries to take urgent and positive action. "We have sounded the alarm bell clearly and clearly."

The WHO daily epidemic report shows that as of 10:00 Central European Time (17:00 Beijing Time), the number of confirmed cases outside China increased by 4596 to 37,371 compared with the previous day; the number of deaths outside China was higher than the previous day Increased 258 cases to 1130 cases. Globally, the number of confirmed cases reached 118,326; the number of deaths reached 4,292.

Tan Desai said that the number of confirmed cases, deaths, and the number of affected countries and regions will increase in the next few weeks.

The picture shows the outdoor café of Vittorio Square in Turin, Italy. Affected by the new crown epidemic, there are few people on the street.

European epidemic continues to spread

Italy ceases all business activities

At present, the epidemic has spread to more than 40 countries in Europe. Among them, the number of confirmed cases in Italy has exceeded 10,000, making it the country with the worst epidemic situation outside China. In addition, the number of confirmed cases in Germany increased to 1,567, and the number of confirmed cases in France and Spain also exceeded 2,000, and the momentum of continued increase was maintained.

So far, Italy has accumulated 12,462 confirmed cases and 827 deaths. On the evening of the 11th local time, Italian Prime Minister Conte issued a live speech, asking the country to stop all commercial activities except for necessary stores such as drug stores and food stores. Conte said the epidemic was a challenge to citizens' health, and the decision was made after considering factors including the economy.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on the 11th that controlling the epidemic is the current priority, and the whole country should unite and stand the test of the epidemic.

On the 10th local time, Michelle, President of the European Council, and Feng Deline, President of the European Commission, convened an emergency video conference with leaders of EU member states. Promote the development of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals and respond to the socio-economic impact of the epidemic, and point out that the EU needs to develop a unified set of anti-epidemic regulations.

On March 9, local time, a woman wore a mask to shop at a supermarket in Foster City, San Francisco Bay Area. Photo by Liu Guanguan of China News Agency

Thousands of confirmed cases in the U.S.

Trump: Strengthen mask protection for health care workers

So far, the number of confirmed cases in the United States has exceeded 1,000, and 31 people have died. Confirmed cases have occurred in at least 37 states and Washington, D.C.

On the 10th, the states of Massachusetts and Michigan in the United States successively declared a state of emergency. On the 11th, Washington, the capital of the United States, also officially entered a state of emergency and public health emergency. Earlier, the United States, including New York, Maryland, and California, has declared emergency states.

The US White House reported on the afternoon of the 11th that President Trump signed a memorandum requesting the U.S. Department of Health to take all necessary measures to urgently ensure that medical workers have adequate masks available, whether in medical care or other places regulated by relevant laws. At the same time, the United States Department of Labor is required to take all necessary measures to improve the level of mask protection.

The picture shows a crowd of people waiting to buy masks outside a supermarket in Jongno-gu, Seoul on March 1. Photo by China Press Agency

Nearly 8,000 confirmed cases in South Korea

Largest collective infection in Seoul

As of 00:00 on the 11th, a total of 7,755 confirmed cases had been reported in South Korea.

It is worth noting that a group of new crown virus infection occurred in a customer service hotline call center in Guro District, Seoul, South Korea. As of 19:00 local time, at least 99 people have been diagnosed with the infection. The incident was the largest crowded infection in South Korea's capital, Seoul and the metropolitan area.

Prior to this, large-scale cluster infections also occurred in Daegu City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and other places, resulting in a surge in the number of cases.

The South Korean government said on the 11th that in order to prevent the collective infection of intensive enterprise units and other outbreaks, the "Guidelines for the Management of Common Infection in High-Risk Units" will be issued. It is recommended that employees intensify enterprises and institutions and places prone to collective infection, and take epidemic prevention measures such as working from home.

Recently, the epidemic of new crown pneumonia has spread in Japan, and people are wearing masks to travel. Many malls have shortened business hours. Photo by Lu Shaowei of China News Agency

Japan may prepare to declare emergency

Is Tokyo Olympic Games Delayed?

As of 11:00 p.m. local time, a total of 634 confirmed cases were reported in Japan, including 14 deaths. A total of 696 confirmed passengers and flight attendants, including 7 deaths, were previously docked on the "Diamond Princess" cruise ship in Yokohama Port.

On March 10th, the cabinet meeting of the Japanese government passed the amendment to the "Special Measures for New Measures for Influenza and Other Measures" and submitted it to the Japanese Parliament for consideration. According to the amendment, if the new crown pneumonia epidemic situation is in danger of causing serious damage to the lives and health of the Japanese people, and the epidemic situation has rapidly spread throughout Japan and caused major losses to national life and the economy or there is a similar danger, the Japanese government may declare a state of emergency. According to Kyodo News, the above amendments have been submitted to the Japanese parliament for consideration. As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, have reached agreement, the passage of the bill is a foregone conclusion.

After the outbreak, the holding of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics continued to attract outside attention. Takahashi Takahashi, member of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee's executive committee, revealed that he is considering proposing an extension at the Olympic Organizing Committee's council to be held at the end of this month. On the 11th, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee Chairman Yoshiro Mori said that promoting a safe and secure Olympics is our basic position. At present, no consideration is given to changing directions and plans.

On February 19 local time, the stranded passengers of the "Diamond Princess" cruise ship officially started disembarking. As of now, a total of 696 people on the cruise have been diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia.

Iran ’s First Vice President

Over 100 confirmed cases in Africa

The Iranian Ministry of Health announced on the 11th that in the past day, 958 new cases of infection in Iran, a total of 9,000 cases, an additional 63 deaths, and a total of 354 cases have been cured. Iranian President Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting that everyone must take the epidemic seriously and urged people to reduce travel.

In addition, according to Iran ’s Fars News Agency, Iran ’s First Vice President Jahangiri and two other cabinet members were diagnosed with the infection on the 11th.

On the other hand, data released by the African CDC show that there have been more than 100 cases in Africa. The cases are distributed in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, Congo (DRC), Côte d'Ivoire. One case died in Egypt and Morocco. (Finish)