Italy overtakes China for most deaths; virus spreads in Africa, LatAm

Health officials confirmed 427 new deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday, which brought the total toll to 3,405 nationwide.

The total number of cases in Italy, the hardest-hit nation in Europe, also rose to 41,035, from a previous 35,713, up 14.9 percent, according to the Civil Protection Agency.

This is while, China where the unknown form of pneumonia first emerged in December, has recorded 3,245 deaths from the virus.

China reports zero local transmissions for 1st time, other countries struggling stillChina has for the first time reported no new locally transmitted cases of the new coronavirus at its epicenter since the country started recording infections in January.

China has now effectively brought the epidemic under control, recording zero local transmissions of COVID-19 on Friday for the second day in a row.  

The latest figure in Italy, which indicated a faster rate of growth than seen over the last three days across the nation, prompted Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to extend lockdown measures beyond their original deadlines on Thursday.

“The measures we have taken… must be extended beyond their original deadline,” Conte said.

He imposed national shutdowns on most businesses and a ban on public gatherings on March 12. They are due to expire on March 25.

But school closures and other measures, such as a ban on fan attendance at sporting events, are due to run on until April 3.

Brazil allows US citizens entry despite virus threat

The virus, which has also reached Latin America, has infected more than 600 people in Brazil, officials said, explaining that the number of positive cases has more than doubled in two days.

The country has reported seven deaths to date.

The far-right government of President Jair Bolsonaro issued a decree restricting entry of foreign visitors from certain countries, including China, but exempted the United States, where the number coronavirus cases are on a sharp rise.

Those banned include citizens of the European Union, Japan, Australia, Malaysia and South Korea.

Bolsonaro also restricted entry at land borders with Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana.

The country also began turning away Venezuelans at the border on Wednesday.

Beijing fumes at US attempt to link coronavirus to ChinaChina harshly hits back at US President Donald Trump over a tweet in which he referred to the new coronovirus as the “Chinese Virus.”

The president, who initially described the viral outbreak as a “fantasy,” is under harsh criticism for his lax handling of the health crisis.

Bolsonaro, known as the Trump of the Tropics, has now come under fire for allowing US citizens into Brazil.

The US said cases of the coronavirus have doubled in just 48 hours this week, jumping from about 5,700 on Tuesday evening to 14,250 on Friday morning. 

As many as 200 people have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which also raised concern over the fact that many of those hospitalized across the US are younger adults.

Bolsonaro’s son joins Trump in blaming China for outbreak

Brazilian president’s son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a 35-year-old lawmaker, has joined Washington in blaming China for the pandemic. He accused Beijing of concealing information about the spread of the disease.

The US president has previously called COVID-19 “a Chinese virus.” Beijing hit back at Washington, calling on the Trump administration to “immediately stop its unjustified accusations against China.”

Chinese Ambassador Yang Wanming reacted to the accusations in a tweet, which included a since-deleted retweet of a post, describing the Bolsonaro family as a “huge poison” and a suggestion that Eduardo Bolsonaro had contracted a “mental virus” on a recent trip to the United States.

Brazil’s Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo denounced post as “unacceptable.”

Africa to have sharp rise in cases

Governments across Africa, the continent that has been a concern for health experts due to its fragile health system, are rushing to reinforce measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

So far, 36 African countries have reported a total of more than 700 cases.

The figure, however, will likely increase in coming weeks, according to the head of a regional disease control body, John Nkengasong.

“We are picking (up) some people but we are also missing some people,” said Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The situation will get worse before it gets better because the chances are clear that people have slipped through,” he added.

Africa seeing ‘extremely rapid evolution’: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday that the epidemic is quickly spreading throughout the continent.

The organization’s regional chief, Matshidiso Moeti, called the spike in COVID-19 cases in Africa an “extremely rapid evolution.”

Moeti said that by Monday, Africa would have a total of 60,000 testing kits.

South Africa steps up measures

South Africa said it would erect or repair 40 kilometers of fence along its border with Zimbabwe to stop undocumented or infected people crossing into the country.

African nations step up measures to contain COVID-19 outbreakSeveral African governments close borders, cancel flights and impose strict entry and quarantine requirements to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that the number of confirmed cases of infection in South Africa had jumped to 150.

This new figure is up 30 percent from the previous overnight tally of 116 infected, with 34 new cases.

Nigeria ratchets up response to outbreak

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and home to some 200 million people, said it would shut schools, starting from Monday.

It would also limit religious meetings in its economic hub, Lagos, and capital, Abuja.

The country has so far reported just 12 confirmed cases of the viral infection.

The continent has previously seen several deadly viral outbreaks. The last epidemic, Ebola killed more than 11,000 people on the continent in 2014 to 2016.