U.S. COVID-19 cases top 500,000, Italy extends lockdown

The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions. The following are the updates on the contagious disease.

NEW YORK

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 500,000 on Friday night, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The fresh figure reached 500,399 with 18,693 deaths as of 10:00 p.m. (0200 GMT on Saturday), according to the CSSE.

• WHO sees a “welcome slowing” of COVID-19 infections in some hardest-hit countries in Europe
• Death toll from COVID-19 passes 100,000 worldwide

ROME

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday announced the decision to extend the national coronavirus quarantine until at least May 3.

In a national address, Conte spoke for 32 minutes including an online question-and-answer period with journalists.

SEOUL

South Korea reported 30 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Saturday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,480.

The daily caseload hovered around 50 in recent days, with 47 reported on Monday and Tuesday, 53 on Wednesday, 39 on Thursday and 27 on Friday each. Of the new cases, 12 were imported from overseas.

WELLINGTON

New Zealand reported two additional deaths caused by COVID-19, as the country recorded 29 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.

Dr. Caroline McElnay, Director of Public Health from New Zealand Ministry of Health gave the update on daily COVID-19 press conference Saturday afternoon. According McElnay, a man in his 80’s in Wellington Public hospital and a man in his 70’s in a Christchurch hospital have died overnight from COVID-19.

PHNOM PENH

Cambodia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) announced in a statement on Saturday that one more person tested positive for the COVID-19, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases in the kingdom to 120.

The new patient is a 31-year-old Chinese tourist, who temporarily stayed in capital Phnom Penh’s Duan Penh district, the statement said, adding that she had direct contact with her 30-year-old Chinese friend, who tested positive for the virus four days ago.

Source: Xinhua