- The recent coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
- Known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus has infected more than 95,000 people.
- COVID-19 has now been reported on every continent except Antarctica.
- To read our feature article answering some of the most common questions and concerns surrounding COVID-19, click here.
03/06/2020 15:55 GMT — Global coronavirus cases exceed 100,000
According to scientists at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, there have now been 100,647 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,411 deaths. More encouragingly, 55,753 people have recovered from COVID-19.
The last 24 hours have seen the first death in both the U.K. and the Netherlands, as well as the first cases in Vatican City, Serbia, and Cameroon.
Visit the Johns Hopkins interactive map here.
03/06/2020 13:11 GMT — Busting coronavirus myths
A new article, published on Medical News Today, investigates a range of myths that surround the coronavirus.
The author explains, “when the word ‘pandemic’ starts appearing in headlines, people become fearful, and with fear come misinformation and rumors.”
03/06/2020 12:03 GMT — Cruise ship passengers quarantined off the coast of California
More than 3,000 crew and passengers are currently quarantined off the coast of San Francisco in the cruise ship Grand Princess.
Yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard airlifted diagnostic kits onto the ship to test fewer than 100 people, including 35 who are ill. Passengers remain confined to their rooms until the results come back.
The Grand Princess is the sister ship of the Diamond Princess that was recently quarantined in Japan.
Read more here.
03/06/2020 11:33 GMT — Doctors discuss priorities for US health community
Three doctors from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security have recently published an article, in JAMA, outlining key measures that the U.S. government and healthcare sector should take to handle SARS-CoV-2.
Drawing from experience with similar epidemics, they explain how hospitals, clinics, healthcare workers, and diagnostic companies need to respond in the coming days and weeks.
The authors write, “Preparation will take time, so healthcare and public health systems need to move quickly forward in their efforts to be ready to confront this disease around the country.”
