The 2019-nCoV virus situation as at 30th January 2020: 171 dead, 143 recovered and 8,236 confirmed cases (the latest statistics – 213 dead and 9,480 confirmed cases).
Compared to 28th January 2020, the fatality rate as at 30th January 2020 had reduced from 2.18% to 2.07% which is good but then again, the recovery rate had also reduced from 1.82% to 1.74%. However if one is using the latest update, the fatality rate has increased to 2.24%. Image source: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering
WHO: Global Emergency Declared
Well, considering the rate of infection of the 2019-nCoV since it started, it was just a matter of time before World Health Organization (WHO) declares a global emergency.
The new coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China.
“The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems. At least 213 people have died from the virus in China. The WHO said there had been 98 cases in 18 other countries, but no deaths. Most cases have emerged in people who have travelled from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began.
(Source)
Corona Virus Hits India
Again this was inevitable – a virus from the country with the largest population to hit the neighbouring country which unfortunately is the country with the second largest population. Now there is a bigger danger that the virus is going to spread even faster for obvious reasons.
India has confirmed that at least one case of coronavirus has reached the country. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the country’s first case was in a patient in Kerala, a south-western coastal state. The ministry said in a statement that the patient is a student at Wuhan University in China and has been isolated in a hospital.
The case was confirmed to the government by the National Institute of Virology, and that the person is “stable and being closely monitored.”
(Source)
The question is can the Indians do a lock down of a major city like in China?
The health facilities & enforcement is seriously lacking in some rural areas and it is a concern when it comes to readiness to handle a large virus like the corona virus.
In the latest Global Health Security capabilities, India stood at position 57 out of the 195 countries with index score of 46.5. China is slightly better at position 51 out of the 195 countries with index score of 48.2.
Malaysia has an impressive record – position 18 out of the 195 countries with index score of 62.2. Of course US have the highest score – 1st position out of the 195 countries with index score of 83.5. Our three neighbours has mixed scores – Thailand with 73.2 index score (6th position), Singapore with 58.7 index score (24th position) and Indonesia with 56.6 index score (30th position).
Further given the quality of sanitation is also seriously lacking – as at 2008, 122 million households did not have any toilets – the chances of further infection is very high indeed. Keep your fingers crossed that things have changed since 2008 and health enforcement is tight.
Arrest Over Virus Fake News
Just like fake news related to race & religion in the past, some very dumb people had shared or made unverified news on Coronavirus in the social media and this had raised serious concern from the authorities.
A tutor, two pharmacy assistants and a university student were arrested in Malaysia on Wednesday for spreading fake news about the coronavirus.
This comes after a 34-year-old man was detained in Bangi on Tuesday for spreading false information about the influenza-type virus that originated in Wuhan in China and has infected more than 6,000 people worldwide, mostly in China.
The police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission made the four arrests on Wednesday in separate operations in Melaka, Kedah and Pahang.
(Source)
To be continued…