Almost 50% or 780 million people in China are in some form of travel restrictions and mass quarantines as authorities work hard to contain the spread of the virus. Forms of restrictions vary from total transportation halt or lockdown apartments across the mainland.
Travel restrictions in escalating forms are still implemented in Hubei, Liaoning, Beijing, and Shanghai, isolating as many as 780 million Chinese from the rest of the country and the world, according to an analysis conducted by CNN. The toughest restrictions are implemented in Hubei, Huanggang, Shiyan, and Xiaogan, CNN said.
As of Tuesday, China's National Health Commission confirmed 1,886 new infections and 98 deaths. As of press time, China has a total of 72,436 confirmed cases.
Reports were not immediately clear if the new infections and deaths included the estimated 3,000 Chinese health workers who have already contracted the virus. A report said this number is twice the count released by the government. At the same time, the director of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, Liu Zhiming, died Tuesday
As accusations mount against China's alleged secrecy about the real magnitude of the outbreak, Chinese health experts are racing to develop a cure for the virus. Doctors in Shanghai are now calling for blood donors as they use blood plasma treatment to treat those who are infected.
Apart from that, China has also accelerated the implementation of a system where QR codes are used to track people with infections.
Many of the Chinese also remained in high spirits, trusting that everything else would go back to normal. Bars in big Chinese cities remain busy with deliveries of margaritas and other cocktail drinks during happy hours. Bars are delivering people's favorite drinks to their houses as the country discourages large gatherings and crowded public spaces.
Global Financial Impact Of COVID-19
Global business firm Dun & Bradstreet estimated about five million companies worldwide could suffer from the impact of the COVID-19.
A study from the company found that areas with more than 100 COVID-19 cases are also home to more than 90% of major local businesses. Around 49,000 of those companies are either branches, subsidiaries or direct partners of foreign companies.
For context, 49% of subsidiaries in affected areas have headquarters in major financial hubs in Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, and Germany. At the same time, at least 51,000 companies worldwide have one or direct suppliers operating in the affected regions in China. Of that number, 163 are members of Fortune 1000. At least 5 million more have more than one supplier from China. Of that, 938 are members of Fortune 1,000.
The World Trade Organization has warned the same, saying that COVID-19 could weaken global trade goods for the whole year.
