The number of COVID-19 infections outside in China is relatively smaller when compared to the Asian country. However, that is no cause for complacency as global break out may just be starting.
That was the warning given by the World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. There are now 1,076 confirmed cases and seven deaths in 26 countries. In China alone, there are now 74,765 cases and 2,121 deaths.
The virus has now claimed victims in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Of the most striking development was the sudden surge in confirmed cases in South Korea and Iran.
The latter now has five confirmed new cases apart from the first two cases confirmed on Wednesday. Both patients died on the same day the confirmation was made.
Iraq now suspended visas on arrival of those who are holding Iranian passports. The country also banned direct flights with Iran, both coming in and out.
In South Korea, the number of confirmed cases surged within 24 hours, growing by about two-thirds since the country reported its first case. Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has now 53 new cases, coming from just 20 on Wednesday. In total, the country has 104 confirmed cases and one confirmed death on Thursday. South Korea's southern city of Daegu has the most number of cases and had since been declared as a "special management zone" by the local government.
Still, more than 50% of the confirmed cases outside China are from the Diamond Princess cruise ship since many nationalities are on board. To date, more than 620 people out of the 3,700 passengers and crew aboard the ship have already contracted the virus.
Most recently, two elderly passengers, both Japanese aged about 80, died on Thursday.
At the same time, Australia reported two cases of infections from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The patients were among the 200 Australians evacuated from the ship. As for others who were evacuated, they will remain in the country's tropical north for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Indonesia is planning to evacuate its 74 citizens from the ship. The country remains free from any infections to date.
The United States, meanwhile, had 11 confirmed new cases from the ship. The patients are all from Nebraska. A separate four patients, not from the cruise ship but China, are being transferred from California to Washington after testing positive from the virus.
A San Diego patient made a full recovery while 53 people in North Carolina were ruled out of the virus after the mandatory quarantine. Overall, as many as 180 Americans from Wuhan finished their mandatory 14-day quarantine and tested negative for the virus.
Apart from the growing number of infections, some events have been canceled worldwide due to fear of the further spread of COVID-19.
Most recently, Switzerland canceled a high-level health summit that was scheduled for Feb 27 and 28.
In Ukraine, people are protesting the government's plan of evacuating 70 citizens from China. The people are objecting to the planned evacuation because they opposed quarantining the patients at a local hospital for fear of failed containment.
One university at Albany, meanwhile, has earned flak over an unconfirmed report saying that students held a coronavirus-themed party. The event struck the Asian community as racist and insensitive.
To date, these are the countries with confirmed cases:
Australia - 15
Belgium - 1
Cambodia - 1
Canada - 8
Egypt - 1
Finland - 1
France - 12
Germany - 16
India - 3
Iran - 5
Italy - 3
Japan - 81
Malaysia - 22
Nepal - 1
The Philippines - 3
Russia - 2
Singapore - 84
South Korea - 104
Spain - 2
Sri Lanka - 1
Sweden - 1
Taiwan - 24
Thailand - 35
United Arab Emirates - 9
United Kingdom - 9
United States - 15
Vietnam - 16
