Eight new countries and territories have reported their first confirmed cases as of Tuesday night. Globally, there are now 179,112 overall confirmed cases and 11,526 new infections. The death toll is now at 7,426, with 475 new fatalities within the past 24 hours.
As countries continue to report a spike in cases, new infections and deaths, China only reported 13 new cases and 11 new deaths as of Tuesday night. The country has consistently slowed down infections since it has reported about the outbreak in December. The drastic decline is being lauded all over the world as Wuhan, Hubei in China was identified as the epicenter of the outbreak.
All in all, China now has 80,894 infections. Of that 69,601 have recovered and 3,237 have died. To date, the country now accounted for less than 50% number of total cases globally, far from when it has the largest number of infections compared to all other countries combined. The worrying spike in COVID-19 infections is now seen in Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany, France, South Korea, and the United States.
So far, here are the number of total cases, new cases, deaths, new deaths per region as of March 17.
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Western Pacific Region 91 779 confirmed (289) 3357 deaths (23)
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European Region 64 189 confirmed (8507) 3108 deaths (428)
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South-East Asia 508 confirmed (124) 9 deaths (2)
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Eastern Mediterranean Region 16 786 confirmed (330) 873 deaths (3)
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Regions of the Americas 4910 confirmed (2234) 68 deaths (18)
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African Region 228 confirmed (42) 4 deaths (1)
Guam is among the latest to confirm its first cases of COVID-19 this week. As of Tuesday night, Guam already reported eight cases from one on Sunday. The latest patient to have contracted the virus is a relative of the first confirmed case and another individual with travel history to the Philippines.
Somalia also confirmed its first case this week. The patient is a Somali national who has a travel history abroad. No further information was divulged about the case.
The Bahamas confirmed that a 61-year-old woman from New Providence became its first patient. The woman has no travel history abroad.
Antigua and Barbuda reported its first case this week that prompted the local government to ban all travels to and from China, Italy, Iran, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. Only citizens and diplomats are allowed entry.
The US Virgin Islands, meanwhile, confirmed its two cases. The patients are from St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Benin in West Africa said its first patient was a man from Burkina Faso who has traveled from Belgium.
Liberia has confirmed its first case amid more than 200 people who are still waiting to be tested. The patient is Nathaniel Balma, the head of Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency, He came from Switzerland.
In Tanzania, a citizen tested positive after arriving in Arusha from Belgium.
