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March 4, 2020
Note: although we include case counts to help provide situational awareness to our readers, the numbers are constantly changing. Please refer to the WHO or the public health agencies of the affected countries for the latest information.
GLOBAL SITUATION REPORT
The WHO’s latest
situation report
notes that a total of 90,870 confirmed cases and 3,112 deaths have been reported globally across 72 countries. WHO also
warned
that shortages of personal protective equipment and related supply chain disruptions threaten clinician’s ability to provide care for COVID-19 patients and others. WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted as saying, “We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers first.”
WESTERN PACIFIC REGION
China’s National Health Commission
reported
119 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 38 deaths, 37 of which took place in Hubei province. In total, 80,270 confirmed cases and 2,981 deaths have been reported nationwide. In addition, 2,652 hospital discharges and 143 suspected cases were also reported. The Japanese Ministry of Health
reported
16 new confirmed cases for a total of 257. However,
concerns
have been raised that the narrowness of testing in Japan is not capturing the full picture of disease transmission. The South Korea Centers for Disease Control
confirmed
516 new cases and 4 deaths, bringing their national totals to 5,328 cases and 32 deaths.
SOUTHEAST ASIA REGION
Thailand’s government is considering a
proposal
to enact a 14-day mandatory quarantine on travelers from countries deemed to be at high-risk. Malaysia’s COVID-19 epidemic
grew
by 14 cases yesterday - to a total of 50 - as health officials investigate what appears to be a superspreading event. Indonesia this week
reported
its first COVID-19 cases in two women from Depok, south of Jakarta. Health officials have begun
contact tracing
in at least 50 individuals. The Indian government has
banned the export
of 26 medications and active pharmaceutical ingredients without explicit consent, raising the possibility of disruptions to the pharmaceutical supply chain for essential medications. FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn told Senators on Tuesday that “[w]e're working very closely to look at that list to assess how that will affect the medical supply chain” according to the
New York Times
.
REGION OF THE AMERICAS
Argentina
and
Chile
have confirmed first cases of COVID-19, the case in Argentina is an individual with travel history from Italy, and the case in Chile has a travel history to Southeast Asia. The Undersecretary of Public Health in Chile
announced
the countries COVID-19 plan to the Senate including surveillance plans and expansion of health centers able to safely care for COVID-19 patients. Brazil has
expanded
its diagnostic capacity across all regions of the country, 30,000 diagnostic kits will be distributed in order to support testing in the country. Barbados will be the
first
Caribbean country with testing capabilities for COVID-19.The US CDC
reported
126 cases of COVID-19 in 13 states.
Approximately
⅓ of cases in the US are among travelers on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship. Case counts will be
updated
by CDC at noon EST daily. In a White House press briefing it was
announced
that new testing guidance will be released enabling any American to be tested for COVID-19 without restrictions.
EUROPEAN REGION
Currently there are
2,502
confirmed cases and 79 deaths from COVID-19 in Italy, an increase in cases from the
2,036
reported yesterday. This has prompted the Ministry of Health to
consider
the expansion of the quarantine zone to account for the increase in cases in Bergamo, a city northeast of Milan. Poland has
confirmed
its first case of COVID-19 in a traveler from Germany. Liechtenstein has also
confirmed
its first case in an individual with previous contact with a confirmed case. The Faroe Islands
confirmed
its first case in an individual with a travel history to Paris. An
official
of European Union has tested positive for COVID-19 prompting the cancellation of the meetings scheduled at the headquarters in Brussels.
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION
The Ministry of Health in Iran
reported
2,922 confirmed cases with 92 deaths. Friday prayers have been
canceled
in cities in an effort to prevent transmission. In addition, the prosecutor general has
indicated
that attempts to hoard supplies of public health importance are punishable by capital punishment. A 70 year old member of the Muslim clergy became the
first death
in Iraq. Currently Iraq has reported 31 cases of COVID-19.
AFRICAN REGION
With the final Ebola patient discharged from the treatment center in the Democratic Republic of Congo infrastructure and capacity developed in response to cases of Ebola will be
leveraged
to support the COVID-19. This provides an important example of how investment in development of health systems can improve health security. Some measures being implemented in countries through Africa include
cancellation
of large gatherings such as sporting events,
repatriating
students from countries with outbreaks of the virus, and
increasing
border control measures.
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
The World Bank is making $12 billion available to support countries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. World Bank President David Malpass
said
Tuesday, “[w]e're announcing today an initial package of immediate support that will make available up to $12bn to respond to country requests for crisis financing of their immediate needs and also to lessen the tragic impacts of the crisis … The point is to move fast; speed is needed to save lives." Similarly, the US Agency for International Development (USAID),
announced
Monday that it was making $37 million from its Emergency Reserve Fund available to the WHO, other multinational institutions and USAID-supported programs.
MARCH MADNESS
In the United States, the NCAA—the governing body for collegiate athletics—announced that it established an
advisory panel to consider potential impacts of COVID-19
on the upcoming basketball national championship tournaments. Games for both tournaments will be played in numerous cities across the country. The advisory board will include university, health, and athlete representatives, including former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Several days ago, the NCAA was called to consider potential risks associated with sporting events and identify appropriate solutions, potentially including
playing games in empty arenas
.
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