WHO: COVID-19 spreads through large human communities, and can be stopped that way

(Patria) – As COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, has rapidly spread to 70,000 countries worldwide with 90,000 infected and 3,100 deaths, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are trying to establish the characteristics of this previously unknown virus.

'We have never encountered a respiratory disease with such a capacity for transmission through large human communities before,' said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday.

In China, where it all began and which is the hardest hit with 80,151 infected people and 2,943 deaths, the number of new cases is declining, with only 125 new infections on Tuesday.

However, outside of China, the number of new cases is increasing: European Union countries, including Great Britain, Monaco, San Marino, and Switzerland, have confirmed more than 2,100 infected people in 18 member states, with 39 fatal outcomes.

In South Korea, the country hardest hit after China, the number of infections has risen to 4,812, with 477 new cases, mostly in the city of Daegu, where a large number were infected by attending church.

Portugal has confirmed its first case of infection, and Italy is the most affected European country with 2,036 infected people and 52 fatal outcomes, and 11 closed cities.

In France, at least 190 people have been reported infected with the virus, and in Germany, 158.

Although unofficial sources report significantly higher numbers, the Iranian Ministry of Health reports 66 deaths out of a total of 978 infected people. One of the advisors to the Iranian Supreme Leader has also died.

The highest number of deaths is in China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea.

Around 45,000 people in various countries have recovered from the disease caused by the virus.

Indonesia has confirmed the first cases of two people infected by a foreign tourist.

In the US, two more deaths have been confirmed, and airlines such as Delta and American have suspended flights on the New York – Milan route.

The global economy has already experienced a sharp decline, many countries have already entered recession, and long-term consequences are expected regardless of further developments.