China Coronavirus Outbreak and Worldwide Impact: Facts, Updates, and Latest Statistics.


   Key points: China Coronavirus Outbreak, Coronavirus updates and statistics

      Coronavirus outbreak in China was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. The virus was reported in a Wuhan city located in Hubei Province of China. Wuhan is a population of 11 million people. Initially, the cases cantered around the city’s seafood market (Huanan South China).
       As per the local health officials, the infected people were mainly purchasers and business staff in the market where traders sell the seafood as well as the animals including birds and rabbits. According to the World Health Organization, the seafood, animals, and birds are most likely to be the source of novel coronavirus (n-CoV).

       According to China Central Television, The new virus n-CoV was reported to be discovered by January 9, 2020. On January 11, the genetic sequence of this virus was shared by Chinese scientists. Chinese officials confirmed the human-to-human transmission of the virus by January 20. Later, on January 23, (WHO) also confirmed the “fourth-generation” spread of the coronavirus in Wuhan city. This meant that individuals spread it to the second group of individuals who spread it further to the third group. The third group of individuals was believed to transmit the virus to another fourth group.  

A modelling study conducted by (Wu et al., 2020) revealed that about 5993 cases of n-CoV infections have been confirmed in mainland China by January 29, 2020. These figures included 132 deaths. About 78 cases were exported from Wuhan city to the regions situated outside mainland China.

       But, according to the National Health Commission, about 6057 people got infected by the virus across the world as of January 29. About 5970 patients were from mainland China. Among these, 3554 patients were from Hubei province which is home to Wuhan city. The remaining cases within China were from different cities and provinces including Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong (National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, 2020). The majority of the Chinese cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Guangzhou) are the global transport hubs with many outbound and inbound passengers that further worsened the situation.

       The most critical situation is that the coronavirus has spread out of China as well. India, the neighbouring country, has also reported its first confirmed case on January 30 in the state of Kerala. The affected person had a travel history from the city of Wuhan. Two more clinically stable cases were also reported in Kerala state. According to Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, some other countries including US, Japan, Thailand, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Nepal, Vietnam, Australia, Korea, and Germany have also confirmed the presence of the virus in some people having travelling history to China.
       The latest news coming from China is not satisfactory where the reported deaths by coronavirus have reached 425 out of the total 427 global deaths till 5th February 2020. The 2 other deaths were reported in the Philippines and Thailand. China’s Health commission reported 64 deaths on 3rd February that is the largest number in a single day since the detection of the virus.

       China has accepted the difficulties and shortcomings under the worsened situation where over 20,471 people are reported to be affected by the virus as of February 5th. China has taken phenomenal steps including the construction of new hospitals, improved treatment, isolation of infected areas, and creation of awareness among people (Roberts, 2020). World community also needs to step forward in order to help China in this critical situation so that the worldwide threats of this latest outbreak may be managed timely.




Sources
National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (2020). Epidemic Prevention and control dynamics. [online] Available at: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/wjw/index.shtml [Accessed 7 Feb. 2020].
Roberts K. (2020). China coronavirus outbreak: All the latest updates. [online] Aljazeera.com. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/china-admits-shortcomings-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-425-200203234036932.html [Accessed 7 Feb. 2020].
Wu, J.T., Leung, K. and Leung, G.M. (2020). Nowcasting and forecasting the potential domestic and international spread of the 2019-nCoV outbreak originating in Wuhan, China: a modelling study. The Lancet

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