Daily COVID-19 pandemic roundup: March 28
Miami Desk, Mar 28 (EFE).- Here’s a roundup of stories around the world related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:
PANAMA: Authorities gave permission for the cruise ship Zaandam, which suffered four deaths from coronavirus, to transit the Panama Canal. The vessel has been sitting off the Central American nation’s Pacific coast with dozens of passengers and crew suffering flu symptoms, including at least two who have tested positive for COVID-19.
WHO: The number of coronavirus infections across the globe increased by 65,000 in the last 24 hours to reach 575,444, the World Health Organization said. Fatalities climbed by than 3,100 to 26,544.
MEXICO: Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo is in stable condition at a hospital in Acapulco undergoing treatment for COVID-19, his spokesperson told Efe. The 79-year-old tenor disclosed last week that he had tested positive for the virus.
BRAZIL: The death toll from coronavirus in Latin America’s country increased by 22 to 114, while the number of confirmed cases grew by 14 percent to 3,904, the Brazilian Health Ministry said. People over 60 make up 90 percent of the fatalities.
JAPAN: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked the population to redouble its efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus to prevent the Asian country from seeing a major increase in cases like in Europe and the United States.
VATICAN: A Vatican official who lives in Saint Martin’s House – where Pope Francis also resides – has tested positive for coronavirus, a spokesperson said, adding that the pope himself was not affected.
EUROPEAN UNION: The European Union has asked companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter to boost their efforts tackling the spread of fake news about the coronavirus.
UNITED STATES: Donald Trump has signed an executive order to deploy reserve soldiers in a bid to boost its capabilities confronting the coronavirus crisis.
CAMBODIA: Cambodia will tighten its borders from Mar. 30 with the suspension of visa exemptions and issuance of tourist visas, visas on arrival and e-visas to foreigners for one month, and requires them to obtain prior visas with medical certificate and insurance, among other measures, as the health ministry reported four new cases for a total of 102.
SOUTH KOREA: South Korea reported 146 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday, bringing the total to 9,478, with five new deaths to total 144, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adding that 4,811 had fully recovered, up 283 from a day earlier. South Korea’s cure rate for people infected with the virus is 50 percent, said Yoon Tae-ho, director-general for public health policy, according to Yonhap.
THAILAND: Thailand reported 109 new cases Saturday to total 1,245, and one new death to total six. The youngest patient is aged 6 years of age, the oldest 84, with an average age of 40.EFE
