Covid -19 coronavirus: Top ten most-affected countries. PLEASE SHARE

As the coronavirus reaches 100 countries Pharmaceutical Technology lists the top ten most affected countries by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak in China, by number of cases.

China

China, including Hong Kong and Macau, is the worst affected country by the novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak, officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

China has witnessed more than 3,000 deaths and approximately 74% of the global coronavirus cases as of 09 March, which quickly came down to approximately 67% by 11 March as the number of cases in rest of the world surged.

Hubei is the most-affected province within China and Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei, is the city affected worst by the coronavirus. Hubei has witnessed more than 67,000 coronavirus-positive cases as of 11 March.

The number of cases in China, however, has been on the decline starting March due to the rapid control measures and response by the Chinese government.

Italy

Coronavirus is getting severe in Italy, making it the most-affected in Europe as well as outside Asia. Travel to Italy and Italians travelling to other countries during the outbreak has been traced to have caused Covid-19 spread.

Northern Italy, where the majority of the Italian Covid-19 cases are recorded, is kept on a high alert with affected cities locked-down. The Italian government’s early measures such as closing educational institutions temporarily might have limited the spread, although the aged population remains a concern.

Coronavirus deaths in Italy raised sharply from 366 on 08 March to 631 on 10 March.

Iran

Iran, another country from where coronavirus spread to rest of the world, currently has more than 8,000 confirmed cases and has recorded 291 deaths. Iran has been suspected to have delayed acknowledging the spread of corona virus in their country and under-reporting the cases.

A number of countries have traced their coronavirus-infected having contracted the disease during travel to Iran. Many government officials and politicians including MPs in Iran have contracted coronavirus, some of who died.

Amid fears of further coronavirus spread, Iran announced the temporary release of approximately 70,000 prisoners, according to Mizan news agency.

South Korea

South Korea is hit the most by coronavirus infection outside China due to its proximity to the latter. Coronavirus cases in South Korea started surging in February and are currently close to reaching 7,800.

Deaths due to coronavirus in South Korea reached 54. The country is being assisted by China, whose experience in containing the outbreak has resulted in controlling the local spread of the epidemic.

France

France is the second most-affected European nation by the 2019 coronavirus. Covid-19 nCoV cases in France have reached 1,784.

The French government has banned public gatherings involving more than 1,000 people. The popular Louvre Museum in Paris was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. The Paris city has reported Covid-19 coronavirus-positive cases, apart from other regions including Amiens, Bordeaux, and Eastern Haute-Savoie.

A worker at Disneyland Paris was reported by Reuters as having contracted the coronavirus. France currently has only a few clusters with coronavirus. The ongoing outbreak remains a concern to the French tourism industry as coronavirus fears are resulting in a drop in visitors.

Spain

Since the first coronavirus case confirmed on 01 February, the Spanish Covid-19 nCoV-infected cases got closer to 1,000 in early hours of 09 March and rised sharply to 1,695 by 11 March.

Spain is the second most-affected European country with coronavirus. Spanish coronavirus death toll has increased to 35 making the government and citizens nervous.

Tourism, a crucial sector for Spain, is expected to face an adverse impact due to the global coronavirus fears. The Spanish government has advised companies to ask employees to work from home to avoid spread.

Germany

Germany, which borders France and Switzerland, also has hundreds of coronavirus-positive cases, which stand at 1,565 currently.

Similar to its neighbour France, Germany too banned public events involving huge crowds in order to prevent spread. Trade fair, The Hannover Messe, has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak situation.

Germany has reported two coronavirus deaths as of 11 March.

USA

Coronavirus situation in the US is grim with the cases and deaths increasing fast. The US Covid-19 cases nearly doubled in two days, to cross 1,000 on 11 March, while the death toll passed 30.

Community spread and delayed testing is currently a major concern to Americans as enough test kits are not available across states.

The first coronavirus case in the US was confirmed on 21 January, but the cases surged from the second half of February.

Japan

Japan was among the countries that reported first coronavirus cases early following the Wuhan outbreak. In addition to the cases reported on cruise ship Diamond Princess docked in Japanese waters, the country reported 581 Covid-19 cases as of 11 March.

The Japanese government’s response to containing the spread among those onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship met with criticism.

Japan has witnessed 17 deaths due to coronavirus and is likely to feel an impact on travel and trade.

Switzerland

Switzerland, a popular tourist destination, is the fifth most affected European country by the novel coronavirus outbreak. The positive Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Switzerland, whose borders are close to Milan, Italy, reached close to 500 on 11 March.

Some of the major cities in Switzerland, such as Geneva and Zurich, have reported confirmed coronavirus cases.

Three deaths have been reported in Switzerland due to coronavirus. The Swiss hotel and tourism industries will be affected if the coronavirus situation continues to stay for long.

CORONAVIRUS - Prevention Is Better Than Cure - PLEASE READ.

THIS IS THE BEST ADVICE I'VE SEEN re prevention ✅

CORONAVIRUS: "Prevention is better than cure"
Common sense for the good of all of us...

Virus Detection:

The simplest way to distinguish Coronavirus from a Common Cold is that the COVID-19 infection does not cause a cold nose or cough with cold, but it does create a dry and rough cough.

The virus is typically first installed in the throat causing inflammation and a feeling of dryness. This symptom can last between 3 and 4 days.

The virus typically then travels through the moisture present in the airways, goes down to the trachea and installs in the lungs, causing pneumonia that lasts about 5 or 6 days.

Pneumonia manifests with a high fever and difficulty breathing. The Common Cold is not accompanied, but there may be a choking sensation. In this case, the doctor should be called immediately.

Experts suggest doing this simple verification every morning: Breathe in deeply and hold your breath for 10 seconds. If this can be done without coughing, without difficulty, this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating the absence of infection. It is strongly recommended to do this control every morning.

Prevention:

The virus hates heat and dies if it is exposed to temperatures greater than 80°F (27°C). Therefore hot drinks such as infusions, broths or simply hot water should be consumed abundantly during the day. These hot liquids kill the virus and are easy to ingest.

Avoid drinking ice water or drinks with ice cubes.

Ensure that your mouth and throat are always wet, never DRY. You should drink a sip of water at least every 15 minutes. WHY?

Even when the virus enters water or other liquids through the mouth, it will get flushed through the oesophagus directly into the stomach where gastric acids destroy the virus. If there is not enough water, the virus can pass into the trachea and from there to the lungs, where it is very dangerous.

For those who can sunbathe. The Sun's UV rays kill the virus and vitamin D is good for you.

The Coronavirus has a large size (diameter of 400-500 nanometers) so any face mask can stop it, no special face masks are needed in daily life.

If an infected person sneezes near us, stay 10 feet (3.3 meters) away to allow the virus to fall to the ground and prevent it from falling on you.

When the virus is on hard surfaces, it survives about 12 hours, therefore when hard surfaces such as doors, appliances, railings, etc. are touched.

Hands should be washed thoroughly and/or sanitised with an effective sanitiser

The virus can live nested in clothes and tissues between 6 and 12 hours. Common detergents can kill it. Things that cannot be washed should be exposed to the Sun and the virus will die.

The transmission of the virus usually occurs by direct infection, touching fabrics, tissues or materials on which the virus is present.

Washing /sanitising your hands is essential.

The virus survives on our hands for only about 10 minutes. In that time many things can happen, rubbing the eyes, touching the nose or lips.

This allows the virus to enter your throat. Therefore, for your good and the good of all, wash/sanitise your hands very often

You can gargle with disinfectant solutions (i.e. Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide) that eliminate or minimise the amount of virus that can enter the throat.

Doing so removes the virus before it goes down to the trachea and then to the lungs.

Sanitise things touched often: hands, cellphone, keyboard, mouse, car steering wheel, door handles, etc

Please share this information with family, friends and acquaintances. We must take care of ourselves, for our good and the good of others.