Image courtesy: WHO
The situation around the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that broke out in China in December 2019 continues to evolve.
Following are the facts as of 8 am on Thursday, 27 February 2020.
- In its situation report on 26 February 2020 of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated:
“For the first time, since the onset of symptoms of the first identified case of COVID-19 on 8 December 2019, there have been more new cases reported from countries outside of China than from China.”
– WHO
- In a statement on Wednesday, 26 February 2020, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated:
“On Monday, the WHO-China joint mission concluded its visit and delivered its report. The team has made a range of findings about the transmissibility of the virus, the severity of disease and the impact of the measures taken. They found that the epidemic peaked and plateaued between the 23rd of January and the 2nd of February, and has been declining steadily since then. They have found that there has been no significant change in the genetic makeup of the virus. The team also estimate that the measures taken in China have averted a significant number of cases. The report contains a wealth of other information, highlights questions for which we still don’t have answers, and includes 22 recommendations.”
– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
- On Tuesday, 25 February 2020, Algeria became the second African country, after Egypt, with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
- On Wednesday, 26 February 2020, 433 new infections and 29 deaths were recorded in China, with the total number of confirmed Chinese cases rising to 78 497 since the outbreak started in December 2019.
- Global infections are nearing 82 000.
- The COVID-19 death rate still hovers around 2% of the infected, with the old and elderly most prone.
- South Korea has become the country outside China with the most confirmed infections, with 1 595 confirmed infections by 26 February 2020.
- Projections of corrosive and negative impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on the global economy continue to grow, as stock markets continue to slump as a result of the outbreak and key global sectors are predicted to decline.
- Fears are also growing that the COVID-19 outbreak could still become a global pandemic.
For advice on how to remain healthy and keep others healthy, visit this World Health Organisation (WHO) advice page.
For informative updates on the evolving situation around the global spread of COVID-19, visit this page by The Guardian.
Namibia Fact Check will continue updating the #CoronaVirusFacts as the situation evolves.