The new coronavirus infection that killed 1,665 people in mainland China claimed its first victim in Taiwan. Health officials in Taiwan said a man in his 60s died on Saturday after two weeks in hospital. Health officials are investigating how the man, with no history of travlling to China, became infected. Taiwan has so far reported 20 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
China confirms 1,665 deaths
With 142 deaths reported on Saturday, the death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak has reached 1,665, China’s National Health Commission said on Sunday morning. Hubei province itself saw 139 casualties on Saturday. Though the infection has spread to several countries, China accounts for most of the victims of the deadly virus. First death in Europe due to the disease was reported in France on Saturday.
Number of infections in China reach 68,500
China now has 68,500 confirmed cases of new coronavirus, named Covid-19 by the World Health organisation. Chinese authorities reported 2009 new infections across the country on Saturday. Hubei province reported 1,843 new cases, showing a decline in the number of new cases reported for the third day running. Confirmed infections have been reported from more than 20 countries so far.
New test kits can detect virus in 15 minutes
Chinese scientists have developed new test kits for COVID-19 that can detect the virus infection in 15 minutes, state-media Xinhua reported. The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease says the newly developed kits can give blood test results much faster than earlier methods. The testing industry is yet to assess the new treating kit, Xinhua said.
China fights Covid-19 on war footing
China is running at least 80 clinical trials to zero in on potential remedies for new coronavirus infections. These trials are testing new pharmaceutical drugs as well as medicines from China’s traditional therapies. WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the organisation’s teams are assessing many of these trials as they are creating a clinical trial protocol that could be run across the world.
South Korea reports one more case
The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday reported another case of the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 29. The latest infection involves an 82-year-old man at the Korea University Anam Hospital in Seoul. South Korea has screened at least 7,890 people since January 3. The country has put 577 people under quarantine till Sunday, a KCDC statement said.